Grief and Loss Counseling in Westmont, CA.

In treating grief and loss, it is essential to facilitate a safe, respectful therapeutic interaction, in which clients are able to tell their story, process and express their feelings of grief, explore the meaning of their loss, and revise their relationship with the deceased. Additionally, using cognitive and behavioral therapy techniques enable people to develop skills for coping with the anxiety, depression, and difficult emotions that may arise as a result of the grieving process.

I address grief and loss issues with understanding, validation, and empathy. My deep respect for the fact that it takes time to sufficiently mourn and grieve the loss of what once was is key in working with clients who experience grief and loss. We are all unique, and we grieve in ways that may look different than other's ways. There is no wrong way to experience loss! I model compassion and patience, hoping that in time my clients can experience self-compassion and allow themselves to feel the depths of their feelings without excess shame or self-judgment. I believe that social and cultural factors may also play a role in our grieving process, so I explore those factors in therapy as well.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Grief and loss is a very personal and individual experience. Finding one's words in relationship to a significant loss can be very helpful and healing. Traumatic loss, out of time loss and abandonment are specific losses that may need a sensitive and unique understanding. In a safe and empathic environment, psychotherapy for grief and loss can be a part of the healing process.

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!

Grief & Loss is a part of every human beings' life. Grief & Loss Therapy is an intrinsic part of moving forward. The benefits of Grief & Loss Therapy is that it allows people to plunge forward in their lives. Tragedy is a part of human existence, but how and what we do with it, determines who we are. I work with people to process & metabolize grief, to leave what they don't want behind, and to keep with them that which benefits, nourishes, and enhances their life!

Loss and grief are natural occurrences in life. However, they can be major intrusions in the quality of our life if we are too caught up in them. They can also interfere if we are so defended against them that they limit our ability to function or impair our daily interactions with others. Sometimes, what we have lost is not a person but a job or a situation in our life that has had great meaning for us, like our self-image. That can feel devastating. Just like losing a person, these events must be grieved if we are to be able to move on. Grieving doesn’t mean forgetting or being weak. It’s a sign of love and strength. Together, we can work through the grief so you can move on.

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.

Saying goodbye to someone you loved, and who has loved you, is bittersweet. The thought of not seeing a beloved family member or friend again just plain hurts. It’s normal for someone to feel bitter, even angry during this time. I can help young adults grieve the death of a loved one, whether it be a person ... or a pet. I support my clients in making sense of their loss and healing their pain, so that they are able to move forward again in their lives.

Although loss is an inevitable part of life, it can be debilitating. I provide a safe environment where you can process your painful feelings so that you can find satisfaction and pleasure in your life again. Many people can feel paralyzed after the loss of a loved one. Often times this paralysis is a conscious or unconscious attempt to hold on to the one that was lost. Moving forward can feel unbearable, like you are losing your loved one all over again. I can help you move forward and still feel a deep connection to your loved one so that you can go on to live a life that feels fulfilling and worth living.