Grief and Loss Counseling in Castro Valley, CA.

Learning to feel and manage the variety of feelings that come up around death, loss, and endings is an integral part of life. I will support and guide you through this process. It can be very healing and renewing to consciously and creatively meet one's grief and loss. I will help you to reflect on and release the past, to open simply and directly to the loss, and to find peace and grounding in your deeper connection to the truth.

Grief is a natural response to loss and it takes many forms. Everyone grieves differently and contrary to popular belief, there is no set amount of time grief is "supposed to last." I acknowledge a client's unique response to grief in a sensitive and compassionate way while letting him/her know that his/her response is normal. I help clients recognize and understand the wide range of feelings that come with loss. I assist clients in developing healthy coping strategies based on their innate strengths.

More than 35 million Americans are living with some form of chronic mental or physical illness or disability. The vast majority depend upon their families for care. Caring for a family member who is ill can have a dramatic effect upon a family. Although it can provide opportunities for closeness, it can also be stressful. If you or someone you love is ill, you may need psychological support to continue to live life as optimally as possible. You may also need help in processing your grief, especially if your loved one has become debilitated or has died. Please call me to discuss your particular needs and how counseling can help. I can be reached at 415-533-9724.

Losing a loved one or relationship can feel overwhelming. Where our days used to be enriched by someone, we are only left with their memory. The process of grieving requires support, patience, and resilience. If you find it difficult to concentrate, find pleasure in most activities, or get out of bed in the morning then therapy may be an important ally in learning to live again with loss.

Experiencing a loss, whether is a death or a relationship, can be one of the most difficult and life changing events one might go through in life. Grief comes in waves and can be overwhelming. Having a safe place to go express this grief and experience it can be very healing. Understanding how you might experience the grieving and loss process can be helpful when it feels like it is consuming you. Therapy can be a start to working through some of the feelings, emotions and thoughts about your loss. I will be able to support you through this process.

If you are suffering from grief or loss such as the end of a significant relationship or the death of a loved one, individual counseling can help you to move through the stages of grief, give you a safe place to talk about your feelings and help you to identify what you want for your future and move towards it with a sense of hope and anticipation.

I have taught and practiced grief counseling for over 24 years. One thing I observed early on is that people who share their grief with others progress through the stages of grief and get much relief, while those who try to grieve on their own seem to just stay locked into the early stages of suffering for many years. I offer compassionate and loving support through the process. Loving, gentle support can make all the difference.

Having a safe caring environment to talk about your sorrow is the beginning of the healing process. Everyone goes through grief and loss in their own unique time and way. I can help you hold that pain as you explore and work through the many related emotions and issues that surface along with loss. You can get through this and begin to move toward living your life again without that dark cloud over you. You need not struggle through this alone. I can help you. Call for a consultation today and begin feeling better sooner rather than later.

Children express grief differently from adults and their grief can look different at various ages. For example an infant will experience the loss of a significant caregiver through his or her senses (father's cologne, mother's skin, nanny's voice). A school aged child may ask a lot of questions or not seem affected at all from the outside. While many children can be resilient, they are often the "forgotten mourners." Unresolved grief can lead to problems down the road.

Grieving from a profound loss becomes a marker in time from which life may never feel the same again. From personal and professional experience I've found there is a necessary freedom to deeply grieve in the safe company of someone other than family and friends. Having a time and space devoted to getting through such a transition with a professional can ease pain and allow for the experience to integrate into living a life after loss.

Each person has a unique relationship and memories when there is a loss. I work with you to explore those relationships and work to mend and honor the relationship and memories in a way that is meaningful to you. I will give you space to talk about your grief. We will work on mending the hurt that may exist from guilt or anger. Honor the relationship as you begin to heal from the loss.

Experiences of grief for someone important but not central to one's life can move towards healing as feelings are freely expressed and the importance of the relationship is explored. More acute grief for the loss of someone central to one's life involves a more extended process of expressing the many different emotions that emerge, sometimes using art supplies to express feelings not ready for words. Reflection on the meaning this person had in your life and the the many losses involved can eventually lead to thoughts about how one can go on, using the wisdom gleaned from the grief process. A major grief never goes away entirely but the precious memories are sustaining.

Grief and loss issues can stem from recent losses, or ones from decades past. They can feel overwhelming to deal with because of the intensity of emotion. However, having a safe environment to work through these issues at a pace that you are comfortable with is the best way to begin that journey. With grief, as with so many other things in life, the only way around the feelings are through them. I have experience working with individual and leading grief groups. I understand how grief manifests differently for different people, and will help you on your journey of healing. Please call me to discuss further and to determine if you'd like to schedule an appointment.