Traumatic Grief and Prolonged Grief Disorder Therapy in Austin, TX
Trauma-Focused Support for Those Navigating Loss After Traumatic Events
When Grief Becomes Traumatic, It Affects Every Part of Life
Traumatic grief is not the same as the sorrow that typically follows the loss of a loved one. When a death is sudden, violent, connected to overwhelming health conditions, chronic illness, or an unexpected life event, the grieving process can become tangled with shock, fear, and unresolved traumatic experiences.
Many people describe feeling stuck, unable to move through the usual stages of grief because their nervous system remains frozen in the trauma surrounding the loss.
This may look like:
Intrusive thoughts or memories tied to the traumatic event
Intense emotional swings, irritability, or anger responses
Withdrawal from intimate relationships or social contact
Difficulty managing responsibilities in daily life
Self-criticism, guilt, or spirals of negative thought patterns
Feeling like “no one understands what this actually feels like”
For those experiencing complicated grief, or grief as a component of complex trauma, the pain can feel unrelenting, long after the world expects you to be okay.
No one should have to carry this alone.
You Deserve Support That Addresses Both Grief and Trauma
Traumatic grief is a unique experience, and it doesn’t respond well to one-size-fits-all solutions.
Traditional grief therapy, support groups, or general group therapy can offer community, but they rarely address the nervous system impact of trauma or the lingering shock of the loss. Many people find themselves oscillating between grief and trauma, unable to settle into either.
Neuro Nuance Therapy and EMDR provides a safe place where both realities, love and loss, fear and longing, grief and trauma, can be held with care.
Alex Penrod, MS, LPC, LCDC
Founder and EMDR Therapist
I’m an Austin therapist specializing in trauma-focused care, EMDR therapy, and the intersection of traumatic grief and prolonged grief disorder. I’ve helping many adults process the emotional shock, fear, and disorientation that follow the death of someone deeply important, especially when the loss occurred under traumatic circumstances or served to further complicate a history of complex trauma.
My approach is steady, relational, and grounded in trauma-informed care. Together, we work to stabilize the nervous system, develop coping skills, and gently process the impact of the loss without pressure or judgment.
If you’re ready to take the next step, I’m here to help you move through this at a pace that honors both your pain and your resilience.
In-Person Therapy: I provide in-person EMDR therapy in North and Southwest Austin.
Telehealth: Convenient virtual EMDR sessions help adults throughout Texas heal from home.
I welcome new clients from all walks of life. To learn more about how I can help you find healing, schedule your free 15-minute consultation with me.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Traumatic grief therapy is a trauma-focused approach for people whose grieving process has been disrupted by a sudden, violent, or overwhelming loss. It helps clients process both the trauma and the grief so they can begin to heal without feeling overwhelmed by the emotional shock of the event.
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Traumatic grief often involves intrusive memories, nervous system overwhelm, and ongoing shock related to the circumstances of the loss. These trauma responses can prevent someone from moving through the usual stages of grief, leaving them feeling stuck, frozen, or unable to function in daily life.
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Prolonged grief disorder refers to intense, persistent grief that continues long after a loss and interferes with daily life. People may experience longing, difficulty accepting the death, emotional numbness, or a sense that they cannot move forward, even when time has passed.
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EMDR therapy helps reduce the emotional intensity of trauma-linked memories surrounding the loss. By decreasing the nervous system’s reactivity, clients can remember their loved one, process the story of the loss, and move through the grieving process with less fear, shock, and overwhelm.
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Traumatic grief therapy may be a good fit if your loss involved a traumatic event and you feel stuck, overwhelmed, or unable to function in daily life. If intrusive memories, guilt, numbness, or emotional dysregulation are affecting your ability to grieve, therapy can help.
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Yes. Neuro Nuance Therapy offers in-person sessions in Austin, TX, as well as telehealth for clients anywhere in Texas. This allows you to choose the environment that feels safest and most supportive for your healing process.
A Trauma-Focused Approach to Healing Traumatic Grief
Neuro Nuance Therapy and EMDR offers individualized, evidence-based therapeutic approaches designed to support healing after traumatic loss. Sessions are private, structured, and tailored to your unique needs.
EMDR Therapy
Helps reduce the emotional intensity of trauma-linked memories, allowing you to process both the loss and the surrounding traumatic experiences without being overwhelmed. Learn more about EMDR Therapy.
Narrative Therapy
Supports meaning-making by helping you integrate the story of your loved one, the loss, and the impact on your identity and relationships.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Addresses negative thought patterns, guilt, self-blame, and beliefs shaped by the traumatic event.
Stress Management & Coping Skills
Builds emotion regulation, grounding, and self-care practices that support long term stability.
Individual Counseling
Dedicated, one-on-one therapy for those who need focused support, referrals for couples counseling or family therapy are provided if appropriate.
As Healing Begins, Change Becomes Possible
With trauma-focused grief therapy, clients often begin to experience:
A calmer internal experience and reduced emotional volatility
Increased ability to practice self-compassion
More clarity around relational and emotional needs
Greater steadiness navigating reminders of the loss
Improved engagement in daily life
A grief process that becomes more coherent and less overwhelming
These early shifts lay the groundwork for deeper healing and restored connection with oneself and others.
What Life Can Look Like After Trauma and Loss
As clients continue in therapy, many describe:
A grief experience that feels integrated rather than chaotic
Renewed connection with relationships that feels safe and supportive
The ability to reflect on their loved one without being consumed by distress
A restored sense of direction, purpose, and well-being
A greater sense of internal confidence and self-worth after surviving painful experiences
Healing does not erase the loss, it transforms the way you carry it.
With the right therapy support, you don’t have to navigate traumatic grief alone.
Who This Therapy Is For
This service is designed for adults who are experiencing:
Sudden, traumatic, or violent loss
Loss connected to health conditions or chronic illness
Persistent symptoms of complicated grief
Grief compounded by complex trauma
Difficulty functioning in daily life after the traumatic event
Withdrawn or strained intimate relationships
Overwhelming guilt, anger, or negative thought spirals
A grief process that feels stuck or unmanageable
Take the Next Step
Neuro Nuance Therapy and EMDR offers trauma-focused care for traumatic grief and prolonged grief disorder throughout Austin, TX, including North Austin and South Austin.
If you’re looking for steady, compassionate support grounded in trauma-informed care, take the next step today.
Schedule a free consultation to learn how therapy can help.