Grief and Loss Counseling in Paradise, CA.

Have you lost a person that is dear to you? Do you feel that your whole world has come to an end, although the outside world still keeps moving on in the same old way, indifferent to your pain? Do you feel that friends do not really understand what you are going through, and can't fathom your pain. I offer a warm, welcoming and safe place where I can help you work through your grief. I would be honored to listen to your story. Know that my door is open, and that I have a space waiting for you: I am here to help.

Grief is hard. Grief is natural. Animals grieve. Grief is something we feel deep in our bodies and can be disorienting and destabilizing. Grief brings up questions about who we are, the world, the existence or goodness of God, and purpose and futility of life. Dealing with grief, especially when the loss is traumatic and unexpected, requires a slow and tender space to allow the grief to move through our body and to settle in our hearts with warmth and memory. I am here to help you grieve the loss of your loved one, experience, health , future or even your beloved pet. .

Elizabeth Kubler-Ross provided that there are 5 grief stages-- Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression and Acceptance. I help people acknowledge and welcome all the emotions and experiences grief brings, which we now know can include more than the stages Kubler-Ross has identified. I assist people in adjusting to a new normal without their beloved person/pet. Grief can include grieving loss of past, present, and/or future, and emotional experiences are non-linear and varied from person to person.

When we lose someone we love, it feels like we have lost a part of ourselves. Something within us has been torn out, leaving a hole that we easily imagine will never heal. The pain can be profound, the feelings of helplessness, or regret, or guilt overwhelming. Having a partnership where you can talk through these feelings can make a huge difference not only in how quickly and how well you are able to move through the process of grieving, but also how you ultimately are able to frame the experience and your memories of the person lost into the narrative of your own self and life as you move forward. What you carry with you afterward is just as important as surviving the hurt of the loss.

Life leaves little time for grief. Instead it demands constant attention and engagement. Therefore it’s a separate set of tools you need to keep going when grief and loss come into your life. Taking a dedicated amount of time and space for the work is where counseling with me comes in. I’m here to help you process and make room for the grief as well as develop the tools to keep going.