Grief and Loss Counseling in Irwindale, CA.

Grief counseling helps people cope with grief and mourning following the loss of a loved one or due to major life changes that trigger feelings of grief (i.e. job loss or divorce). It provides a space for individuals to work through and process the complex emotions surrounding loss. Healthy grieving results in remembering the loss with a newfound sense of peace, rather than searing pain.

Grief and loss comes in all forms, from the death of a pet, to moving, to the loss of a dream, to the death of a child or spouse, and more. My clients discover grief and loss are a process (which includes: shock/disbelief, anger, blaming, depression/sadness, bargaining, and denial), and how to move through that process to an increased state of acceptance. As their state of acceptance increases, my clients experience an increase in forgiveness, healing, freedom and hope for the present and future. My clients see how they can begin to feel good about their life and future again.

No One Should Be Alone in Their Grieving! Grief and loss is a very delicate and personal process. The pain and hurt one experiences through grief and loss is so deep. I believe prayer, reading God’s word, and processing your experience in your own time is helpful. There is no one way to heal from loss. Each individual has their own personal journey, but this is a process where having a supportive, caring, and knowledgeable counselor can be of assistance. No one should deal with loss alone.

Grieving can be such a complicated process, filled with mixed emotions. Even seeking closure can feel confusing and wrong at times. Therapy can provide a place to gently face painful feelings and thoughts. You do not need to stay stuck in the suffering, confusion, or pain. By processing through these layers with a trained professional, you can gain understanding, peace, and healing.

Loss comes in many forms -- the end of a life, a relationship, a job, an identity or phase of life, a home, a culture, or even losing "what could have been." The experience of loss can be one of the most isolating and confusing experiences a person goes through. You do not need to be alone in your grief -- however messy it is. I will come alongside you to help you find meaning and peace with your particular loss, so that you can begin to walk forward again.

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.

How we grieve depends deeply upon our own personal experiences and pain. I work to assist each individual to grasp the depth and poignancy of this ended relationship and give them the tools that they need to live without this person/creature. Once this is completed, I help them to embrace the qualities that they can make part of their own legacy.

I use an empathetic and compassionate approach combined with a range of specialized therapeutic techniques, including sensorimotor psychotherapy and internal family systems, to address Grief & Loss. Together we will master the intricacies of the grief process to enable a personalized and profound healing journey for those grappling with one of life's most challenging transitions. Clients will find solace and strength in my care, and I will create a safe space for exploration and growth, fostering resilience and understanding during grief. My methods not only alleviate the immediate pain of loss but also nurture a path towards long-term emotional well-being and empowerment.

Loss can be experienced in many different ways - death (expected or sudden), ending of a relationship, and/or life transitions. Well meaning friends and family can try to get us to "move past it" faster than we are ready to. These interactions can be hurtful and sometimes add to our pain. Working through issues of grief and loss can give you a safe place to express your feelings so that you can work through your disbelief, pain, and anger to a place of healing.

You may feel confused, stressed, depressed, or crazy as you experience loss. Understanding the symptoms of grief is essential for gaining healing. A trained counselor can help you understand the normal reactions to grief and sort through the trauma related to your loss. A therapist can help you to understand your emotional states of denial, bargaining, anger, and depression associated with grief and make sure that your depression does not result in self injury or other unsafe thoughts or behaviors. If you want to feel normal again, then allow a counselor to help as you go through your grief. Not only will you feel better, but your family, friends, and coworkers will be glad you sought help.

I am a Certified Advanced Grief Specialist. Grief is a natural process following a meaningful loss and it can influence physical, emotional, behavioral & spiritual aspects of our lives. Grief is most associated with the death of a loved one, but also occurs with the loss of a pet, job, relationship, and changes in your health. People cope with grief in a variety of ways. The intensity and duration of grieving differs between individuals. Therapy is a safe place to express & explore your feelings. I will help you learn to cope and transform your pain into healthier ways of meaning and remembrance. Through therapy you will find permission to live your life and develop connection again.

For those of you experiencing separation or loss, I am sorry for what you may be going through. I wish I could fix it and make the pain go away. Actually though, there is great value in experiencing these feelings and I am honored if you are reaching out and willing to face them. Good for you. Sadness, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance come with the territory and whatever you may be feeling is important. Please stay courageous and share. Help is here.

