Grief and Loss Counseling in Little Canada, MN.

Few of us are able to avoid feeling grief or loss. It can occur throughout our life in many different situations and for many reasons. It can be devastating to individuals, families, and communities. A person's ability to cope (resilience) is a big factor to consider when helping people with grief. Help is a very individual process. Therapists must be able to understand the event, but more importantly the impact on and resilience of the client, for best interventions.

Grieving is different than depression! At times we may not be able to distinguish between the two. Grieving is a very individual process. We all do it differently. It can result from the death of someone significant in our lives, but also from other events too. For example, meeting a long-term goal, divorce, the loss of physical health & functioning, loss of a job, or after a traumatic experience. To grieve effectively any of us need support and encouragement to face the needs and painful feelings that we often would prefer to avoid. I find that providing a warm, safe environment and supportive guidance allows my clients to feel what they need to feel in order to integrate painful losses.

Grief looks different for everyone, and there’s no “right” way to mourn. At Blossom, we offer a gentle, supportive space to help you process your loss at your own pace. Whether you or your child are grieving the death of a loved one, a major life change, or a loss that’s harder to name, we meet you with empathy and care. Through connection, reflection, and age-appropriate strategies, we help you move through grief without feeling rushed—honoring what was lost while finding your footing in what remains.

When you lose someone or something that you love, it can feel as though your world has ended. Grief can feel crushing. It can abate and a crushing tsunami of heavy may get triggered with seeming small instances where you suddenly 'remember' that this is happening and it is real. There is no 'getting over it'. It is so hard to even accept that this is really happening. You are faced with learning to move forward with this void. If you are further into your grief, you may feel alone and worried about burdening others with this pain. I understand and I want to help you.

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.

Grief is normal, exquisitely painful, and seriously lonely. My earliest therapy experience was as a Hospice Grief Counselor for four years. In those formative years, I learned the core issues that hamper our grief, the practices that make grief more tolerable, and the practiced patience necessary to bring comfort to those suffering sudden and protracted loss. I won't rush you. I'll normalize your pain and I'll nudge you gently toward practices that help.

Life doesn’t come with a roadmap, and sometimes it’s hard to make sense of what you’re going through. If you’re feeling stuck, disconnected, or overwhelmed, you’re not alone—and you don’t have to figure it out alone, either. Grief and loss can shake your sense of self and leave you feeling uncertain. Therapy gives you space to rebuild clarity, confidence, and connection—on your terms.

With my experience in ministry, in counseling, and in life-coaching, I’ve helped men work through the complicated emotions around grief and loss. As men we feel pressure to be a “rock” for everyone else. Then our wives tell us to open up and feel our feelings. But do they really want to see us fall apart? Like many things, the truth is somewhere in the middle. Chances are that you’ve bravely put your feelings on hold to care for others, and regardless of what the world says, there’s love and nobility in that. And at the same time, you need a place to be real and work through the pain. If you’re ready to take the next step and face what needs to be faced, man to man, I’m here to help.

Grief is part of life as the Buddhists say. Our approach is to help clients accept the loss by working through the pain, without feeling alone that way they can adjust to the loss and move on. Grief is painful. It is easier to deal with when one does not feel so alone. We use a strengths based approach to grief work. Each person knows what is best for them to heal and we yield to that internal wisdom.

Overcoming grief and loss requires a balance of experiencing emotional pain and the conscious attempt to move forward in life in positive ways. This is a delicate balance and healing may take time. But there is always hope for a positive future that must be nurtured within the reality of one's loss.There must be an authentic experiencing of the feelings of hurt and pain. And this may take considerable time and patience, though every person is different in the way that they handle loss. Every person should be respected in their path taken for personal healing.

How one experiences grief varies widely from one person to another. After the death of a loved one, life can lose its meaning, others' expectations of how we 'should' be feeling, doing, or behaving can create added stress. We will help you understand your experience of loss, redefine your life, create a different future, and help you restore your heart and spirit, finding your path back to a different life, full and joyful again. Visit our website at http://www.centerlifecounseling.com for more information or to contact us for scheduling.

People who work with me on grief and loss will benefit from my person-centered and non-pathologizing approach. When we loose someone or something that has deep meaning in our lives, it is only natural that our lives are disrupted. I provide people with the support, time and space they need to move through grief and loss at a pace that is right for them.

I have extensive experience working with grief and loss. I have worked with every type of loss and understand the importance of having someone sit with you in your grief and help you understand and navigate what you are feeling. I have worked extensively with parents who have had a child die and understand the unique complexities of that type of loss. I don't think people get "over" losses but rather their grief and feelings changes throughout the years.