Grief and Loss Counseling in Destin, FL.

Perhaps one emotion which is often not recognized by those around us is grief, which is a natural response to loss. We often associate it with the loss of someone, but it is also caused by things such as divorce or a relationship breakup, losing a job, loss of financial stability, death of a pet , loss of safety after a trauma, selling the family home and many other things. I can help you understand the grieving process and that there is no right or wrong way to grieve, it depends upon many factors which include your personality and coping style, your faith and just how significant the loss was to you. There is no “normal” timetable for grieving and together we can find the ways to help you cope with the pain, and healing that allow you to move forward in life.

As an experienced Christian Counselor and ordained pastor, I’ve supported many men through the grief process. If you’re grieving, I will provide a supportive space for you to process your emotions. Because grief is a normal part of being human, I can’t take it away or rush you through it. However, I can help you identify barriers to grief, and help you prevent the grief process from becoming stuck. I know grief professionally. But I also know grief personally. Losing one of my best friends and my beloved grandparents was hard enough, but facing the untimely death of my father was, and is, a uniquely painful experience. If given the chance, I would be honored to help you process your grief.

Therapy for grief and loss provides a compassionate space to process your emotions, honor your experience, and find a path forward at your own pace. Whether you're coping with the death of a loved one, a major life change, or another significant loss, our practice offers support without judgment. You'll gain tools to navigate the pain, make meaning from your experience, and gradually reconnect with life. Healing doesn’t mean forgetting instead learning to carry your loss with care.

With my experience in ministry, in counseling, and in life-coaching, I’ve helped men work through the complicated emotions around grief and loss. As men we feel pressure to be a “rock” for everyone else. Then our wives tell us to open up and feel our feelings. But do they really want to see us fall apart? Like many things, the truth is somewhere in the middle. Chances are that you’ve bravely put your feelings on hold to care for others, and regardless of what the world says, there’s love and nobility in that. And at the same time, you need a place to be real and work through the pain. If you’re ready to take the next step and face what needs to be faced, man to man, I’m here to help.

We help our client to heal and process grief and loss through holding safe space for them to work through difficult emotions and experiences in a supportive environment. Everyone grieves differently, but it can be very beneficial to receive support from loved ones and therapists as you cope with grief and loss. Collaborative therapy, Emotionally-Focused therapy, grief psychoeducation, and techniques such as EMDR (Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and ART (Accelerated Resolution Therapy) can be especially helpful.

Loss is an extremely hard thing and finding a new reality without your old way of life can be even harder. Loss can be many things - a loved one, a friend, a pet, a job or a transition of something in your life you once had. It's a big deal. We often experience a range of emotions as a result - depression, anger, bargaining, pain, sadness - they are all so normal and yet overwhelming. At KML, we are here to be your support and help you get through this difficult time. Sometimes, it is just having a place to go where you can let the emotions out, other times it might be wanting to talk through the pain of the loss - everyone is different. We are here to walk through the pain with you.

Grieving is a normal part of life - it takes time. We do not get over it; we get through it. When thinking of loss, we naturally think about the death of a loved one. Loss can also be losing your job, home, health, or realtionship. The goal of grieving is not to eliminate the pain, but to reorganize one's life so the loss is one important part of life and not the center of one's life.

We do not grieve unless we have loved. Grief and loss can manifest in so many ways. It may even come up out of no where. With grief and loss therapy, support is there and you do not feel alone. Grief is difficult to cope with on the best of days, but the holidays bring in a different kind of sadness. After all, it’s supposed to be a joyful time, and any memories we may have of ourselves and our loved ones celebrating the holidays might feel particularly painful. We might not feel like there’s a place for our grief during the holidays, but grief doesn’t take a break. And contrary to what we might think, both can coexist. It’s just a matter of finding the right balance.