Grief and Loss Counseling in Plandome, NY.

A unique aspect of my psychotherapy practice is my readiness and willingness to discuss the issues of death and mortality. Life is precious and we deserve to live our lives fully, but death is an unavoidable fact of our lives. Many people can recall when they first learned about the fact of mortality in their childhood -- perhaps when a pet died, or we lost a grandparent or family member, or when some tragedy occurred. Witnessing a death or suffering the loss of a loved one can change some people's lives forever. In my practice I support my clients to come to terms with painful losses in their lives, and to regain their ability to live life fully, even in the face of their own mortality.

I provide services that support people in loss of previous life style, loss of their own ability due to a disability, and loss of someone they were close to or a colleague. Grief is different for everyone, but one of the most popular models arranges the 5 stages of grief as Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression and Acceptance. People take different amounts of time to get through these stages of try to skip over them but they are natural. Since everyone’s grieving is specific to them, my method is adjusted to accommodate my clients. My hope is to support you through this process to build coping skills, listen and be an extra resource.

Grief and loss are inevitable consequences of having deep, authentic, intimate relationships. When people we love, or things we value leave it hurts. That is healthy and normal. Unfortunately, this grief can sometimes feel infinite, especially when there were things left unsaid or unforgiven. In these times returning to a life that is purposeful and meaningful might begin to seem impossible. Grief and loss counseling will help you to find peace with the past. Through making sense of loss and letting go you will be able to move into the present with meaning and purpose.

Grief is a natural state after a loss. Mourning is natural and healthy. Acute grief does not need to be pathologized or treated. Those experiencing complicated grief may benefit from speaking to a warm, caring professional. In addition, a skilled therapist can listen, help you understand if therapy is appropriate or not, and explain what complicated grief is. If you are having sleep problems or symptoms of depression or PTSD related to the loss, therapy could be helpful. Our therapists are here to help and not interfere with the natural healing process. If support and guidance could be helpful to you, please call us with any questions.

When we lose someone we love, it feels like we have lost a part of ourselves. Something within us has been torn out, leaving a hole that we easily imagine will never heal. The pain can be profound, the feelings of helplessness, or regret, or guilt overwhelming. Having a partnership where you can talk through these feelings can make a huge difference not only in how quickly and how well you are able to move through the process of grieving, but also how you ultimately are able to frame the experience and your memories of the person lost into the narrative of your own self and life as you move forward. What you carry with you afterward is just as important as surviving the hurt of the loss.

I offer gentle support and comfort for my clients at a pace that they can tolerate. My clients have expressed to me that my ability to listen empathetically has allowed them the time to process the devastation and loss they’ve witnessed. People who’ve experienced death or divorce may feel angry, depressed, empty, and/or alone. I take time with them to respect these feelings, and do not prescribe ways they “should” be feeling. Grief is different for all, some experience it as a sudden event while others witness gradual decline of a loved one, both can still feel numb or raw. Perspective clients can call or email me to begin a dialogue; we determine then if proceeding is right for 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 emotional pain.

All of us experience grief and loss in our lives. There is no escaping it. Unfortunately, there are many times that you will experience a loss that society does not sanction as "grief worthy." Loss of an early pregnancy, miscarriage, loss of a valued career or relationship, and the loss of a beloved pet often hit us hard, and result in feelings of grief. I listen with empathy and concern, and will assist you through the grieving process with sensitivity and support, while offering you effective ways of coping with your feelings.

Dr. Joel Stukalin and Dr. Sara Mandelbaum have guided many clients like you through their grieving processes. Since each client is special and unique, we work with the utmost sensitivity to help you during this emotional period so often filled with many memories and feelings. Some clients also experience unfinished emotional business with the deceased, which we work through with substantial empathic understanding and patience. This sensitive collaboration with Dr. Joel and Dr. Sara is invaluable in supporting grieving clients to achieve a sense of therapeutic closure and relief. Clients have stated that doing this necessary grief work with Dr. Joel and Dr. Sara has restored their lives.

