Grief and Loss Counseling in Viola, NY.

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 is, unfortunately, a normal part of living. There is no single "correct" way to grieve: different cultures and even individuals from the same culture grieve differently. The only consistent feature is that grief takes time. The most effective thing anyone can do for someone grieving is to be there—to listen, to empathize, to walk along with the grief. There is no "fixing" grief. But counseling can help prevent normal grief from developing into major depression or other mental health conditions.

The loss of an important person, can be a terrible shock. I help you with moving through the process of grieving, including issues of survivor guilt, anxiety and depression that may arise after a loss, whether it be loss of a person, job, or pet. When grief feels overwhelming, I can provide the support needed to find meaning in the past, and hope for the future.

Grieving the loss of loved one can be complicated if our valued identity and/or our equanimity was tied to that person given diffuse boundaries. When we overly depend on people regulate our emotions, self esteem or self confidence, then being without them can leave us angry, bereft, empty, etc. In psychotherapy we can rewrite the specious narrative that you were joined at the hip because you could not survive without that person. By internalizing what is offered by the therapist to enhance your self-reliance, you are then free to come to terms with the reality of loss of your loved one and internalize the relationship that is over. That person can now live on inside of you.

Grief is the normal and natural emotional reaction to loss. My guidance and experience will help you more toward your intellect and deal with your broken heart. We can work together and deal with what remains emotionally incomplete at the time of a death, a divorce, or other losses. I am trained to work within your inner self to understand your self destruction, and build self confidence.

When grief's anguish becomes unbearable and life does not return to normal, psychological counseling can be extremely helpful in navigating you back to a satisfying and productive life. I work with you according to your unique experience while taking into account your cultural background and spiritual orientation. I help you review your relationship with the loved one or loss and find new meaning while respecting the impact of the loss. Memory, reflection, ritual and dialogue are some of the methods I use. I also look at how you have dealt with loss in the past. Of equal importance, I assist you in finding and maintaining healthy coping strategies to manage symptoms when times get tough

Are you struggling with the loss of a close friend or neighbor? Are you grieving the loss of a parent, a spouse,a relationship or of a child? Are you experiencing painful feelings? Is sadness a large part of you day? Do you feel abandoned? Has your grief reation been prolonged or does it manifest itself through some bodily or behavorial symtom? Through comfort care management and empathy , we will help you to begin to resolve your feelings of traumatic grief .

Loss of a loved one is an unbearable pain. Therapy can help you process your emotional pain and reduce the time it takes to heal rather than burying the pain only to come out years later. Sometimes letter writing, art therapy, talk therapy, play therapy assist in the grieving process. the heart has a natural process of grieving. Therapy can assist in this natural process.

We all experience different types of losses over the course of our lives: loss of a loved one, of a job, of a role, or of a way of life. Everyone is affected differently by loss - often the same event can have very different meanings for different people. At the Lukin Center, we work with clients who are grieving a loss to help them identify what the loss means for them in order to work through and grow from their grief.

A loss can stop you in your tracks or some people report that they feel like they are "a witness" to their life and not a participant. We will work together on grieving your loss while also working on allowing you to become a participant in your life again. Having a dedicated space in your week to allow you to express your grief can allow you function at a higher level. Grieving does not have a timetable and it is not the same for everyone. Everyone grieves at their own pace and in their own way and we will work together at your speed and in the way that makes you most comfortable.

Losing a loved one, friend, or pet can be devastating and can present profound challenges. Shortly after the loss, you will probably feel as if your brain is in a fog and you are just "going through the motions." This can be a very difficult time for you and talking to a therapist about your feelings can help you work through the loss and move forward in a positive and less inhibited manner.

People may experience many common symptoms related to grief and loss after losing a loved-one. Patients may also pass through stages of denial, anger and depression. Therapy can help an individual process these feelings and navigate these stages. A main goal when working with grief and loss may be to reach the period of acceptance (the time of closure). Talk therapy with a professional can be a very healthy approach to dealing with loss.

When we experience the death of a loved one many types of overwhelming feelings occur. As a therapist, it is my belief that It is important for you to discover your ability to experience, understand and share such feelings. As you explore your relationship with the person who has passed and see what gifts you gave one another, and what lessons have been learned, you can put things in a larger perspective. Allowing yourself to find meaning in the relationship and see how it still lives within you is very important. Among other things, it is what I help my clients focus on.