Grief and Loss Counseling in Lomita, CA.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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 know grief too well, having lost significant, beautiful people in my life. Thus, I am able to help you navigate the complex waves of emotions that overtake us in grief and leave us feeling depleted and empty. 1 Corinthians 12 (Living Bible) states that, "Love never ends". Christ promised we will meet our loved ones again in eternity. This is the greatest comfort one can hold onto in time of grief and loss.

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).

We may all experience the grief and loss of a loved one, a pet, a home, a sense of belonging, a career, finances or stature in life. There needs to be a time to grieve, as well as a time to be cared for and held. As co-therapists in the room together, we nurture, we provide safety, and we offer perspectives. We work on the tools couples need to get the support they deserve from each other. We believe it is essential to explore shutting down and isolating and the paths to getting back to each other. We help build safe structures to support holding the memories, the loneliness, the complexity and the growth.

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 ....

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."

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.