Grief and Loss Counseling in Bellflower, CA.

Bereavement and grief aren’t easy topics. Bereavement is the process of recovering from the death of a loved one, while grief is a reaction for any form of loss. Both can have a wide range of emotions such as fear, anger and deep sadness. How we adapt to a loss can dramatically change from one person to another, depending on his or her background, beliefs, and relationship to the person who’s passed. Every grieving experience is different. Whatever your personal symptoms are, grief and bereavement counseling have been proven to help.

Most of us are familiar with Elizabeth Kubler Ross' model of grief with the 5 stages. While this is helpful information, this model does not fit everyone. I practice from the Winslade and Hedtke model of grief which practices "Remembering". I find that using this model or this model in conjunction with the 5 stage grief model is helpful to helping clients explore loss and grief in finding a pathway forward that honors their own experiences.

Are you dying inside? Experiencing heartbreak that fills you with utter despair? Do friends and family keep telling you that it is time to “move on”? Do you feel that no one could possibly understand your pain? Please understand that YOUR EMOTIONS ARE NORMAL AND TO BE EXPECTED! I would like to help you recognize and understand the reactions that you may be feeling…feelings of sadness, frustration, confusion, anger, anxiety, numbness, and helplessness, all of which are normal. I will listen to you, support you, and I will not rush you. I will help you draw upon your own strengths and develop healthy coping mechanisms that will allow you to gradually recover and feel joy again.

Grief and loss are both highly individual and intensely personal. Although we all experience grief and loss in different forms (death and non death), nothing describes the pain. Together we will create tools and awareness to process these painful life bereavements.

Grief and loss is a functional part of being human. While we all accept this reality we are all too often unprepared for the emotional impact of the event. The loss of anyone close to us is always difficult. Sometimes we are impacted by the loss of others whom we do not even know. The loss of a child, spouse or significant other is often the most painful. In therapy we will explore the level of grief and loss and help to minimize the pain while understanding and realizing our own needs. counseling will provide coping teaching tools, allowing us to move on with our lives.

The loss of a loved one, colleague, friend, or pet can be devastating. Grief is the normal process of honoring the missed loved one, but sometimes we can feel overwhelmed or stuck with sadness, anger, regret, guilt, confusion, hopelessness... or a thousand (million?) other painful emotions. We help individuals and families journey through the difficult grieving process and ultimately find a day where they can find peace, comfort, and joy on this side of eternity.

When a loved one has passed away going thru the bereavement stage can be overwhelming. There are five stages of grief and counseling can assist individuals by having a safe space to remember that loved and help client return to their previous level of healthy functioning. The giving process is different for every individual and the treatment goals will be individualized for that specific client.

Faced with the death of a loved one is for most of us an emotional challenge filled with pain. Talking to another will help you process the many confusing thoughts and emotions which accompany grief. Grief never happens in a predictable way. Having a professional therapist help you through the "stages of grief" will enable you to understand the complexity of grief, offer you comfort, and give you hope for the future. The "grief process" can be overwhelming at times and knowing you have a skilled counselor to guide you through this journey will offer solace in a difficult time. Losing a loved one may change our lives forever, but eventually the pain can be transformed.

Grey Matters International and the work of Kevin J. Fleming, Ph.D approaches issues of grief & loss through the lens of innovation----instead of growing the same neural networks responsible for the pain in weekly therapy sessions, we reset the brain to move forward quicker and efficiently by working on the stuck limbic system so as to empower the person with more success and traction. For no one wants to stay in a grief mode for too long; but when you don’t include the brain in your work with someone, you risk describing the water to them while they drown and calling it success. Contact Grey Matters International, Inc now at kevin@kevinflemingphd.com or 877-606-6161.

It's hard to know what to do when we're grieving. Everyone's experience is different and often times that can leave a person feeling alone, even when they have supportive people around them. I often find with grief there's a rollercoaster of emotions happening. The good news is, you don't have to go it alone. Together we will process your grief so real healing can occur. If you're tired of going it alone, or struggling to know how to talk about it--I'm here, and I hope to hear from you soon.

Unfortunately, grief and loss are inevitable in life and sometimes we need guidance to process all that we’re feeling. My approach is to validate their loss and allow them to speak openly about it and then help them find healthy connections to their loved ones through memories. So much of the time when there is a loss, all people hear is “time heals all wounds.” That is rarely helpful in getting your life back on track because that implies you need to wait awhile before feeling better! Through our work, you will slowly learn to adjust to the new reality of your life without your loved one. This might require incorporating a new routine or even adopting a new sense of identity.

Grief and loss comes in many shapes and forms and can take a toll on various aspects of your life. Processing grief and loss takes time and is different for everyone but doesn’t have to be done alone. I will offer support, empathy, and a safe space for you to process your emotions openly. Together we will get through this difficult time in your life. You are not alone.

Our grief can benefit from having a safe, nonjudgmental space where we feel heard. This is especially important for teens and college students. Therapy goes at your pace, with your level of readiness for each step. Hope and healing are possible. There is meaning and purpose to be found in your pain. Though you will never forget your loved one, you can live in a way that honors them and their life's legacy.

