Grief and Loss Counseling in Valinda, CA.

Are you dying inside? Experiencing heartbreak that fills you with utter despair? Do friends and family keep telling you that it is time to “move on”? Do you feel that no one could possibly understand your pain? Please understand that YOUR EMOTIONS ARE NORMAL AND TO BE EXPECTED! I would like to help you recognize and understand the reactions that you may be feeling…feelings of sadness, frustration, confusion, anger, anxiety, numbness, and helplessness, all of which are normal. I will listen to you, support you, and I will not rush you. I will help you draw upon your own strengths and develop healthy coping mechanisms that will allow you to gradually recover and feel joy again.

Free 30 minute zoom call - Grief & Loss are normal experiences in life. Yet, they are often overwhelming - combining experiences of sadness, fear, anxiety, surprise & disorientation, frustration, worry, loneliness, confusion & more. Grief is truly not meant to be experienced alone. The guidance of a caring therapist as well as the support of loving, friends, family & community is invaluable and truly needed. Grief takes time, comes in waves and needs expression in multiple ways, through tears, writing, talking and the help of a grief counselor.

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.

Loss comes in many forms -- the end of a life, a relationship, a job, an identity or phase of life, a home, a culture, or even losing "what could have been." The experience of loss can be one of the most isolating and confusing experiences a person goes through. You do not need to be alone in your grief -- however messy it is. I will come alongside you to help you find meaning and peace with your particular loss, so that you can begin to walk forward again.

The death of someone we love is devastating and painful for all of us. All of your feelings are "normal" and it is ok to allow yourself the opportunity to experience them. But sometimes the sad, anxious thoughts and feelings do not dimish and you may need help in dealing with your grief. I provide a safe and compassionate place for you to share your thoughts, feelings and memories as well as helpful stratagies to help you cope and find meaning in this life altering loss.

Grief and loss prior to or during your pregnancy, birth, or postpartum experience can derail your parenting journey - instead of the joy and adjustment you were expecting, you're finding yourself feeling lost, overwhelmed by heartache. I use EMDR therapy, a powerful mind-body therapy approach that helps you find comfort, stability, and reconnection with yourself in the midst of grief.

Loss can be experienced in many different ways - death (expected or sudden), ending of a relationship, and/or life transitions. Well meaning friends and family can try to get us to "move past it" faster than we are ready to. These interactions can be hurtful and sometimes add to our pain. Working through issues of grief and loss can give you a safe place to express your feelings so that you can work through your disbelief, pain, and anger to a place of healing.

Grief and loss are both highly individual and intensely personal. Although we all experience grief and loss in different forms (death and non death), nothing describes the pain. Together we will create tools and awareness to process these painful life bereavements.

Sometimes things can be overwhelming and you may feel that you just can’t do it anymore. It can feel very lonely and frustrating. You are not alone. This is a difficult process to manage. I will be here to help you move through the process. I provide an empathetic and warm environment to help you process the grief and loss. Give me a call and we can set up an appointment. I can help you utilize the strength that is within you and help you to process the grief and loss that you are feeling.

Grieving a loss can feel overwhelming and isolating. Whether you are grieving a recent loss or need to process a loss from your past, a safe space to freely express your thoughts and feelings can be healing. Children's response to loss is framed by their developmental capacities. For this reason, children may process a loss and then need to reprocess at a later stage of development. Therapy provides an opportunity for children and adolescents to process their loss in age appropriate ways.

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. .

I have lost people close to me and I can understand what you may be experiencing, even if you had violent/sudden loss. I offer a highly supportive environment in which we talk through your loss, share memories, and I can teach you about grief and loss. In addition, I offer a supportive therapy group for bereavement, which has been proven extremely helpful to people grieving. I use energy therapies and other alternative therapies along with more conventional psychotherapy which enhances your healig and working through losses. I offer a holistic approach to therapy through talk therapy, art and creative therapy, group therapy, bibliotherapy and energy therapies. Contact me because I can help!

Losing a friend, spouse, or family member is always a difficult trial. Nobody wants to experience or think about these types of events, but it's happened. Perhaps you've tried to cope, but it still hurts. There is help and support for you no matter what stage of grief you're in. We will help guide you through this unfortunate state in your life with all the care and support that you need. Many have made it through and hope can still be found! Reach out to us. You deserve to live again!

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.

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 often something that shouldn't be fixed, but embraced. I also specialize in helping people who were hurt or abused by the deceased. Grief and Loss is a painful time of life, one that every human being goes through. You are not alone. I will come alongside you through the anger, loneliness, fear, shock, and panic. In the middle of the grief, the way forward can bring hope, strength, peace and freedom from guilt.

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.

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.

Losing a baby is the hardest challenge that any parent can face. There are no words to describe the grief and pain that follow. It is a loss that cannot be measured. Parents can feel utterly alone, wondering if they can survive as relatives and friends are encouraging them to move on. Anger can mount in trying to understand why. Grief and loss take time to heal. I work with fathers who have lost a baby, had a stillbirth, termination, or lost a baby in neonatal care. Take the time to reach out for help. This is a difficult journey that takes time and is slow. The death of a baby is hard for many to understand. I encourage you to care for yourself and reach out for help.

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.

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.

For those of you experiencing separation or loss, I am sorry for what you may be going through. I wish I could fix it and make the pain go away. Actually though, there is great value in experiencing these feelings and I am honored if you are reaching out and willing to face them. Good for you. Sadness, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance come with the territory and whatever you may be feeling is important. Please stay courageous and share. Help is here.

Grief and loss comes in many shapes and forms and can take a toll on various aspects of your life. Processing grief and loss takes time and is different for everyone but doesn’t have to be done alone. I will offer support, empathy, and a safe space for you to process your emotions openly. Together we will get through this difficult time in your life. You are not alone.

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.

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.

Faced with the death of a loved one is for most of us an emotional challenge filled with pain. Talking to another will help you process the many confusing thoughts and emotions which accompany grief. Grief never happens in a predictable way. Having a professional therapist help you through the "stages of grief" will enable you to understand the complexity of grief, offer you comfort, and give you hope for the future. The "grief process" can be overwhelming at times and knowing you have a skilled counselor to guide you through this journey will offer solace in a difficult time. Losing a loved one may change our lives forever, but eventually the pain can be transformed.