Grief and Loss Counseling in Hawthorne, CA.

Losing a person, relationship or beloved companion animal can leave you feeling alone, lost and scared. I can help you give voice to your emotions and begin to integrate the grief into your life in a healthy way. It's normal to grieve deeply when we love deeply. Honoring those feelings is an important part of walking the path of healing. Therapy offers those experiencing the tidal wave of emotions that are often present after a loss the opportunity to process the past, present and future in a safe, non-judgmental environment. I work together to process the loss, discuss stages of grief & begin working towards deeper healing & acceptance. We never fully "get over" the losses in our lives, but we learn how to accept them & move towards a healthier view of...(view profile to read more)

Grieving a loss can feel overwhelming and isolating. Whether you are grieving a recent loss or need to process a loss from your past, a safe space to freely express your thoughts and feelings can be healing. Children's response to loss is framed by their developmental capacities. For this reason, children may process a loss and then need to reprocess at a later stage of development. Therapy provides an opportunity for children and adolescents to process their loss in age appropriate ways.

My years of experience as a psychologist has confirmed that there is no particular timetable for overcoming grief whether from a death of relative, partner, friend, pet or the more symbolic losses of empty nest, end of career, decisions not to have children or marry. I provide a safe environment for patients to explore the many feelings associated with grieving on their own terms and timetable.

Grief following a loss is not only normal, but part of the healing process. Sometimes however, a subset of people experiencing normal grief find themselves drifting into a clinical depression. Dr. Levine offers supportive therapy for those experiencing normal grief and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for that subset of grieving people who grief has gotten out of control and morphed into a more severe emotional state of despair and hopelessness. Dr. Levine has over 20+ years of experience both professional and personal dealing with the grieving process. He is here to help you.

I have worked with many clients experiencing grief as a result of losses which include death of a family member, friend, loss of a job or pet. Dealing with grief is a process and takes time to work through. If not addressed, some grief can lead to more serious depression and anxiety. This said, it is an issue where therapy can be helpful for a person who has suffered a loss. A lot of my practice has also focused on pregnancy loss including miscarriage and failed reproductive technology attempts.

The loss of a family member or a close friend can be a traumatic event. It's common to have a mixture of feelings at this time as well as difficulty picturing how our life can go on without our loved one. In therapy it can be helpful to reminisce about our experiences with them and articulate the feelings we have, no matter what the feelings or experiences are. All while in a private and safe environment

At some point, everyone experiences the grief and loss of something or someone valuable in life. The key is knowing how to grieve one's loss. Most people don't know how to grieve and our culture does not allow for it. Entering therapy after a loss of a job, relationship, or a loved one can help heal the wounds and help the individual move on with life.

Losing someone you love whether it is divorce, death, or some other life transition is hard, sometimes even devastating. By the time you realize how hard it has hit you, people around you have already moved on, and you are left feeling like you should just “get over it.” But that isn’t how grief works. It isn’t something that happens in a moment, it is something that happens over time. Having a safe place to work through everything that comes up is the best way to truly grieve. When we don’t adequately deal with our losses, it can come back to bite us, sometimes even years later. I will help you grieve in a private, safe space.

I cannot make your grief disappear, though I sure wish I could. But I can help you learn to live with your loss, so that day by day you can begin to rebuild, move forward, and of course, honor what you have lost. Many clients come to me with a goal of making the grief go away; they want to fast forward to where they don't feel the pain anymore. Having worked with trauma survivors for so long (and your loss is traumatic for you) I know this approach does not work. Those emotions just get buried and they always come back. In therapy you will learn how to create a safe space to grieve without feeling overwhelmed. You will learn how to find new meaning from your experiences and find peace.

The loss of loved one can bring a lot of mixed emotions ( anger, depression, sadness, desire, shock, guilt) for us. In personal therapy, in a safe environment, I will help you to process the negative events in order to move forward and start the healing process. I will practice positive communication, relaxation techniques and mindfulness during our session.

Sometimes loss is unbearable. If you are suffering from a depression brought on by the death of a loved one or the loss of something else immensely important to you, I can help. Maybe you've lost hope, as if there is no reason to get out of bed anymore. Psychotherapy with a caring therapist can help tremendously. Psychotherapy can help you move the stages of grief at a pace that is comfortable for you.

Are you grieving from the loss of a loved one? Are you grieving the loss of an important part of your life, such a your job, your health or a relationship? You may be feeling tired, confused, somewhat lost at sea. You may wonder if you are normal. It is normal to experience a period of profound sadness. It is normal to experience a period of disorientation, as you come to realize the full extent of your loss, and that you are not reoriented into a new reality yet. Be assured, grief is not a mental illness. It is normal. The purpose of therapy is to provide you with support, without judgement, as you gradually find your way into a "new normal" (whatever that may be).

As a Clinical Psychologist in the second half of life, I know about grief and loss from my own personal experience as well as professionally over the past 25 years. Grief and loss aren't always about death. It can also be loss of a relationship, loss of a career, loss of health, loss of functioning because of injury, disease or aging or loss of self-identity. I explore all of this with you compassionately, empathically and allow you to feel and release whatever is necessary in your own time, to move forward in your life, in your own way.