Grief and Loss Counseling in Corte Madera, CA.

It can be a tremendous challenge to return to our daily life following a loss, and grieving does not have a time limit or expiration date. While our society may not be built to allow space for processing loss or grieving, in therapy with me you can expect to find all the space you need to move through your own process at your own pace. With my unwavering support, you will feel encouraged to authentically explore your grieving needs and to honor the gravity of your loss.

Losing a loved one is one of the most difficult life experiences and it is also often an invitation towards growth, greater understanding, and deep healing. I have learned a tremendous amount about grief and loss from my clients as well as from my own experiences of losing loved ones. I know that grief is complex and the process is unique to each individual and I also know that making sense of the loss of a loved one together with a trusted other can bring peace and healing to an aching heart. If you have been faced with grief and loss, I am here to help.

There really isn't anything much worse in life than losing someone we loved. You don't have to experience it alone. I can help you go through all the stages of grief. Sadly, loss is something we all have to experience in life but we can try to make it as easy as possible for you. I will look to support you through this difficult time and help you manage what at times can feel overwhelming.

I find that so much of my work as a psychotherapist involves helping people to grieve their losses, whether that loss is an actual death of a beloved family member or friend, or whether it is something less tangible, but no less impactful, such as the loss that comes from realizing that they were neglected as a child or made to feel unworthy or insignificant. I believe that one of the most important things I do as a therapist is to make space for my clients to grieve their losses so that they can free up stuck energy to invest in their present lives and relationships. For me this is one of the most sacred gifts of my profession, to be able to be there for this deeply important work

There are endless possibilities for the way people incur loss- the loss of a loved one, a relationship, a job, a pet, the loss of a part of yourself through trauma. Whether your loss is recent or long standing, it can have crippling affects on your relationships, your sense of safety, and your sense of self. The loss you experience can leave you feeling lost and the grief that accompanies this can feel insurmountable. It's easy to become fearful that this will never change, to sink into the hopelessness you feel. It seems like an impossible task to overcome, but if you're on this site you have hope. Together you and I can increase that hope and, from this loss, help you to grow stronger.

I have extensive experience working with clients who are grieving and dealing with loss. I worked with people who were affected by the attacks on 9/11 in NYC. I also work with folks who are experiencing a breakup and are having a difficult time transitioning and adjusting to the breakup. I have extensive experience of working within the LGBTQ community.

Although grief and loss are universal human experiences, there are many factors which can make it difficult to process. I offer a safe space to explore all that you are going through and feeling. Expressing all your complex feelings is healthy and can be so relieving. Repressed grief can make you physically or emotionally ill. Many losses are complicated with feelings of anger, guilt or the pain and confusion of unfinished business. Sometimes, when the loss is unexpected, shock can get in the way. Personal issues around ability or willingness to feel or show vulnerability can make it hard to grieve. I have many years of experience in offering safety and support to grieving clients.

Experiencing a loss can leave us feeling vulnerable, helpless and raw. Impermanence and uncertainty are the two of the greatest challenges we face as humans. Sometimes we just need a safe place to land and give expression to all we are experiencing. I am here to support and honor you and your grief as you travel this courageous journey of healing.

Grief and Loss are some of the most real and difficult emotions and feelings to deal with and to cope and live with. Loss of a beloved family relationship, dear friend, mentor, as well as a beloved pet can cause a shock and vast loss that is seemingly impossible to overcome. Grief and loss therapy is very important to me and has been a major part of my decades of counseling. Grief and loss therapy is not a band aid to the pain. It is a process for working to create closure and a continued internal relationship which can still sustain life after loss. When relationships are important, grief and loss are a process of dealing with the depths of love and attachment which are key to being human.

Experiences of grief and loss may occur in small doses on a regular basis. But some losses are too intense to handle on your own. When a major loss occurs, whether the death of a loved one, or the loss of a job or relationship, you may benefit greatly from contact with a psychotherapist. I am experienced at helping others get through these difficult and painful times. Suffering is unavoidable in this world. But you do have a choice about whether to do it alone. Let me know if you would like to talk about getting some counseling to help you through a difficult time.

I first help you ground yourself out of the shock of the loss, feel calmer and able to connect with the rest of your life. Then we process the feelings that come up in layers - the stages of grief - until they resolve. Often they tap into previous losses, or negative beliefs about yourself, which also need to be healed. We can use EMDR and/or body-related awareness and release techniques to do this work. I always use whatever skills and pacing work for you.

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.

"Why can't I seem to shake this grief & loss like other people can?" you ask yourself. Chances are you have other unresolved losses that are being triggered. When you come to me, I will do an assessment, identify the unresolved losses and use Lifespan Integration or EMDR to help you get relief. On average my clients see me 10-12 sessions and are able to function again.