When someone is grieving, it is sometimes difficult to know what to say. People feel awkward and often are reduced to well-meaning platitudes. There is no magic wand to take away the feelings experienced in grief but having a place of safety and honesty can be an important step on the road to restoration. Being able to talk, weep, get angry and feel the feelings is often present in the early stages. The purpose of grief work is not about forgetting remembering with love in spite of the wounds it leaves behind.

Losing a friend, spouse, or family member is always a difficult trial. Nobody wants to experience or think about these types of events, but it's happened. Perhaps you've tried to cope, but it still hurts. There is help and support for you no matter what stage of grief you're in. We will help guide you through this unfortunate state in your life with all the care and support that you need. Many have made it through and hope can still be found! Reach out to us. You deserve to live again!

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.

Grief counseling helps people cope with grief and mourning following the loss of a loved one or due to major life changes that trigger feelings of grief (i.e. job loss or divorce). It provides a space for individuals to work through and process the complex emotions surrounding loss. Healthy grieving results in remembering the loss with a newfound sense of peace, rather than searing pain.

Grief and loss is a very personal and individual experience. Finding one's words in relationship to a significant loss can be very helpful and healing. Traumatic loss, out of time loss and abandonment are specific losses that may need a sensitive and unique understanding. In a safe and empathic environment, psychotherapy for grief and loss can be a part of the healing process.

There are losses so large that ordinary words seem to fail them, and yet finding words is often exactly what helps us survive them. If you're carrying a grief that feels too heavy or too tangled to speak about, you don't have to carry it alone or explain it perfectly. In our sessions, you can bring whatever is there: the sorrow, the memories, the things you wish you'd said, the parts of the loss no one else seems to understand. I'll help you give them a voice and make sense of an experience that may feel senseless right now. I've worked with many grieving people, and I've witnessed even the heaviest of grief resolve. Whenever you're ready, call me so we can work through your pain together.

Unfortunately, grief and loss are inevitable in life and sometimes we need guidance to process all that we’re feeling. My approach is to validate their loss and allow them to speak openly about it and then help them find healthy connections to their loved ones through memories. So much of the time when there is a loss, all people hear is “time heals all wounds.” That is rarely helpful in getting your life back on track because that implies you need to wait awhile before feeling better! Through our work, you will slowly learn to adjust to the new reality of your life without your loved one. This might require incorporating a new routine or even adopting a new sense of identity.

Our grief can benefit from having a safe, nonjudgmental space where we feel heard. This is especially important for teens and college students. Therapy goes at your pace, with your level of readiness for each step. Hope and healing are possible. There is meaning and purpose to be found in your pain. Though you will never forget your loved one, you can live in a way that honors them and their life's legacy.

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.

In treating grief and loss, it is essential to facilitate a safe, respectful therapeutic interaction, in which clients are able to tell their story, process and express their feelings of grief, explore the meaning of their loss, and revise their relationship with the deceased. Additionally, using cognitive and behavioral therapy techniques enable people to develop skills for coping with the anxiety, depression, and difficult emotions that may arise as a result of the grieving process.

Abby offers compassionate, trauma-informed support for individuals navigating grief and loss, including those coping with the death of a loved one, the end of a relationship, or major life changes. She has specialized expertise in child loss and complex grief, providing a safe space to process pain, honor the grieving journey, and begin to rebuild. Her approach helps clients find meaning, restore emotional balance, and reconnect with themselves and others after profound loss.

Losing a loved one can be an overwhelming and life changing experience that devastates individuals and families. When the loss is sudden, people can actually experience PTSD. And even with time to prepare for the death of a loved one, it can still be an agonizing loss. Likewise, divorce can feel like a death and grief is a normal response to such a life altering event. Therapy can help immensely. Having someone to talk to who is compassionate and understanding is an amazing outlet for the pain. Learning tools to cope is another advantage of seeking professional counseling. A therapist can guide you through the stages of grief and help you to find peace and acceptance.

Grieving is a complex process. There is no right or wrong, ideal or non-ideal formulaic process to grieving. Grief is personal and varies from person to person. Allowing oneself to grief, while not loosing perspective on life is a difficult process and often requires assistance. This is where I can be of help. I will listen and provide guidance during the process of grief.