When It All Falls Apart: Therapy Can Help You Move Forward

By: Leah C. Donato, LCSW

LQBTQ+ Affirming Psychotherapist at

LCD Counseling Services, LLC

There are moments in life when the air feels heavier, the colors seem duller, and even your favorite song doesn’t hit the same. If you’re going through a breakup or grieving a loss, you might know that feeling all too well. Maybe you've been blindsided. Maybe it’s been a long time coming. Either way, something that once felt steady is now… gone.

I know that endings—whether sudden or slow—can shake the ground beneath you. But this isn’t the end of your story. It’s the beginning of something new. A little messier? Sure. But also, potentially, more meaningful.

Heartbreak isn't just in your head. It’s in your body, your routines, your memories. You lose more than just the person—you lose the future you imagined with them. Whether it's a romantic partner, a close friendship, or a loved one you’ve had to say goodbye to, the grief is real.

It’s also deeply personal.

You might cry listening to a sad song one day (hello, All Too Well), and feel completely numb the next. You might find yourself stalking their social media at 2 a.m. or staring at the ceiling wondering who you even are without them.

This is grief. And it’s not weakness—it’s love trying to find somewhere to go.

You don’t have to “get over it.” You don’t have to snap out of it. And contrary to what the world might tell you, you’re not expected to transform into a new, unbothered version of yourself overnight.

What you can do is take one brave, wobbly step forward.

Here’s what healing can look like:

• Sitting with the sadness instead of running from it

• Learning that closure doesn’t always come with answers

• Reconnecting with parts of yourself you lost in the relationship

• Setting new boundaries, and learning to trust your voice again

• Finding joy again—even if it starts as a flicker

Let’s be real: talking to your friends is great—until they start giving advice that doesn’t land or get tired of hearing the same story (even when you’re tired of telling it).

That’s where professional support comes in.  Therapy can provide a safe space for your heartbreak—no rush, no pressure, no judgment. It’s a place to gain support, rebuild self-esteem, and learn tools to manage anxiety and depression.

Swift Lessons: What Taylor Can Teach Us About Healing

If you have been following  any of my blogs you'll notice I give some Taylor Swift inspired mental health references. So here goes…….

Taylor Swift doesn’t just sing about breakups—she gives them dimension, depth, and sometimes, even humor. That’s part of why her lyrics feel like journal entries we forgot we wrote.

Whether you’re in the Sad Girl Autumn phase or starting to reclaim your peace with a full 1989 era energy, remember this: you’re allowed to feel it all. You’re allowed to hurt. And you’re allowed to heal, slowly, unapologetically, in your own time.

Let your healing be messy. Let it be nonlinear. Let it be yours.

www.lcdcounslingservices.com

Leah@lcdcounselingservices.com

(609)474-0067