My approach to Grief & Loss is for the client to be aware of the 7 stages of grief and to have them understand that their feelings about their loss are normal. Many times when someone close to us dies, we question whether not crying, crying too much, or perhaps feeling angry at the world is OK. These are all normal feelings and reactions people have to loss. Once a client understands this, they can continue to grieve without having any questions about their own actions or feelings.

Grief & Loss is a part of every human beings' life. Grief & Loss Therapy is an intrinsic part of moving forward. The benefits of Grief & Loss Therapy is that it allows people to plunge forward in their lives. Tragedy is a part of human existence, but how and what we do with it, determines who we are. I work with people to process & metabolize grief, to leave what they don't want behind, and to keep with them that which benefits, nourishes, and enhances their life!

Are you grieving or experiencing a loss? Do you feel like the sadness will never let up? Most people associate grief with the death of a loved one. However, any loss can cause grief. The loss of: relationships, health, jobs or a goal. Experiencing a loss may result in many difficult & surprising emotions; shock, anger, even guilt. Together we’ll resolve your grief & lessen the painful emotions you’re experiencing; accepting them as part of the grieving process & developing some healthy, productive ways to cope with your sadness. Everyone grieves differently. There’s no order or timetable for grief. In session I’ll help you find the best way to resolve your grief & heal from your loss.

Grief counseling helps people cope with grief and mourning following the loss of a loved one or due to major life changes that trigger feelings of grief (i.e. job loss or divorce). It provides a space for individuals to work through and process the complex emotions surrounding loss. Healthy grieving results in remembering the loss with a newfound sense of peace, rather than searing pain.

Grief and loss is, unfortunately, a normal part of living. There is no single "correct" way to grieve: different cultures and even individuals from the same culture grieve differently. The only consistent feature is that grief takes time. The most effective thing anyone can do for someone grieving is to be there—to listen, to empathize, to walk along with the grief. There is no "fixing" grief. But counseling can help prevent normal grief from developing into major depression or other mental health conditions.

Although loss is an inevitable part of life, it can be debilitating. I provide a safe environment where you can process your painful feelings so that you can find satisfaction and pleasure in your life again. Many people can feel paralyzed after the loss of a loved one. Often times this paralysis is a conscious or unconscious attempt to hold on to the one that was lost. Moving forward can feel unbearable, like you are losing your loved one all over again. I can help you move forward and still feel a deep connection to your loved one so that you can go on to live a life that feels fulfilling and worth living.

Loss and grief are natural occurrences in life. However, they can be major intrusions in the quality of our life if we are too caught up in them. They can also interfere if we are so defended against them that they limit our ability to function or impair our daily interactions with others. Sometimes, what we have lost is not a person but a job or a situation in our life that has had great meaning for us, like our self-image. That can feel devastating. Just like losing a person, these events must be grieved if we are to be able to move on. Grieving doesn’t mean forgetting or being weak. It’s a sign of love and strength. Together, we can work through the grief so you can move on.

Grief and loss can occur at any time in many ways during a person's life. It can be an actual death, illness, a loss of relationship or even a loss of a career or job, an identity. While normal and a part of life, they are often met with indifference and ignorance, sometimes fear. Thru the process of therapy grief and loss can be explored and understood, it can be a shared experience where there is value and acceptance.

We all will inevitably experience loss- i.e., the passing of a loved one, the end of a relationship, possibly significant life transitions. Grief and loss work focuses on developing effective and healthy coping mechanisms while moving through often challenging emotional states. Often individuals utilize maladaptive coping strategies, such as substances, alcohol and/or food to help minimize painful feelings. My philosophy is that while there are identifiable stages of grief and loss, they are not experienced sequentially. Navigating often confusing and competing emotions is necessary to ultimately heal.

Grieving a loss can feel overwhelming and isolating. Whether you are grieving a recent loss or need to process a loss from your past, a safe space to freely express your thoughts and feelings can be healing. Children's response to loss is framed by their developmental capacities. For this reason, children may process a loss and then need to reprocess at a later stage of development. Therapy provides an opportunity for children and adolescents to process their loss in age appropriate ways.

Grief and loss can be overwhelming, confusing and debilitating. There are often overpowering feelings of sadness, fear, anxiety, guilt and anger. If you experience the loss of a loved one or the loss of your marriage (going through divorce), i am here to help. I will work with you through your feelings, whatever they may be, to provide a sense of clarity and self-connection in the journey of grief.

Create a safe space where you get to talk about your loss openly: no limitations, no having to censor yourself, no “can they handle this?” Learn tools to cope with the big, uncontrollable feelings you’re experiencing Learn to ask for needs from your support system when grieving. Honor and reflect on those who you have lost. Carry on the relationship with the person inside of you. Gain an understanding that you’re not crazy! What you feel is normal & grief is universal Build skills to turn towards your grief rather than away, so you can be present to the life unfolding in front of you without losing connection to your loved one