As the name suggests, anticipatory grief is grief you can see coming ahead of time; such as when a loved one is diagnosed with a terminal illness, or a couple that knows their relationship will have to end when summer is over. Although the loss hasn’t actually happened yet, once we understand (and accept) that we will lose something, the grieving process begins... Grief counseling can help regardless of if your currently experiencing grief from a loss or anticipatory grief leading up to a loss.