Grief and Loss Counseling in Ferndale, MI.

Dealing with grief and loss is an experience no one wants to go through, yet a club that unfortunately almost everyone eventually joins. When you lose someone important in your life, it is like the world is on a moving sidewalk and everyone keeps going when you have stepped off and are watching life go by. There are no right ways or wrong ways to grieve. It is only important to allow yourself whatever you need as you go through the experience. It is very lonely to take the journey alone; I am here to walk beside you as you start to heal.

I know personally what it is to experience loss. My clients sense I can relate to their unique situation, and are surprised to learn about the User-Friendly tools that help each person to maximize their recovery in a short period of time!!! I help them to determine their losses from the event and the feelings associated with these losses. Then we examine the consequences of the loss-feeling combinations. Often we use EMDR from there to settle the feelings and turn around any negative self-belief that has arisen from the losses. This turns out to be a fairly quick process even for those who have years of grief over their loss(es).

Grief and loss are experienced not only when losing a loved one but when a relationship ends, a sex life declines and a person experiences a coming out process. The grief and loss attached to endings of a way of life can be just as devastating if not moreso. In death, the end is final. In grief involving relationships things change and grief can be prolonged. Coming out as LGBT one experiences loss of heterosexual privilege which can be painful. Losing trust with a spouse after cheating and affairs is hard to recover from and grief gets in the way of recovery.

Grieving is a personal and highly individual experience. How you grieve depends on many factors, including your personality and coping style, your life experience, your faith, and the nature of the loss. The grieving process takes time. Healing happens gradually; it can't be forced or hurried-and there is no "normal" timetable for grieving. Grief counseling may be necessary if you have become disabled by your grief, overwhelmed by loss to the extent that your normal coping processes are disabled or shut down.

The unfortunate truth is that we all will experience grief and loss in our lifetime, and coping with loss is something that our society does not do well. I am here to support you through your loss whether it is the loss of a loved one, a beloved pet, a job, or any other loss that you have experienced. If you could benefit from someone to talk to, to share your feelings, for practical advice on handling the well-meaning people around you, or help to adjust to the new reality that has been thrust on you, I would very much like to help you.

I support individuals experiencing the loss of a loved one, changes in relationships, life transitions, and other forms of loss that can impact emotional well-being and daily functioning. I help clients explore emotions, thoughts, and relational experiences connected to grief, while honoring each person’s unique process and pace. Therapy focuses on building coping strategies, emotional awareness, and meaning-making, rather than rushing or minimizing the grief experience. I strive to create a safe, nonjudgmental space where clients feel supported as they process loss, adjust to change, and reconnect with sources of strength and support.

The most difficult part of life is experiencing the loss of a loved one. Nothing we experience is more painful than this. Despite this often incapacitating pain, with work and time, one can heal and overcome. When this occurs, one emerges from the pain as a new person, in ways that one could not formerly conceive. A large part of my work is guiding people through this process, as I am deeply familiar with it, both personally and professionally.

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.

I am a psychotherapist who understands life, especially after a significant loss, can feel like a daily struggle. No one should have to endure these feelings alone. I compassionately listen and support clients as well as offer a therapeutic counseling relationship that provides the opportunity to emotionally move forward and bring a healthy balance back into their lives. It is possible to heal, gain a sense of well-being, restore hope, and rekindle happiness even during the most challenging times.

The loss of someone can cause a whirlwind of emotions. Anger. Sadness. Confusion. Loneliness. Survivor's guilt. It can be overwhelming to feel different emotions during different stages of grief. Don't know where to turn or how to cope? Whether your loss is recent or it has been years, grief is a journey in which you may be in need of support with at this time. Give me a call and we can work together through this troubling and sensitive time in your life. We will discuss different coping strategies and how to navigate emotional triggers of your loss.

The grieving process is different for every individual and it happens at your own time and at your own pace. Feelings surrounding that grief and loss can vary and be very confusing to most people. Although grief and loss is a part of life but I don't think there is anything you can do to truly prepare for it. No one way of grieving is better than any other, so I can help you find your way!

Everyone experiences loss (loss of loved ones, our own health/ability, our dreams, etc.) and we all need to grieve in our own unique way. The most frequent question people asked me when I was a hospice Bereavement Coordinator was, "Am I grieving normally?" Almost every time, the answer was a resounding "Yes!" While there are certain common experiences with grief, there are no hard and fast rules (or even steps, as some contend) and there are definitely no timetables.

Often times, scheduling your first appointment is one of the most difficult steps of the counseling process; I'm glad you're here. During our time together, I hope to offer you support in the areas in which you are having difficulty. There are various methods of Personal Counseling, each based on the individual counselor and the needs of the client.