Grief and Loss Counseling in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA.

Is your grief stopping you from living the fulfilling life you desire? I believe that while grief is a natural reaction to experiencing loss, the process differs for everyone. Grief can have physical, cognitive, behavioral, social, and philosophical dimensions. I work with individuals and families on processing grief as the difficult and eventual acceptance of loss. The loss becomes a vital part of one’s life narrative life rather than its center. Healthy grieving is a gradual process toward coping with the loss and developing a renewed interest in daily activities. I understand the devastation of loss. Please feel free to call me at 949.370.4726 or e-mail at info@southoccounseling.com.

Grief is a potential reaction to a loss of any kind whether through death, divorce, abandonment, separation, job loss, illness, disease diagnosis, kids leaving home, etc. Feelings of anger, resentment, shame, confusion, isolation or abandonment can result. Friends and family may not know what to say or how to provide support. A trained professional, who is profoundly sympathetic, respectful and empathetic, with the skills required to help one navigate through this difficult time, can be critical in helping one regain equilibrium.

I am a Certified Advanced Grief Specialist. Grief is a natural process following a meaningful loss and it can influence physical, emotional, behavioral & spiritual aspects of our lives. Grief is most associated with the death of a loved one, but also occurs with the loss of a pet, job, relationship, and changes in your health. People cope with grief in a variety of ways. The intensity and duration of grieving differs between individuals. Therapy is a safe place to express & explore your feelings. I will help you learn to cope and transform your pain into healthier ways of meaning and remembrance. Through therapy you will find permission to live your life and develop connection again.

With a practice of over 28 years, I have assisted many clients who have been overcome with grief and loss. Any significant loss in our life can leave us feeling helpless, lost, and alone with many unanswered questions. It may also create a feeling of aphathy toward life and the future. Professional and objective help can assist you to deal with these complex feelings and emotions. It can ultimately bring you "back" to you and give you some sense of hope for the future, one without such pain and saddness. Get your life back, I hope you will call me and let me help you in this time of need.

Grief and loss comes in all forms, from the death of a pet, to moving, to the loss of a dream, to the death of a child or spouse, and more. My clients discover grief and loss are a process (which includes: shock/disbelief, anger, blaming, depression/sadness, bargaining, and denial), and how to move through that process to an increased state of acceptance. As their state of acceptance increases, my clients experience an increase in forgiveness, healing, freedom and hope for the present and future. My clients see how they can begin to feel good about their life and future again.

Although grief is an inevitable experience in life, coping with loss can be immobilizing. Because each individual is unique, finding the support you need to move through to a place of peace and acceptance is vital. I work with clients to help them process the pain of loss by addressing the physical, emotional, and spiritual issues that may be keeping them from resolving their pain and moving forward to a place of healing and acceptance. We work together to build a structure that both motivates and enables the healing process to begin and ultimately gives them the opportunity to overcome and triumph over grief.

When we lose someone we love, it feels like we have lost a part of ourselves. Something within us has been torn out, leaving a hole that we easily imagine will never heal. The pain can be profound, the feelings of helplessness, or regret, or guilt overwhelming. Having a partnership where you can talk through these feelings can make a huge difference not only in how quickly and how well you are able to move through the process of grieving, but also how you ultimately are able to frame the experience and your memories of the person lost into the narrative of your own self and life as you move forward. What you carry with you afterward is just as important as surviving the hurt of the loss.

Grief and loss can vary from losing important people in our lives, to losing important parts of our lives (employment, identities, etc...). Depending on what my client needs and/or would like to attempt I work with them to process what these losses have meant for them and find meaning for life without them using Grief Therapy, Narrative Therapy, and/or ACT Therapy. I may also use EMDR to process particularly difficult aspects of loss that are keeping client's stuck and unable to move forward with their lives.