When the Leaves Change, We Do Too: Fall Reflections from a Grief Counselor for Young Adults in Manhattan

Fall is in full effect, at least here on the East Coast. I’ve done the full circuit of leaf-peeping up and down the Tri-State area. I’ve eaten my honeycrisps, sampled fresh apple cider, and pulled out every cozy layer buried in the back of my closet. My hair is darker, my sweaters are softer, the sunlight is dimmer.

After the playful looseness of summer, something shifts. The school year is in full swing, routines return, mornings are rushed, and productivity becomes the norm again. The Jewish holidays have come and gone, offering a reset, a quiet invitation toward new intentions. These months can feel like a sprint: summer’s lingering stillness behind us, the holiday season fast approaching. There is so much to do between now and the end of the year, and then we tell ourselves there’s always January if we need to start fresh again.

A concept I return to often that I learned in yoga that also applies to therapy is: Fall is a season of introspection. The air cools, nature slows, and so do we. The extroverted energy of summer dissipates. There are fewer spontaneous plans, fewer beach weekends, fewer distractions. We head indoors, literally and emotionally. We ask ourselves:

Who do I want close to me in the colder months ahead?
What version of myself do I want to meet on January 1st?
What feelings have I been avoiding that always catch up to me this time of year?

And for many people, especially the young adults I work with, fall is when grief becomes harder to ignore. The holidays are approaching, and that can mean facing an empty chair at a dinner table, a phone that won’t ring, a tradition that now has a missing piece. The world is lighting candles and playing festive music, and meanwhile, someone important is gone.

As a grief counselor for young adults in Manhattan, I see a noticeable rise in therapy inquiries during these months. Summer gives us permission to stay busy, travel, socialize, and escape. Fall asks us to turn inward and sit with what’s missing. It’s a time of structure, routine, and seriousness. People finally make space to grieve what they tried to push away during warmer, faster months.

A Season of Grief in Community

This fall brought a unique and meaningful professional opportunity: providing grief support to a workplace that unexpectedly lost a beloved coworker and friend. Through grief support groups and individual sessions, I’ve watched colleagues navigate disbelief, anger, sadness, and the strange numbness that sometimes shows up after sudden loss.

As horrible as the circumstances are, it has been meaningful to hold space, bring language to shock and trauma, and help people feel less alone in what they’re experiencing. In the future, I hope to continue offering workplace grief programming across New York City, because loss doesn’t stay neatly inside personal life. It shows up at our desks, on Slack, in the empty chair at a weekly meeting.

Recent Offerings

In preparation for the holiday season, I’m holding a workshop, called Good Grief: Holiday Grief Support Workshop. Please see below for details and flyer.

Let's face it – sometimes we just aren't feeling the holiday cheer. Whether you lost a loved one recently, years ago, or are anticipating a loss, this time of year often reminds us that our gatherings look a little different. I'm right there with you.

Please join Natalie Greenberg, LCSW for a clinician-led, virtual workshop where you can expect honest conversation, connection with community, process conflicting emotions, and leave with practical self-care tools to get you through this month.

WHEN

Wednesday, December 3, 5-615:PM PT / 8-9:15PM ET

WHERE

Zoom from anywhere

COST

$99 per person

To register or ask questions, please contact Natalie by email (nataliegreenberglcsw@gmail.com), phone (929-341-0324) or website (www.nataliegreenberglcsw.com).

*Flyer is attached. Please share this with any friends, colleagues or clients who may benefit from this event. Please note this workshop is NOT therapy - it is educational/support.*

A Closing Thought

My favorite thing about fall is that it teaches us a paradox: things can change and still be beautiful. There’s solace in the metaphor of the fall process.

If you’re struggling this season, whether with grief, reflection, or the quiet questions you’ve been avoiding, therapy can offer structure and steadiness. You don’t have to navigate this season alone.

If you’re looking for grief therapy for young adults in NYC, or a grief counselor for young adults in Manhattan, reach out. Whether individually or through group support, there is space for your grief and room for your healing.

Natalie Greenberg, LCSW, is a dedicated grief therapist based in New York City, specializing in helping young adults navigate the complexities of loss. After experiencing the profound impact of her mother's death by suicide at 23, Natalie found healing through therapy and support groups, inspiring her to guide others through their unique grief journeys. She earned her Master's in Social Work from New York University and holds a post-master's certificate in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. With over a decade of professional experience, including roles at Bellevue Hospital's Psychiatric Emergency Room, Mount Sinai Hospital's leadership team and New York University’s Student Health Center, Natalie brings a wealth of knowledge, empathy and humor to her practice. She currently offers virtual therapy sessions, providing accessible support to clients throughout New York.