When Work Expects You to Be Fine—Grief Therapy Offers a Different Kind of Space
Grief is an inevitable part of the human experience, yet the modern workplace often operates as if it doesn't exist. Employees often have to return to work quickly after a personal loss. They are expected to stay productive and calm as if nothing has changed. This unrealistic expectation causes stress for the grieving person. Grief therapy can offer a space to process these pressures, especially when the workplace isn’t equipped to support them. It also has big financial effects on businesses. The CDC says that unsupported grief at work costs companies up to $225.8 billion each year in lost productivity.
The Workplace's Silent Expectation
In many jobs, there’s a silent rule: personal issues, such as grief, shouldn’t get in the way of work. This expectation can lead employees to suppress their emotions, resulting in:
Presenteeism: Showing up at work but not being able to do tasks well because of emotional issues.
Absenteeism: Taking frequent, unplanned leaves as a coping mechanism.
Decreased Productivity: Struggling to meet deadlines or maintain the quality of work.
Unresolved grief leads to huge financial losses for businesses.
The Financial Implications of Unaddressed Grief
The economic impact of grief in the workplace is profound. Unsupported grief leads to billions of dollars in lost productivity annually. Depression, which often walks hand-in-hand with unresolved grief, is linked to an estimated 200 million lost workdays each year. Which cost employers between $17 billion and $44 billion. But behind these numbers are real people. These employees are showing up to work with heavy hearts, blurry minds, and very little capacity left in the tank. It’s not just about missing deadlines or falling behind.
It’s the brain fog during meetings, the emotional weight of pretending to be “fine,” the skipped meals and sleepless nights. It’s the quiet overwhelm that turns into burnout. When workplaces fail to acknowledge grief, they not only lose productivity—they lose people. People who disengage, leave, and who feel like there’s no room for their humanity within the walls of their professional life. This is why grief support matters. Not just for morale but for the sustainability and well-being of entire teams and organizations.
Grief Therapy: A Sanctuary Amidst Workplace Pressures
Workplaces often don't have the right support for grieving employees. Grief therapy provides a safe space where people can:
Process Emotions Freely: In grief therapy, you don't have to "hold it together." Individuals can express their feelings without fear of judgment or professional repercussions.
Create Coping Strategies: Therapists can suggest techniques based on what each person needs. This helps them manage their grief and work duties.
Rebuild Self-Identity: Grief can shake one's sense of self. Therapy creates a space to examine these changes and fit them into a new personal story.
The Ripple Effect of Grief on Workplace Dynamics
Unresolved grief affects more than just the person. It can also impact team dynamics and workplace morale. Colleagues may feel uncertain about how to offer support, leading to strained interactions. Managers might misinterpret decreased productivity as a lack of commitment. Grief therapy in Sherman Oaks and Los Angeles helps employees share their needs better. This leads to a more supportive and unified workplace.
Integrating Grief Support into Corporate Culture
Recognizing the profound impact of grief on employees and the organization's bottom line, some companies are taking proactive steps:
Bereavement Policies: Extending bereavement leave beyond the standard few days can provide employees with the necessary time to begin processing their loss.
Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs): Offering counseling services as part of EAPs can encourage employees to seek professional support.
Grief Training for Managers: Equipping leadership with the skills to support grieving employees can lead to a more compassionate workplace culture.
Personal Empowerment Through Grief Therapy
Systemic changes in workplace culture matter a lot. Still, individuals can take actions to focus on their well-being:
Recognize the Need for Support: Grief affects work performance. This is the first step to getting help.
Find Grief Therapy: A grief therapist can give you tailored strategies to cope with loss.
Speak with Employers: When you’re comfortable, sharing your needs with HR or supervisors can help both you and the company.
Conclusion
It's unrealistic to expect employees to return to work right away after a personal loss. This pressure harms both workers and businesses. The financial losses caused by unsupported grief point to the need for a change in workplace culture. Grief therapy provides a safe place for people to work through their feelings. Recognizing and managing grief helps both employees and employers. This can lead to a kinder and more productive workplace. This approach builds resilience for everyone involved.
Start Where You Are with Grief Counseling in Sherman Oaks & Across Los Angeles
When grief makes it hard to concentrate, keep up with school, or feel connected to others, it can leave you questioning what’s wrong with you—but nothing is. You’re grieving, and that’s a deeply human response to loss. Grief therapy in Sherman Oaks & across Los Angeles offers a supportive space to untangle the overwhelm without expecting you to hold it all together. Whether you're mourning a relationship, a major life change, or someone you’ve lost, your pain is real—and it matters.
As an online grief therapist, I work with students who are trying to stay afloat while quietly carrying so much. Together, we’ll make room for what you’re feeling and find small, steady ways to care for yourself in the middle of it all. No timeline. No need to have the right words. Just space to begin.
Learn More About Me and My Services
It’s okay if school feels impossible right now—grief asks a lot of you, and you don’t have to carry it alone.
Other Therapy Services Offered by Kiana Naimi
While grief therapy in Sherman Oaks & across Los Angeles is a central part of my work, many of the students and young adults I meet with are also navigating what lives underneath their grief—things like burnout, identity shifts, old attachment wounds, or trauma that’s been stirred up by recent loss. I take a holistic, trauma-informed approach because healing isn’t linear, and you don’t need to be “doing better” to be worthy of support.
Beyond grief, I offer trauma therapy and therapy intensives that gently hold the full picture of what you’re carrying. Whether you’re moving through a breakup, school stress, or feeling unmoored after a major life change, our work can help you reconnect with yourself in ways that feel safe and steady. I draw from Narrative Therapy, Attachment-Based Grief, Trauma-Focused CBT, Somatic Embodiment & Regulation Strategies, and Internal Family Systems (IFS) to shape a space that’s rooted in your needs, not a rigid plan.
You don’t have to have the right words or a clear goal to begin. When you're ready, I'm here.