Grief and Loss Counseling in La Palma, CA.

Loss can take different forms, and going through loss is one of life's biggest challenges. I understand this and believe it is essential for those going through a loss to talk about it, feel it, and grieve it. In time, healing will occur but time itself does not heal. I will provide a safe place for you to explore how your loss affects your life and help you to use the resources, time, and tools necessary to not only get through it -- but grow through it -- and survive.

Most often when we lose loved ones in our lives we are expected to get back to our daily routine only days or weeks after our loss. But grieving takes time. We need time to think, feel, and process in a safe space with someone who cares. Dr. Simina's warm and genuine approach provides individuals with the opportunity to feel, grieve, and process through all that the loss of a loved one brings.

Grief and loss come in many forms and alternate to what you may read elsewhere online, the healing process is not linear nor is it fixed to a set period of time. Grief includes the death of a loved one or even the loss of something intangible - a job, a relationship, a belief. I work with individuals and couples to mourn these losses in their own time and in their own way.

Everyone experiences loss at some point in their lives. Grieving is a natural response to loss. Sometimes, though, a person's ability to grieve is thwarted by life stressors, resulting in feelings of guilt, confusion and depression. There is no right way to grieve, but it is important not to avoid it so you can begin your healing. If you have lost a significant other: a partner, parent, friend or pet, therapy is an safe place and an effective way to begin or continue your grieving process.

Many losses can feel unbearable. Sometimes it may feel like you cannot survive the pain. Grieving is painful, however repressing the pain is worse. It is crucial that you express and mourn your losses. Emotional illness like depression and anxiety occur when we do not express our grief. I would like to help you work through the grieving process and begin living your life again.

Grief is a painful and frightening process and it's important to recognize that each individual experiences grief in a different way. There is no "right way" to grieve. Some people may show a lot of emotion and others may retreat into themselves and become quiet. Alternatively, some people may become physically ill, display anger, throw themselves into a project or work, or simply lay on the couch and feel unable to do anything. Psychotherapy helps in understanding the grief process and assists in actively working through it. It also helps in developing an awareness of the strong feelings you have and an understanding of how previous experiences and loss have an impact today.

First off, grief is hard. Whether it be losing a loved one, breaking up with a partner, or facing a lost of a dream or goal. We all grieve in different ways and our process and timing for grief and loss is unique to each person. In my 10 years of experience, I have sat with many clients who have grieved over the lost of different people and situations. Many of them have told me that just having a space to grieve without judgement provides them with a sense of relief and meaning. There are no quick solutions but what I can offer is a space to grieve and not to have to travel through those places alone. Hopefully that will give the space to heal in your own way.

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.

I understand the tremendous sorrow we experience when losing someone special in our lives. Beyond our loss, grief can also leave us in isolation. Friends and family may not know what to do to help, so they do nothing, or say things that invalidate our feelings. I do not believe we move through "stages" of grief. While we may experience emotions like denial or anger, grief often manifests as a great wave-- some days it knocks us down, some days we ride it out. Do not sit alone in your grief. I will walk with you through feelings of pain and emptiness, while honoring the memory of your loved one and navigating your life in its new normal.

Losing a loved one is one of the most difficult experiences a person goes through. It is so important to be able to honor the relationship in a space where one can speak freely, tell stories, and attribute meaning to the connection. I am interested in exploring the impact and legacies of significant relationships and how clients can integrate them into their current lives.

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.

In compassionate surroundings, explore how you can heal in the grief process and honor those you love as an ongoing part of your story. I offer support during many different kinds of loss, knowing each person’s experience is singular and different. Individuals, couples and families go through transitions, loss and change. I can nurture connection and remembrance, listening deeply to what matters most.

I have worked with victims of trauma and abuse for over 15 years. I have been trained on many different methods to helping a client through their trauma so that they can begin living without PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) symptoms. Many people come to therapy because of the nightmares, trouble sleeping, having flashbacks, and having intimacy issues because they cannot let their guard down. For 10 years I worked using strictly a “person centered” approach to therapy. That means that I would let the survivor tell their story in their own way and not really guide them much. My main job was to make sure they felt safe and figured out ways to be safe. This process took a very long time, but it ....