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How Coaching Can Support Healing After Bereavement

May 9, 2025
The Brief

Post Excerpt

Losing a loved one is one of the most profound and heart-wrenching experiences anyone can go through. The grief that follows can feel overwhelming, and finding a path forward often seems like an insurmountable challenge. During such a difficult time, people may struggle with a wide range of emotions—sadness, anger, guilt, confusion—making it hard to know how to navigate life after loss. While traditional therapy and support groups can be invaluable for processing grief, coaching offers a unique form of support that focuses on helping individuals heal, regain strength and move forward in their own time. In this blog, we’ll explore how coaching can be a powerful tool for those dealing with bereavement.

Section i

What Is Bereavement & How Does It Affect Us?

Bereavement refers to the period of mourning or grief following the death of a loved one. Grief is an individual experience and everyone reacts differently. Some may feel an intense sense of sadness, while others may experience feelings of shock, numbness, anger, or even relief. It’s also common to experience physical symptoms, such as fatigue, loss of appetite, and difficulty sleeping.
For many people, the emotional turmoil of bereavement doesn’t follow a linear path. The stages of grief—denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance—often overlap or occur in different orders. This unpredictability can make it difficult for people to know how to cope, and they may feel stuck in their grief for longer than they expect.
Section II

How Coaching Can Support the Grieving Process

Coaching is often thought of as a tool for personal or professional development, but it can be incredibly beneficial for those going through bereavement. While therapy is more focused on deep emotional processing and mental health, coaching takes a forward-focused approach, helping individuals move through grief in a way that is healing and constructive. Here are a few keyways coaching can support someone who is grieving:
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Section iii

Providing a Safe and Supportive Space

One of the most important aspects of coaching during bereavement is providing a safe, non-judgmental space to express feelings. Often, people who are grieving find it difficult to share their emotions with friends or family members because they worry about burdening others or fear being misunderstood. A coach, on the other hand, offers an impartial ear and a space where individuals can talk openly about their grief without feeling judged or rushed.
Coaching allows individuals to express themselves freely and begin to process their emotions at their own pace. This emotional release is often the first step toward healing, as it helps people release pent-up feelings and gain clarity about where they are in their grieving process.
Section IV

Helping Clients Find Meaning & Purpose

After the loss of a loved one, it can be difficult to find meaning in life or motivation to keep moving forward. Coaches can guide individuals in reflecting on the legacy of their loved ones and how they might honour them in their lives. By asking empowering questions, coaches help people connect with their values, interests and goals, encouraging them to find new purpose and direction as they move through grief.
Whether it’s a goal related to personal growth, taking on a new project or simply reconnecting with hobbies or passions, coaching can help individuals create meaningful steps toward living a fulfilling life while still honouring the memory of their loved ones.
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Section V

Encouraging Self-Compassion and Patience

Grief can be an incredibly isolating experience and it’s easy for individuals to become frustrated with themselves when healing doesn’t come as quickly as they expect. Coaching focuses on helping people be kind to themselves and acknowledge that healing takes time. Coaches encourage clients to practice self-compassion, reminding them that there is no “right” way to grieve and that it’s okay to have moments of sadness, confusion, or even anger.
By acknowledging the pain of grief and allowing space for healing, coaching helps individuals embrace their journey without rushing or pressuring themselves. This patient approach fosters resilience and empowers individuals to work through their emotions with greater understanding.
Section VI

Supporting Practical Steps Forward

While therapy often works to unpack the emotional and psychological aspects of grief, coaching focuses on helping individuals take practical steps forward. After a loss, many people feel unsure about how to move forward in day-to-day life—whether it’s returning to work, managing relationships or making decisions about the future.
A coach can help clients break down these challenges into manageable steps, setting achievable goals to rebuild routines, regain a sense of control and re-engage with life. Coaches are skilled at helping people define what’s important to them, create clear action plans, and take small but powerful steps toward rebuilding their life in a way that feels meaningful and aligned with their new reality.
Section Vii

Building Resilience and Emotional Strength

Coaching helps individuals build emotional resilience by providing them with tools and strategies to cope with difficult emotions. Coaches work with clients to identify coping mechanisms that can help manage intense feelings of grief, such as mindfulness, meditation, journaling, or engaging in physical activity.
By encouraging clients to build a toolkit of self-care practices, coaches help individuals strengthen their emotional resilience, making them more equipped to handle difficult moments in the future. Over time, these tools can help individuals develop a greater sense of emotional control, even when faced with challenging emotions.
Section VIii

Fostering Connection and Support Networks

Grieving can feel lonely, but coaching helps people recognize the importance of building and relying on their support networks. Coaches can guide clients in strengthening relationships with friends, family, or support groups, helping them feel more connected during a time of isolation. By encouraging individuals to seek support and stay connected to others, coaching creates a sense of community and belonging during an otherwise difficult time.
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Section ix

Conclusion

Bereavement is a deeply personal and painful journey, but it’s also an opportunity for growth, reflection and eventual healing. Coaching offers a unique and supportive approach to navigating grief, focusing on helping individuals move forward in a way that feels empowering and fulfilling. With the guidance of a coach, people who are grieving can rebuild their lives, find new meaning and develop the strength to heal while honouring their loved ones.
If you or someone you know is going through a period of bereavement, coaching can be a valuable tool for support. By offering emotional understanding, practical guidance, and self-compassion, coaching can help people move through grief with confidence and resilience, creating a path to healing that is as unique as they are.
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