Grief and Loss Counseling in Montebello, CA.

I am very mindful of the pain that clients are experiencing when they have lost a loved one, or are experiencing grief over upcoming loss of a person or of a dream that they have had for their life. The loss of a relationship produces feelings of grief that can be difficult to manage and work through. I help patients focus on the feelings that surround "grief": anger, denial, depression, guilt that they may be burdened by, etc. I help them develop new coping skills so they can move toward acceptance of the loss at the same time as they rebuild hope for themselves in this new reality without the person or relationship they have lost. Together with the client we redefine a hopeful future.

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.

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.

Loss in all its forms in an integral facet of life. Most of us have formed deep bonds with spouses, family, and friends, and grieving is both a testimony to the deep importance of those others to us, and part of a difficult, gradual process of letting go. Therapy work includes the honoring of either ended or failed relationships--deaths of many types--and also the grieving of we go through due to illness and aging.. A good therapist-patient relationship deals with numerous such painful "necessary losses", as well with successes in life.

Dealing with loss can be an overwhelming and deeply painful experience. Adjusting to life without a loved one or a major life change can be a difficult, long, and often a lifelong process. I believe that in times of grieving, having a space to work through all of the emotions that it can bring up can be valuable. My hope is to help people experience healing and peace as they work through a life changing experience such as grief and loss.

Depression and anxiety are often a result of not having processed past difficult situations. We all experience loss, and we have a natural process involving our emotions which helps us recover. Most of us do not receive the permission or the teaching to help us use this natural process. Therapy can help work through "stuck" experiences so that we are freer to move forward in life with less restriction.

Losing someone or something close to you is often the most difficult event that people face in their lives. Often these events happen unexpectedly which adds to the confusion and hurt. Mourning a loss is a process that benefits from guidance from a trained professional. I can help you understand loss, mourn, and ultimately move through the pain while honoring and remembering who or what was lost.

There are two emotions which can be utilized in the process of healing from trauma: anger and sadness. Sadness can be a very effective vehicle for healing. The only problem with sadness is that it is such a short leap from there to depression. Sadness heals; depression does not. Depression can keep a person stuck in the same place for years without any progress. You must be very careful not to fall into depression when you decide to explore your feelings about the negative experiences of your life. Unfortunately, many people find the difference between sadness and depression to be obscure at best, and they often vacillate between the two. We encourage you to be very careful of depression becau....

When you lose something or someone important or close to you, it may be difficult to make sense of life or to feel that others can relate to or understand what you are going through. If you need someone to talk to about what happened, I am here for you. I understand that sadness is sometimes something that shouldn't be fixed, but embraced. I will come alongside you, listen to you, and support you in the journey of making sense of what has happened to you. Grief and Loss is a painful time of life, but its one that every human being goes through. You are not alone. One strategy I use to help my Grief/Loss clients is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) where I help you explore unhelpful thoughts

Everyone's story of grief and loss is unique. There is no such thing as the right way to grieve or the appropriate amount of time to grieve. Most everything people tend to say about grieving and loss is addressing their own discomfort. Grieving does not have to be only about enduring and getting through the pain of loss, it can actually bring forth new meanings, a deeper sense of self and greater connections.

Dealing with Grief is an important part of living well. Loss is a part of life, so we all have to find ways to deal with it. Sometimes the grief we feel results in normal ups and downs that we can manage on our own. But sometimes the grief gets so painful that we need the help of a trained therapist to help us find our way out of it. If your grief is lasting too long, or your sadness is going too deep don't try to go through this on your own. We have trained professionals who can come along side of you and help.

The heartbrokenness of grief and loss can be so huge. When cords of love and attachment are broken, it hurts terribly. It’s vital to heal those broken cords so that they don’t invite depression and so that you can find your way to loving and living fully again. Please consider working with Janet Niederman, Ph.D. of Heartminded Psychotherapy to help you heal.

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.

At some point in our lives, most of us will experience grief following the loss of a loved one. While everyone experiences grief in their own unique way, grief is a major stressor that can often be a very isolating experience. Western culture tends to deal with grief on a timetable that doesn't allow most individuals adequate time to process their loss. I assist clients by helping find ways to regain a sense of control over their lives as well as adapting to life without their loved one. Working out what you need to do to help yourself during this time is important - I can help.

Loss is a natural part of life, but that doesn’t make it any less difficult an experience when we lose someone close to us. The grief we feel at that moment can surround us completely, permeating every aspect of our lives. We can sometimes feel the grief we’re experiencing in our bodies, see it change our relationships and impact our work. It filters through into our daily thoughts, our vision for the future and our remembrances of the past. Grief is a natural and necessary process, but sometimes having support can help. Story is a powerful tool; maybe one of our most powerful. Telling your personal story of loss, as an individual and a family, is an important part of the work I do. It helps you develop the positive coping skills to manage your sadness,...(view profile to read more)

Grief can be an overwhelming process that takes time and support to work through. I offer a safe place where you have permission to grieve the loss and permission to take the steps to continue with your own life. Grief counseling also teaches coping skills to help you get through the most difficult days of the grieving process. How to honor your loved one and how to move through anniversary dates and learn to live again.

We all know that with life comes loss but it doesn't make the experience any easier. Grief and loss is different for everyone and there is no right way to go through the process. Loss in life can bring about changes in our view of the world or ourselves; it can often bring about anxieties that we've never experienced before. My approach is to help you understand the grieving process and how to move forward in 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.

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.

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.

Coping with grief and loss is unique to each person and situation. Grief is a natural response to losing someone or something that has meant a great deal to you and been part of your life. Even changes in your health, career, or lifestyle, can cause grief. I approach each case by starting where you are. Although there are different "stages" to working through grief and loss, each person experiences these stages in different ways, durations and may even revisit some of these stages multiple times throughout the process. My goal is to allow you the opportunity to experience each stage at your own pace while focusing on maintaining your health.

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.

Sometimes when you lose a loved one, you need extra help. If you have experienced death of a friend, spouse or someone close to you, it can create severe emotional distress. When going through a major loss like this, it is easy to feel depressed, lonely and empty. Sometimes you may say to yourself, "Just snap out of it", but it does not seem to help. If you are struggling through the loss of a loved one and need someone to talk to that can help more than just a friend, please give me a call.

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.