Grief and Loss Counseling in Garden City, MI.

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.

Grief and loss is something we can't avoid in life. I have learned we need to face it and live through it. I personally know the pain caused by divorce and the death of family members having lost my son, Scott, at the age of 29. However, as we talk about it and share its pain, I believe we can get through the dark valleys of life to get to the other side.

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.

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 dont 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

Losing someone or something is incredibly hard. I believe that one of the great myths that we are told is simply that “time heals all wounds.” Time can actually reinforce the pain of loss and it is important to mourn and grieve that which we no longer have. I am honored to partner with my clients on their journey through healing and finding peace after a loss. I look forward to the opportunity to work with you.

Recognizing that people deal with loss and grief in a variety of ways that are unique to who they are, there prior experiences with loss and grief, I meet each person where they are at and attempt to faciliate them through their grieving process that is unique to who each person is utilizing their strengths. In addition, I educate clients on the different feelings, etc. that they might be experiencing and help them label it in a way that makes sense for them and who they are.

I provide a safe and supportive environment in which to help you deal with the pain of grief and loss, from the death of a loved one or loss of a pet, to divorce or the end of a career. Together, we'll explore the emotional, mental, physical, spiritual, and practical impacts that grief and loss can have on your life, as well as ways to take care of yourself during this difficult time.

Grief therapy aims to help people cope with grief and mourning following the death of loved ones, or with major life changes that trigger feelings of grief (e.g., divorce, major illness). Everyone experiences and expresses grief in their own way, often shaped by culture. They believe that it is not uncommon for a person to withdraw from their friends and family and feel helpless; some might be angry. One can expect a wide range of emotion and behavior associated with grief. We believe that in all places and cultures, the grieving person benefits from the support of others.

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.

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.

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.

Grief is a natural reaction to any form of loss, especially someone’s death. It goes beyond mere sadness and often evokes feelings of confusion, doubt, guilt, anger, and other complex emotions. ​ There’s no right way to grieve — everyone reacts to loss differently and grieves in their own way. There’s also no normal duration for grief; it may take months or years to accept the loss of a loved one. Nonetheless, most people can indeed recover from loss with the help of a great social support network and healthy coping mechanisms. Grief counseling provides the necessary support for those finding it hard to recover.

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.