Grief and Loss Counseling in Pingree Grove, IL.

You may feel like no amount of talking could possibly help you overcome the sadness you feel right now. What you may not realize is that therapy can be incredibly effective in helping you manage the difficult and complicated feelings commonly accompanying the loss of a loved one. Everything you are feeling is normal! In therapy, you'll learn tools to help manage intensely painful emotions while honoring the memory of your loved one(s). While therapy cannot entirely take the pain away, it can certainly take the edge off so you can begin to function again. With the help of therapy, you'll begin to experience more and more periods of relief and in time, even begin to feel joy again.

Everyone experiences traumatic and/or painful losses within their lifetime. There are many types of loss such as death of a family member or friend, separation or divorce, loss of a job, or children leaving home. Grief is the most common response to loss. It is a natural, necessary reaction to a significant change or loss in our lives. Grief can make you more susceptible to illness, cause fatigue, insomnia, weight loss, higher blood pressure and heart rates. Grieving people commonly experience a wide range of emotions and reactions. The time it takes each person to heal varies. A person’s reaction depends on the type of loss, their personality, previous losses, and the type of support that is available. Grief normally gets easier with time though...(view profile to read more)

The death of a loved one is a natural occurrence in an individual’s lifetime, but sometimes death is sudden and unexpected and can turn our world upside down. People may have difficulty processing their emotions after such an event, and as a result, their ability to function may be impacted as well. This may also be the case after dissolution of a marriage or other meaningful relationships, a health crisis resulting in declining abilities or causing disability, loss of employment, and a host of other circumstances in life that induce overwhelming feelings of grief/loss. Karen will support such an individual as they process their feelings associated with the grief/loss.

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.

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.

"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.

I work with those experiencing grief and loss, and provide a safe, empathic, and understanding environment for you to have the space to process this tragedy. I am here to listen to you, support you, help process the chaos of this experience, and provide any guidance if necessary and when appropriate. I have experience helping those who have lost loved ones, are going through a traumatic loss, and/ or are experiencing complicated grief. I am here to support you on your journey to healing and putting the pieces back together.

We generally think of grief and loss in relation to the death of people we have been close with, such as family, friends, coworkers and others with whom we have been close. While death is certainly the worst kind of loss we are called upon to face and grieve over, there are other meaningful losses we must endure and find a way to grieve toward resolution and inner peace. Such losses as the breakup of significant relationships, through divorce or separation from any loved one certainly call for grieving. Loss of one’s job can amount to a meaningful loss that requires grieving to go on with a new and constructive adjustment. The loss of one’s health can also present serious challenges to keepin....

Discussing the loss of a loved one, remembering past experiences, and seeing your life without someone can be heartbreaking. Engaging in counseling can help you manage through these difficult times. Within a compassionate and therapeutic space, I will help you through the grieving process and will guide you through your emotional pain with the hope of moving forward while still acknowledging what you’ve lost.

I believe empathic attunement to bereavement and grief is more than expressing "I'm sorry for your loss." As a clinician, it's about relationally connecting with a client, and communicating that it is okay to sit in difficult emotions together. The real healing and growth occur when there is space to weep, laugh, reflect, get angry, or even just know it is okay to sit in silence together. As a trained therapist, I know the steps to take in looking at the trauma of loss. However, anyone can know that by reading a book. I am here to be relationally and empathically connected in a safe space where we can drop down together to work through difficult emotions.

Everyone deals with grief and loss differently. Our therapists get to know you and take the time to understand your unique loss. Dealing with grief and loss can be very difficult. We would like to walk with you down the path of healing. Our trained therapists can help you deal with emotions, life transitions and challenges you face. It can feel at times that here is no hope, but there will be. You will get through.

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.

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.