Grief Therapy
By Maria Zerafa
My name is Maria Zerafa and I am a Gestalt Psychotherapist specialising in Grief Therapy.
Welcome to Grief Therapy Malta.
What is Grief Therapy?
Grief therapy is a form of counseling that helps you cope with the loss of a loved one. It provides a safe space to express deep and painful emotions in relation to the grieving process that you are going through. Through grief therapy you can learn healthy coping mechanisms, find a sense of closure, and learn how to give new-meaning to the loss you are experiencing.
How does it work?
Grief therapy is a type of talking therapy. This means that the therapeutic work happens through the dialogue that you and I create in the therapy session. In your session you will find a place where you are safe, supported, and validated. Through my therapeutic work I will offer you exercises and tasks to work on while you're away from the therapy sessions. This happens only if you are comfortable with doing such tasks. In Grief therapy we will have a chance to revisit your relationship with your loved one, embrace and honour the memories you cherish, while working on any areas which may need intervention.
Will I speak only about my loss?
No. My service is a holistic service, meaning that the therapy I provide will be suited to all your therapeutic needs. Whether you want to speak about your loved one or anything else going on in your life, is completely up to you. Some clients take weeks before they are comfortable opening up about their grief, others prefers to plunge in, while some like to take breaks from the topic for a few sessions. Your therapeutic journey belongs to you and you can use it as you wish.
How long does it last?
Each therapy session lasts between 50mins to 1 hour.
The whole therapuetic process lasts as long as you feel you need it. This can be discussed together with me along the way.
I usually meet with my clients once every two weeks, but I am flexible to my client's wants and needs in terms of commitments to sessions.
How do I start
Make an appointment and start your therapeutic journey. You can find all my contact details at the bottom of the page. You can simply send a message on 99339593 or give me a call. You can also send an email on mariazerafa91@gmail.com and I will answer you as soon as possible.
Services
Trauma Informed Interventions
As an experienced trauma practitioner I offer a sensitive and conscious approach to the topic of loss. Some stories of loss effect us more than others. Thus, I insist that all my clients feel safe and grounded before any significant work.
Attachment Based Interventions
Whether we remember someone fondly or not, their loss may still effect you greatly. Some losses carry with them emotional baggage that can leave us feeling lost and confused. My training involves attachment based interventions that support my clients to look at their relationship through a new light.
Non-human losses
Not all grief and loss arises from losing human loved ones. The loss of a pet can also have immense impact on us. As also can losing/changing a job, changing marital status, retirement, losing a precious possession. These and more are all good candidates to come to grief therapy.
Parenting Support
As parents it can be immensly hard to explain grief to our children. Part of my role is supporting parents and adults to develop the adequate language to explain grief to a child who may also need support while grieving.
Personal Growth
Loss is often a life changing event where we may question who we are. Through this service I support my clients to find themselves once again and figure out their next step forward.
Holistic Approach
External support is necessary to be able to process one's grief. Through my assessment I make sure that my clients have everything they need to thrive while learning to build a new way of living. Guidance and information is provided on how to increase one's support system when the one present is not enough.