Grief and Loss Counseling in Madison, MI.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Grief and Loss are at the root of many of the feelings that cause us upset and sorrow. When I work with clients, I allow them to share their feelings in a way that helps then to understand the root cause of their sadness and the inability to experience life in positive ways. Together we work towards a new understanding that brings hope for a brighter future. We will work at your own pace and comfort level.

When you think of grief and loss you are typically referring to the loss of loved ones, yet we experience grief when children leave home, loss of career, divorce, end of a relationship, loss of a pet, loss of financial stability, miscarriage, loss of a job, retirement, etc. Coping with loss can be an overwhelming experience which includes many emotions. Avoiding feelings of sadness prolongs the grieving process, which can lead to issues with overall health and well being. Counseling can help you heal, by acknowledging the pain, finding new meaning and moving on in life.

Are you using alcohol, substances, or addictive behaviors to cope with grief and loss? Although they provide relief in the short term, their long-term effects on your relationships and health can make it even more difficult to cope. Through a compassionate non-judgmental approach, I help clients explore their relationship to grief and loss so that they can overcome addictive coping strategies. If you're looking for another way forward, feel free to reach out and we can set up a free consultation to discuss further.

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.