Grief and Loss Counseling in Belvidere, IL.

Are you struggling with the loss of a loved one? Even a job loss or the loss of a relationship such as divorce can bring on feelings of grief. Are you experiencing feelings of anger, guilt, sadness and confusion? It may seem impossible to return to "normal" life. You may feel unprepared to deal with what is happening around you. Unfortunately, we will all experience grief in our lifetime. There is no "correct" way to express grief, but it can be softened and even resolved with kind and compassionate care. For more information, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Regardless of whether it is bereavement, or any other significant loss we are here to assist you with processing your grief and to support you in your journey of healing. Losses can include financial, property, health, relationships, pets, and/or custody. All losses are difficult. Losses produce an array of emotions, anger, fear, anxiety, and depression to name a few. We will assist in facilitating your emotional rehabilitation.

Grief counseling applies to many types of loss, not just death. Counseling for loss can be an opportunity to memorialize the person, relationship, or experience you lost. Counseling should include the joy and laughter of the loss as well as the sadness and pain. Uncomplicated grief counseling can be short-term, 1-6 sessions, and is covered by insurance in many cases.

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.

Know that your most important thoughts and feelings are held with great care and sensitivity, as I listen closely and compassionately to your stories of grief, loss and change. Your personal experience is unique and valid for you, and it's ok that others' experiences are different. I will support and assist you as you talk, write, and find additional ways to express yourself and what your losses have meant to you, so that you will find healing and peace over time.

The key areas of grief and loss is learning to create what is known as a "new normal". This new normal can be created after a death, loss of job or even the loss of a relationship like divorce. Being able to understand the grief steps and what to expect brings hope to individuals and families who may have just had what they once new as normal completely change sometimes overnight.

Losing a loved one is one of the most devastating experiences in life. Losing abilities or functioning in chronic pain is a loss of another kind, but a loss nevertheless. Getting past the numbness and overwhelming pain is a uniquely personal process with a very individual timeline. I provide loving support and understanding of the grief process while carefully encouraging you to move forward when ready to see and understand the new landscape you are now living.

The death or loss of a loved one can be one of the most difficult events that you ever have to face. Sometimes therapy is needed to help you learn to cope with the thoughts and feelings that you are dealing with. If after a period of time, you have difficulty completing your every day activities and coping with life, it may be beneficial to meet with a professional. You may be "stuck" in one of the stages of the normal grieving process.

Grief is overwhelming, scary and profound, affecting every area of life. Life will never be the same. You can feel lost. Each person grieving is in uncharted territory, because the pain can be immense, and the process of grief is unique like one's fingerprint. There are commonalities and beacons to chart your progress, but moving through anger, fear, and sadness can feel like a solo act. It takes a sensitive approach to integrate this new reality that feels so empty. We believe in finding ways to honor your losses as part of your life, not just move on. Moving through bitterness in grief to a place of sweet memories, or even gratitude, is not meant for someone to do alone.

"As for grief, you'll find it comes in waves. When the ship is first wrecked, you're drowning, with wreckage all around you. You find some piece of the wreckage and you hang on for a while. Maybe it's some physical thing. Maybe it's a happy memory. Maybe it's a person who is also floating. For a while, all you can do is float. Stay alive." Grief and loss comes in all forms - from job loss to death of a loved one. Emotional based therapy will help you cope with the loss and adjust to a "new normal". I'll help you explore the loss, your grieving process, and help you find closure.

Processing a loss or trauma occurs in many ways, starting with talking. Losses by death of family and friends are likely our greatest losses in life. Maybe you didn't consider retirement, moving away, a serious heath diagnosis, or the end of a longterm friendship as a loss. Loss is actually uncontrollable change. Talking about how you are feeling is how you begin to let go. Time does not really heal all wounds. It is what you do with time that heals the wound.

Grief and loss is a process that does not follow steps in a certain order. We help process the loss in the hopes of giving a strong meaning to the life event, so that you feel that you can carry whatever you feel that has been lost in a healthy way. Our goal is for clients to thaw and leave the process having a new meaning about their loss. Grief and loss can feel like a very lonely experience; however, a client does not have to be alone.

In grief therapy, my approach is compassionate, grounded, and personalized. I offer a supportive space to help you process your loss at your own pace, without judgment or pressure to “move on.” We’ll explore the emotional, cognitive, and physical impact of grief, while also identifying ways to find meaning and connection in the midst of pain. I gently guide clients through the complexities of loss, helping them honor their experiences and move forward with care and clarity.