Grief and Loss Counseling in Conshohocken, PA.

Grief and loss can be particularly challenging areas to address in therapy. They are often require long-term therapy. Grief and loss does not just happen once, particularly in the event of the loss of a loved one. When the grief/loss is connected to that of a loved one, most people still have some level of grief or sadness even when therapy is complete. This is normal as the loss will forever change the person's life. Much of therapy focuses on normalizing this experience, helping to determine ways they might want to stay connected to the person they lost, or just provide the space to process those feelings. Loss can also include loss of status, finances, and relationships.

Whether you are grieving due to the death of a loved one, ending of a significant relationship or the loss of the life you expected, it is a process. We all grieve for different reasons & in different ways, but it is important to allow yourself to grieve so that you can move forward. I'll work with you to understand the grief process including the stages of grief. An important part of the process is helping you identify & express the variety of feelings & thoughts you are likely experiencing. Often, human instinct is to avoid or numb what is painful. Unfortunately, this can prevent healing, extend the pain & create other problems. Instead, I'd like to help you find your way through the pain.

When one person in a family experiences grief or loss, everyone is affected. Sometimes an entire family struggles to adjust to a death or a cross-country move or to a divorce. In any of these cases, a person's need for comfort can conflict with their emotions, causing confusion and conflict among people who are trying to support one another. In addition, children and teenagers can react to loss very differently than do adults, so the signs of pain or distress are not obvious. If there has been a loss for someone in your family or there is an impending loss (planned separation due to marital conflict, children leaving for college), I would welcome the opportunity to help.

Losing a loved one can be incredibly debilitating, the grief often feels endless like a bottomless pit- mornings are awful and nights even worse. I provide empathic grief counseling with a proactive style to help individuals walk through this pain and learn to live their life with peace again. When you feel like you need more to lean on than family and friends, help is here.

To help a client cope through grief and loss, I sometimes use the example of how an oyster forms a pearl. The oyster ingests a grain of sand that causes pain, and which cannot be removed or dissolved (just like we cannot eliminate the pain of missing a loved one). So the oyster begins to encase the grain of sand with layers of calcium-like substance, that makes the grain of sand easier to carry and hold, without the rough edges. Coping through grief and loss can involve learning how to unpack, experience, and adjust how we carry the pain. Therapy can help you soften and encase the pain of loss, forming a "pearl" around it that is easier to carry with you, and perhaps make it more precious.

In grief and traumatic loss therapy, we recognize that there's no universal formula for healing, nor do we suggest that you "get over" your loss. Grief can be a lifelong journey, morphing in shape as time passes. At times, it may feel like an emotional roller coaster, unpredictable and intense; at others, it may numb you. Our mission as therapists specializing in grief loss is to guide you in reshaping your grief into a more manageable form and restructuring your life after your loss. We'll explore ways to honor and maintain a lasting connection with your loved one through collaboration. We firmly believe that even when someone leaves us physically, the love and connection we shared endure.

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 our response to loss. Grief, fully experienced, allows us to go on with life. Each person's response is unique. You may be grieving the death of a loved one; you may be dealing with a serious illness; you may be mourning the loss of a relationship; you may be dealing with the loss of a job. Wherever you are in the grief process, I offer a safe, empathetic relationship to guide you through the stages of anger, sadness, justifying, letting go. We will work together to facilitate healing.

Grief is not a hole we can fill. Its about expanding our lives around the loss and finding ways to incorporate what we loved about the person into our own life to honor their memory. Grief is not only about who/what we lost. We must also address the hopes, dreams, and expectations that were part of it. Its about learning to adjust to a new normal.

Grief and loss can surprise us at any time, making you feel overwhelmed, stressed, or even like giving up. Whether you lost a job, relationship, or a close loved one; the sadness and confusion of grief can be so difficult. As a caring therapist specializing in grief and loss, I provide a safe space for you to move and grow through grief. Virtual sessions offer you a way to work through your grief in the comfort of your own home.