Grief and Loss Counseling in La Palma, CA.

As a hosptial chaplain and licensed therapist, I have years of experience working with people who are experiencing the loss of someone they loved who has died. When someone we love dies, we are never prepared for this. It is like losing an arm, how do you cope when your arm is gone? As a grief therapist, you will benefit from my years of experience and caring support helping you to grieve your loss. Counseling will help you to properly say goodbye and process the pain and feelings of anger, depression, and acceptance. You also will benefit from learning new ways to cope and adjust so that you do not remain stuck in loneliness.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Losing someone can be hard, and you might need a place to go where you can talk freely about what you think and feel. You might think that you should be "further along" in the process than where you are. No two people grieve alike, and it's going to take you as long as it takes, and not one moment less . I help people to accept and go through their grief process, and I see grief as a testament to the love and caring that you had for the person you've lost. However, we don't just grieve for people who have died. We grieve for lost opportunities, beloved pets we've lost, and relationships that are over.

We are so lucky to have people in our lives that we love and whom have made an impact. It is a painful thing to have to say goodbye to that person. It is a process which is unique to each individual. No one can determine how long you will grieve for or exactly how you will navigate the grieving stages. With understanding, empathy and some tools to help you through the suffering, you can move through grief in a healthy way. If you feel you are struggling with grief then getting professional help is the next step.

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.

Most people come to therapy because of some loss and the need for grief work . Whether it is the loss of a job, the loss of a relationship, the loss of a loved one, most therapy involves grieving. We listen to the clients loss and validate their pain. We help educate them about the stages of grieving, then give them tools to help them tolerate the pain. It has been said ,"Most people don't care about how much we know, until they know how much we care". We genuinely respect each and every person who calls. We provide clients our direct cell phone numbers , because we want to be easily accessible to them.

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

I understand that you need a safe and comforting person to think out loud with and and find the best therapy toolsI for your healing journey at your unique pace. We will work together to help ease the pain and plan for the future. You can learn to find the courage to find the strength in you by taiking it out and using stimple tools that we can discover together.