You’re Allowed to Grieve During the Holidays
The holiday season often arrives wrapped in expectations of joy, celebration, and togetherness. But for many, it’s a season of grief—grief for people who have died, identities we’ve left behind, families that aren’t safe, or versions of life we hoped to have. If this time of year brings more ache than cheer, you’re not broken. You’re human.
Grief Takes Many Forms—and All Are Valid You might be grieving:
A recent or long-ago death
Estrangement from family or community
A relationship that ended, or never was
Queer or trans identity not honored at the table
A version of yourself that no longer fits, but still hurts to release
Grief isn’t just about loss—it’s also about love. The love we had, the love we needed, the love we’re still looking for.
Holidays Can Bring Grief into Sharp Focus As the world leans into ritual and connection, it can make the absences feel even louder. You might notice:
Loneliness in rooms full of people
Bittersweet memories that resurface unexpectedly
Guilt for not feeling festive enough
The desire to disappear when others want you to “show up”
All of this is real. All of this deserves care.
You Don’t Have to Perform Holiday Spirit There is no emotional dress code for this time of year. You’re allowed to:
Say no to traditions that hurt
Create new rituals that honor your truth
Leave the table—or skip it entirely
Be joyful and grieving at the same time
Therapy Can Be a Space to Grieve Without Censorship At Sprout Therapy PDX, we hold space for:
Complex feelings about family, culture, and identity
Ambiguous loss and non-traditional grief
Emotions that feel “too much” for other spaces
Reclaiming agency during a season that often feels out of your control
Final Thoughts If you’re moving through the holidays with a tender heart and tired soul, know this: you are not alone. You don’t have to explain or justify your grief. It deserves space. And so do you.
Struggling with grief or loss this holiday season? Sprout Therapy PDX offers warm, affirming care for people carrying complex emotions. Reach out today to find a therapist who can hold space for it all.