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 you have lost someone close to you through death, relocation or the end of a relationship, and feel isolated and lonely, it takes time and support to gently move forward in life. If you are shy or feel anxiety in social situations it can be hard to reach out for help and create the supportive relationships you need. I can help you move forward, gain a new sense of self worth, and begin to create meaningful nurturing social connections.

Grief can be quite a lonely experience that one can feel at the very core, and there are no pills that one can take to manage its persistent, aggravating pain. You wish to take that pain away, but nothing seems to help. I have helped many people work through their grief experiences, including 16 years providing grief therapy to hospice patients and their families.

Often clients reach out to a psychotherapist when there is a death or separation in a relationship. Chris provides Grief and Loss counseling and Psychotherapy where empathy and caring help clients get emotional closure to help them move forward. A sudden death and loss can causes a person to have increased anxiety and depression and limit functioning. Chris has worked with numerous clients to heal and move forward through effective counseling and psychotherapy in New York. Clients benefit from talking out their feelings where I help them get closure and provide the skills to move on and enjoy life again.

We all experience grief & loss from time to time. However, there are some losses that are simply too big to get through in the usual ways. At times like this we need additional support. Successful grieving entails coming to terms with the enormity of the loss and making tough decisions about how to meaningfully proceed with living in a world that no longer feels the same.

Grief and loss are processes and like many processes, they change and transform. What feels like heartbreak to you at first, may be transformed through our work together, into a heart that has an even greater capacity for love and connection. I believe that heartbreak is necessary to break open and expand the heart's horizons. You will never forget those who you have held so dear and lost, but through our work together, you will make peace with those losses and appreciate the gifts of those relationships.

Loss can come in so many different forms, yet the pain is there and is strong. When we hold someone or something dear to our heart and then they suddenly gone, we are often left with a hole in our heart and need to grieve that loss. Grief looks different for each person. There are 5 main stages of grief that most people will go through in an order: Denial and Isolation, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, and Acceptance. These are hard stages to walk through alone. Reach out and call one of our compassionate therapists at Mars and Venus Counseling Center who can help you to talk through each of the emotions that you experience at each stage.

Experiencing a loss of any kind can be especially traumatic. It is my belief that having a safe place to address issues related to this loss can be particularly beneficial. Each person deals with loss differently and I emphasize the need to allow each person to go through the process in order to successfully transition to a healthier and happier place, and versions of themselves.

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 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.

We will work together to remember your loss and to move forward in life. You will be able to identify what the loss means to you and if that is causing you to remain stuck in the grieving process. I will help you use that meaning to start a healing journey. You will learn to take advantage of community resources and I will help support you through a difficult range of emotions. You will learn the interaction of your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors during the grieving process.

It is very common for individuals to seek psychotherapy in times of grief. The death of a loved one is perhaps the single most intensive emotional experience an individual must face.We understand that sometimes there is little hope and trust because the road to recovery has been exhausting full of short-lived success. ART is dedicated to find an individualized treatment that closely fits the unique circumstances of each client; we do not apply "one size fits all" type of therapeutic treatment.

Grief and loss are complicated by the fact that mourning is a lost art in our society. In our work together we will have the grief and loss so that we can release it and move forward in our lives. Often when faced with loss, folks either avoid grief having it later overwhelm them, or they get lost in it with no idea how to be complete with the sense of loss. Our process will allow you to have the feelings without completely losing yourself in them.

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.

If you're suffering from the loss of a friend, relative or loved one, remember the quote that "We are the strongest in the broken places". Sometimes such a loss can hobble us and leave us feeling despairing, sad, depressed or anxious. I can help you (as I've helped so many others over time) to heal your pain and find your way through this rough patch to a new day.

Dealing with grief and loss is thought by most people to be life’s greatest challenge. Whether it be loss of a partner, child, friend, or other important person in one’s life, it is universally a sad and tremendously challenging part of the human experience. I have worked with people who have experienced losses of all types throughout the lifecycle, and helped them to understand the compendium of complex feelings and challenging situations that accompany grieving. Although in the midst of grief, there is often a sense of despair, I have helped hundreds of people resolve grief, and move on with their lives.