Grief and Loss Counseling in Coto de Caza, CA.

Grief and loss counseling helps individuals process the loss of a loved one. Sometimes our losses feel so overwhelming, we lose our way and we are unable to use normal coping mechanisms. I work to help such individuals express their emotions and thoughts about the loss - including guilt, anger, anxiety, sadness, loneliness, relief, confusion, anger, or numbness. When words are too difficult, especially with children, I use art and play therapy.

The experience of grief and loss, while expected at various life stages, can result in physical pain, and the emergence of symptoms that lead to experiencing a slow downward spiral in overall wellbeing, and perhaps desire to withdrawal from personal and professional commitments. Many clients seek compassionate and sensitive guidance to navigate through the ups and downs of any number of losses, ranging from diminishing health, to ending a relationship, or other life transition. Together, clients and I develop a transformative plan to stabilize, heal, gain insight and to enhance their proficiency to improve the strength needed to reconstitute their skills and hopes for today and the future.

Grief & Loss is part of the rhythm of life through our growing, living, and dying. No matter what phase we are at in life, loss has been experienced, and when that loss is heightened by death or suicide of a loved one, grief can feel overwhelming and unbearable. I offer support around the pain in grief & loss so that you can heal and have the quality of life that honors the loss.

As a certified Bereavement Counselor, I help adults and children who are struggling with the process of grief. The journey through loss is not about letting go, it is about creating a new, and different relationship with your loved one that provides comfort and that is everlasting. There are no "shoulds", despite what well-meaning friends and familiy members might tell you. I will help you get in touch with what is right for you, and you alone.

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.

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.

A part of life we all face at some point is coping with grief or loss. Using tools to help you recover from the sadness or lonliness you may struggle with is helpful. In some cases people struggle with grief or loss from thier past that they may not have really dealt with. Using tools to deal with buried pain that surfaces and causes depression or anxiety helps you feel ready for the next pahse of your life!

Working through the loss of a loved one can be one of the most difficult challenges in life. My approach to this special challenge is to work with clients to process the loss of their relationship and to enter into a safe environment in which real mourning can occur. With compassion, we can come to terms with the loss and create a contest for cherishing what was.

Clients will learn how to integrate their loss and grief into their life going forward. I am compassionate in my approach and aim to restore a sense of purpose to continue living a meaningful and productive life while honoring the emotional and physical loss you are enduring. Finding acceptance and the courage to forgive yourself or others, is often crucial in resuming your journey through life and moving through the pain. Give yourself the chance to improve the quality of your life.

I help client recover from losses. I emphasize BEING WITH people grief and allowing them to feel their feeling fully. There is a huge difference grieving alone vs grieving with another person who cares about you. I believe that when grief is shared, one can gradually transcend it. Finding the right person to help you is a lot to do with chemistry. Please call me at (949) 288-3123 if you have any questions at all. I want your therapy journey to be as successful as possible.

I have worked with various types of depression, loss, hopelessness and grief since I have been in this counseling field for close to 30 years. This is what a client recently stated..." I wasn't able to function on my job. I had to have someone else do my work! I'm now doing GREAT at work! Before I was only able to sleep 2-3 hours a night. Now...My sleep's back to normal! No more thoughts of suicide and no more depression! I can't believe it! Now...I'm... EVEN... happy! I've been doing the things you've suggested and THEY"VE WORKED! I feel blessed! All this within a few visits?!"

Navigating the pain of grief is an individual process, which can result in a myriad of social/cognitive/physical/emotional symptoms. Each person’s experience is unique, and should be treated as such. Treatment helps to understand the complexity of the loss, in addition how to manage its symptoms. Many people around you have unrealistic expectations of how you should handle, or can be uncomfortable with normal grief reactions. The support you receive at this difficult time should be consistent to help you to manage the wide variety of feelings you will have for weeks and months following such a major loss in your life.

Loss is part of life. Many times we can get overwhelmed by loss and start to shut down. Together we can help you to process the many complex feelings that you may experience during the grieving process and help you to learn how to accept and come to terms with loss in your life. It's important to reach out to others when you are hurting and not to isolate yourself. Finding the right therapist may the first step to beginning your healing and finding new and healthy ways to cope.