Grief and Loss Counseling in Clearwater, FL.

Grief and loss can occur from losing from death a significant person in our lives. However it can also be a loss of a job, or a relationship from a breakup. Grief and loss is different for everyone. There are 5 stages of grief in which we typically go through when experiencing grief. Each person will feel them in various ways and at different times. I utilize an existential approach to assist someone that is going through grief. Using a personalized approach is always necessary as each person is uniquely different in going through this challenging part of life. The goal is acceptance and peace.

Profile For: Dr. John Knight,PhD,LMHC Serving as a Grief Counselor with an emphasis on a gentle and empathic approach to care. With service and post doctoral training in Clinical Pastoral Counseling. Licensed Mental Health Counselor since 1996. With former service as a Non Denominational Pastor 14 years. PhD in Family, Marital and Domestic Relations Counseling. PhD in General Psychology.

We often think only of death of a loved one. But loss and grief can come from loss of finances, positions, relationships, status, friendships, physical well being, and pets. One of my grad school professors was terminally ill. She devoted her attention to teaching us students about loss, death, and dying. She became a renowned lecturer on the topic and collaborated with Dr. Kubler-Ross, one of the pioneer researchers on the topic. The early training I received has been utilized and built upon by me throughout my career. I offer compassion and guidance helping individuals normalize the feelings and emotions that may at times feel unreal.

Many people tend to think of grieving in terms of the death of a loved one. However, the truth is, grief comes in all shapes, forms and sizes. We can experience grief after many types of loss in life whether this be a divorce, the end of a friendship, moving to a new country or even losing a job. Together we can work on finding a way to handle these painful life experiences in a healthy manner. My goal is not hurry the process along, but rather support you as you grieve in your own way and on your own time.

COVID-19 Stress is inescapable. Grief is the natural response to the loss we experience. Quite often our losses occur “too early” or are “too severe” or are “too many” at once to process healthily. Loss that seems impossible to “get over” along with more loss close behind can become a deep spiral downward. This feels overwhelming & reactions can begin to have a life of their own. My therapeutic care, coupled with my own personal understanding through loss, I assist clients in safe & timely ways to face these sometimes debilitating experiences. Using trauma reduction therapies (EMDR and RRT) clients are helped to gain breathing room and a healthy perspective usually within 1 to 3 sessions.

A lot of people run from grief work - I don't. I understand the pain of loss and I will help you through the darkness. Grief is a very profound and personal experience. The pain of loss never goes away completely - that person will always be an important part of your life and experience. I am happy to help you walk through that pain so that you are not alone in your grief.

Grief can be quite a lonely experience that one can feel at the very core, and there are no pills that one can take to manage its persistent, aggravating pain. You wish to take that pain away, but nothing seems to help. I have helped many people work through their grief experiences, including 16 years providing grief therapy to hospice patients and their families.

Grief and loss can be painful, challenging and overwhelming. Often for the first time we are open to conflicting emotions and may be unprepared to cope with this change in our life. Counseling can help facilitate a healthy passage through the grief process. We can more easily move gradually and naturally from being stuck in the cycle of grief to learning to integrate and embrace the loss in to our life. By gently allowing acceptance to emerge, we can allow ourselves to be comforted by our memories, feel less trapped, and continue to live and grow healthier day by day. Realize you are not alone on this journey through grief.