Grief and Loss Counseling in East Pasadena, CA.

People come and go in our lives and many times the emotions related to people leaving our lives is sometimes more than we can handle. The sadness and feelings of loss or separation is often disabling and we feel like we cannot move forward. Grief, loss and separation from someone can even be physically debilitating. Through grief and loss counseling, we will work with your emotional distress while we discover new paths to act in response to your emotional 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.

The loss of a loved one is never easy to cope with, neither is the loss of intimate relationships, separations or life changes that cause us to experience grief. Remember, your grief/loss process is unique to you. Give yourself the opportunity to share your feelings in a safe environment, where no one is pushing you to "move on" or "get over it."

The death of someone we love is devastating and painful for all of us. All of your feelings are "normal" and it is ok to allow yourself the opportunity to experience them. But sometimes the sad, anxious thoughts and feelings do not dimish and you may need help in dealing with your grief. I provide a safe and compassionate place for you to share your thoughts, feelings and memories as well as helpful stratagies to help you cope and find meaning in this life altering loss.

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.

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.

Nothing in life can be more difficult and painful than dealing with loss. When we love deeply we will also grieve deeply. When we don't know how to grieve well, prolong sadness and pain can remain. The therapeutic relationship is one place where a safe place can be found to open fully the pain of loss. I also offer divorce support and grief groups where a community of suffers can join in the journey of recovery.

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.

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.

When we lose someone we love, the emotional and physical pain is difficult to explain. Studies show that grief and loss for many people are represented by real pain often in the area of the heart. This is where the term a "broken heart" originates. In many other countries when a person loses a loved one, they take several weeks away from work to process and handle the intense emotions from their loss. In the U.S. we are generally "allowed" 3 working days to "get over it!". Pain from the loss of a loved one takes time to heal. If you are mourning and need to talk with someone who understands and can help, please call to make an appt. Jeannette York, 818.200.9513 4405 Riverside Burbank,$150.

Gentleness and patience are the key words for those in the process of grief and loss. When working with those who have lost a loved one, whether that be a close family member or a beloved animal companion, gentleness, empathy, and patience are of utmost importance. When working with clients who are experiencing loss. I provide special space for silence. The profound experience of loss is unique to each individual and requires space for the pain of the loss to emerge and careful regard for the mulit-dimensional experience of the empty space left behind. We will honor the healing process while simultaneously creating opportunity for transition to hope in a new season of emergent life.

When we lose someone we love, it feels like we have lost a part of ourselves. Something within us has been torn out, leaving a hole that we easily imagine will never heal. The pain can be profound, the feelings of helplessness, or regret, or guilt overwhelming. Having a partnership where you can talk through these feelings can make a huge difference not only in how quickly and how well you are able to move through the process of grieving, but also how you ultimately are able to frame the experience and your memories of the person lost into the narrative of your own self and life as you move forward. What you carry with you afterward is just as important as surviving the hurt of the loss.

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.