Grief and Loss Counseling in Signal Hill, CA.

My years of experience as a psychologist has confirmed that there is no particular timetable for overcoming grief whether from a death of relative, partner, friend, pet or the more symbolic losses of empty nest, end of career, decisions not to have children or marry. I provide a safe environment for patients to explore the many feelings associated with grieving on their own terms and timetable.

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. .

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.

EXPERIENCING THE INTENSE PAIN OF LOSS? Whether it is due to the loss of a loved one, a job or something that means a lot to you, I can help! In counseling you can work through the feelings of sadness, grief, emptiness, regret, anger, guilt, frustration… so that you can come to terms with unfinished businesses and move on to healing, recovery, growth and empowerment. Don't hesitate to call me for a free telephone consultation session.

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 and loss comes in all forms, from the death of a pet, to moving, to the loss of a dream, to the death of a child or spouse, and more. My clients discover grief and loss are a process (which includes: shock/disbelief, anger, blaming, depression/sadness, bargaining, and denial), and how to move through that process to an increased state of acceptance. As their state of acceptance increases, my clients experience an increase in forgiveness, healing, freedom and hope for the present and future. My clients see how they can begin to feel good about their life and future again.

Grief can be a difficulty beast to manage, a beast which can surface at any moment without warning and often comes in waves. When I’ve been grieving I’ve felt like I was in an emotional pong ball. With the aid of tools like EMDR CBT and guided visualizations I can help you to heal and leave the pain, loss, and grief in the past while holding on to the happy memories. Additionally, I can provide tools, coping skills, and other resources to help you manage this particular issue.

Loss is an extremely difficult, yet natural part of life. Grief can feel very dark and all consuming. In the midst of this process, one might find themselves at a loss of where to turn. I provide a safe space for all feelings that arise, gently work with people towards acceptance, and help find ways to keep memories alive. A loss does not have to mean an ending.

Grief & loss is often felt with the death of a loved one. It can also be experienced from the loss of a relationship, your health, your job, or your home. The grieving process can be complicated. You may love someone who suffers from a significant memory loss due to Alzheimer’s, stroke or a traumatic brain injury. You may feel guilty for grieving the loss of the person you knew before the illness because you feel you should be grateful he/she is still alive. As a person loses their memory, an important part of who they are gets lost. It is appropriate for this grieving process to begin before death. I would love to support you through whatever loss you are currently experiencing.

Grief and Loss is painful and it brings up so many different feelings and emotions. Working through the stages of Grief will help you better cope and navigate your life, your relationships, and it brings awareness and healing. I offer a supportive environment for you to work through your grief or loss. I can help you to find support systems and create a safe space to work through the pain. You don't have to go through a loss alone.

Grieving is a complex process. There is no right or wrong, ideal or non-ideal formulaic process to grieving. Grief is personal and varies from person to person. Allowing oneself to grief, while not loosing perspective on life is a difficult process and often requires assistance. This is where I can be of help. I will listen and provide guidance during the process of grief.

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.

When someone is grieving, it is sometimes difficult to know what to say. People feel awkward and often are reduced to well-meaning platitudes. There is no magic wand to take away the feelings experienced in grief but having a place of safety and honesty can be an important step on the road to restoration. Being able to talk, weep, get angry and feel the feelings is often present in the early stages. The purpose of grief work is not about forgetting remembering with love in spite of the wounds it leaves behind.

Grief and loss is a part of so much more than many recognize in every day life. Most folks are familiar with the Kubler-Ross stages, but processing grief is much more than those five stages. There are tasks of mourning that can be explored and expanded with support in therapy. There are secondary losses as a result of an initial loss. Grief impacts how open we feel to new relationships in our lives. I work with clients to help them understand their responses to grief, move through their grief and feelings through expressive arts and verbal processing.

Dr. Eris Huemer is has created a seven step system to heal your heart after the loss of someone you love. Dr. Eris gives you hope and growth in the face of death and loss. She will help you construct possibilities rather than limitations, and provides hope and comfort in a time of despair. Once you go through the grief process, you will expand your ability to a life trasformative experience.

Unfortunately, grief and loss are inevitable in life and sometimes we need guidance to process all that we’re feeling. My approach is to validate their loss and allow them to speak openly about it and then help them find healthy connections to their loved ones through memories. So much of the time when there is a loss, all people hear is “time heals all wounds.” That is rarely helpful in getting your life back on track because that implies you need to wait awhile before feeling better! Through our work, you will slowly learn to adjust to the new reality of your life without your loved one. This might require incorporating a new routine or even adopting a new sense of identity.

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 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.

I am a Certified Advanced Grief Specialist. Grief is a natural process following a meaningful loss and it can influence physical, emotional, behavioral & spiritual aspects of our lives. Grief is most associated with the death of a loved one, but also occurs with the loss of a pet, job, relationship, and changes in your health. People cope with grief in a variety of ways. The intensity and duration of grieving differs between individuals. Therapy is a safe place to express & explore your feelings. I will help you learn to cope and transform your pain into healthier ways of meaning and remembrance. Through therapy you will find permission to live your life and develop connection again.

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.

Grey Matters International and the work of Kevin J. Fleming, Ph.D approaches issues of grief & loss through the lens of innovation----instead of growing the same neural networks responsible for the pain in weekly therapy sessions, we reset the brain to move forward quicker and efficiently by working on the stuck limbic system so as to empower the person with more success and traction. For no one wants to stay in a grief mode for too long; but when you don’t include the brain in your work with someone, you risk describing the water to them while they drown and calling it success. Contact Grey Matters International, Inc now at kevin@kevinflemingphd.com or 877-606-6161.

Our grief can benefit from having a safe, nonjudgmental space where we feel heard. This is especially important for teens and college students. Therapy goes at your pace, with your level of readiness for each step. Hope and healing are possible. There is meaning and purpose to be found in your pain. Though you will never forget your loved one, you can live in a way that honors them and their life's legacy.

Grief and loss can occur at any time in many ways during a person's life. It can be an actual death, illness, a loss of relationship or even a loss of a career or job, an identity. While normal and a part of life, they are often met with indifference and ignorance, sometimes fear. Thru the process of therapy grief and loss can be explored and understood, it can be a shared experience where there is value and acceptance.

Using the tools of Grief Recovery, I help you accept and heal from the pain of a loss. I offer support in a safe environment where you can express yourself openly and work through your most profound feelings. With the help of counseling, you can process your feelings of fear, anger, guilt and deep sadness and find a way forward. You don’t have to be alone during this trying time. Discover coping strategies for adapting to a loss and releasing yourself from pain.

Everyone grieves in their own way. You shouldn't feel you are out-of-control because you grieve in unexpected ways or for a longer peroid. Cultural and religious differences in grieving exist which are perfectly acceptible. A therapist must be sensitive to these issues. Grief is said to involve denial, anger, bargaining, deperession and acceptance. We will monitor your reactions to validate those feelings in session. Unhealthy reactions to loss do occur; self-medicating, and isolating oneslef for long periods, experiencing full-blown depression -- these behaviors, can prove detrimental. We will monitor your behaviors and mood changes and deal with negative conditions, should they occur.