Grief and Loss Counseling in Mount Vernon, NY.

Suffering a loss of a loved one can be devastating. You do not have to do it alone. Studies show that when one has a strong support team this can greatly help in their grieving process. I will work with you (and your family- if you so chose) to understand the grieving process, the emotional, psychological and spiritual aspects to help you get through this most difficult time.

In my approach to grief and loss therapy, I provide a compassionate and understanding space where clients can process their emotions at their own pace. Grieving is a deeply personal experience, and I focus on helping individuals navigate the complex feelings of sadness, anger, and confusion that often accompany loss. Through tailored therapeutic techniques, I assist clients in finding meaning, honoring their memories, and rebuilding their lives. My goal is to foster healing, resilience, and a sense of peace during this difficult journey.

Experiencing loss can be one of the most devastating parts of the human experience . Pain, shock, denial, anger, depression, rage, and acceptance are some emotions you may experience. I am here to sit with you and hold your sadness, as you process whatever it is that you are mourning; the death of a loved on, the end of a love relationship, position or change in family. Grieving is a necessary step in processing what has just happened, in effectively processing, understanding and slowly rebuilding your life, adjusted to the changes. It would be my honor to join you on your journey in healing and rebuilding your new reality, with inner strength, health and courage.

Any time we, or people close to us change, there is a loss; a loss of the familiar, perhaps a loss of what was known and comfortable. When you experience disappointment and need to change your expectations, there is a grief and loss process as well. Changing expectations is hard. The upside, though, is that doing so usually brings more contentment and peace, both for yourself and with others. I work to help people learn about their losses and find and define new expectations for their reality that will bring more joy to their lives.

If it is a past loss we will talk about that relationship and what it meant to you, and see how that person affected you in your current life and what he/she meant to you. If it is a current or impending loss, we can focus on day-to-day issues to lessen anxiety, and process how to handle what time is left. Practical issues may be discussed. if you find yourself obsessing we will probably focus on feeling, if you find yourself lost in feeling, we may focus on verbalizing your thoughts and your feelings. If you are overwhelmed by depression and find it difficult to function, I will make recommendations for medications and/or alternative strategies.

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 and loss inevitably leads to anger & sadness. Not surprisingly, it also can lead to depression and feelings of guilt. The latter is called irrational guilt, as most of us lack magical powers to cure dying people. Even if they mean the world to us. I would encourage my clients to express feeling of guilt and anger often unconscious related to the loss. The anger is often at the person who died. Of course, this is irrational anger in most cases, as we all are going to die. The anger is over losing someone we love, value. I would use clinical interventions that usher in the grieving process. This fosters coming to terms with and an acceptance of the loss.

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

In grief therapy, we create a safe space to explore emotions, memories, and the impact of loss. Through compassionate listening and validation, we honor the unique journey of grief. Together, we identify coping strategies and self-care practices to navigate the ups and downs. I integrate techniques such as mindfulness, narrative therapy, and expressive arts to help process emotions and find meaning in the loss. While grief may feel overwhelming, therapy offers support and guidance to gradually integrate the loss into your life, fostering healing and resilience. You're not alone in this journey; I'm here to walk alongside you every step of the way.

Losing someone or something you love is profoundly painful. One of the greatest myths we hear is that “time heals all wounds.” In reality, time often deepens the ache unless we give ourselves permission to grieve. Healing requires space to mourn, honor what has been lost, and gently begin to carry it in a new way. It is my privilege to walk alongside clients as they move through grief toward healing, meaning, and peace.

Grief and loss can be triggered by many things; the death of a loved one, the loss of a beloved mate, being let go at a valued job, and many others. When we cannot get over the loss by ourselves, a therapist point us down new roads. Suddenly vistas of possibility begin to open up, and what once seemed hopelessly sad begins to take on its proper importance.

The benefit of my approach for someone who is grieving and who has suffered a great loss is that I actively teach you how to accept things that cannot be changed. Only by achieving real acceptance can the individual carry on in life despite the loss. Acceptance in REBT does not mean liking or even denying the loss. Acceptance in REBT means to acknowledge that a great loss has occurred and to feel healthy negative feelings of sadness, even great sadness. The benefit that results is that one can still have some degree of enjoyment in life. One can function without guilt and do well in life despite having suffered a great loss. This is leverage over the loss, the thing that cannot be changed.

I am a grief therapist who can support you for everything from the death of a loved one to the loss of your job, an important relationship, maybe even your physical health. My clients are also processing grief over things like racial injustice, community violence, trauma they have witnessed or experienced. I will walk with you through whatever healing journey you are on, drawing on supportive counseling, rituals of goodbye, and stages of grief as they may apply to you.