Grief and Loss Counseling in Corte Madera, CA.

In addition to working with grief from the loss of a loved one, I also help people experience and heal grief that is more subtle. Early life neglect, abandonment, as well as deep regrets about unfulfilled potentials or about hurts we have caused others- can be potent forms of grief. When not recognized or experienced, loss can be expressed as irritability, restlessness, addictions, frustrations, lethargy and other physical/emotional symptoms. Identifying loss and developing the capacity to experience and express grief (pain, sadness, remorse..) is a powerful healing- and can transform our self and our body.

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.

We know how to grieve, naturally, and there are times in every person's life that failing to grieve fully can cause significant emotional difficulties, which may seem unrelated. You can't completely grieve by yourself - you need someone to listen while you work out, and tell, the story of your loss. If we're isolated, or the people around us aren't able to listen, it's easy to get stuck in the sadness of the loss - or stuck running away from it, one way or another.

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.

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.

You may be in the throws of it right now. Perhaps it is a death. Perhaps it is the end of a relationship. Perhaps it is a job or abandonment. There are many things that trigger our grief and loss. I carve out a sacred space that is just for YOU. You may need to cry. You may need to yell. You may need your pain to be seen. You may need to bargain or to blame yourself for a while. We can do this together while making sure you are on a path towards transformation. Having somebody that really listens and really gets it is the first step towards healing. If you are experiencing a deep grief or loss in your life, you owe it to yourself to go through this painful process supported.

Loss, whether sudden or not, is often one of life's most challenging experiences. Many people enter therapy with me grieving the loss of a family member, or the end of a relationship, or a difficult change in a work situation. The grief that can follow such losses has its own rhythm and timeline; as much as we would like to "get over" our pain, it is often our effort to do so that stunts our own healing. As a therapist, I have seen again and again that the more we can lovingly attend to our suffering, the more we are able to move through it, and grow as people in the process. I have helped many people find their way through the grief process to a place of healing and peace.

If you're grieving, you know too well how flat and empty the world can seem. Grief is a natural process that is something to be lived through rather than avoided, but there is a graceful way of doing so, beginning with self-compassion and opening your heart to the range of feelings you may experience. As a grief counselor I can help you through this experience—help you process your loss without getting mired in despair. In addition to simply being able to sit with you in your pain, I'll offer guidance through this territory, and help you explore the meaning of your loss, in a way that will allow you to gain nurturance, succor and support from their memory.

Experiencing the loss of a loved one, a job, your health, a home or country of origin, a pet or any number of other types of losses, can be very isolating, overwhelming and painful. Having a warm empathic space to process all the feelings that will arise is crucial to your getting through tough times and to your ongoing internal healing process. Together, we will gain deeper insight in to the experience of your loss(es) and develop life affirming ways to cope inside and outside the therapy room.

Grief looks differently for different people. Grief needs its own time and can't be forced. Many contemporary cultures have forgotten their collective ways to face loss and to support grieving people through ritual and community. Therapy provides an ongoing compassionate relationship, a rock for you to return to again and again with your process. An ear that won't get tired of listening. Bringing presence to the grieving process allows healing and the rich rewards of a strong and open heart. You will feel joy and peacefulness again.

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.

I personally experienced a great deal of grief and loss in my 20's so feel I bring my own personal experience to helping others deal with this. Losing people we love is one of the hardest things we will face in our lives, and getting help and support can be invaluable. I will help you process your feelings, feel cared for and supported through the process, and guide you.

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.