Grief and Loss Counseling in Bainbridge Island, WA.

Although grief is a normal reaction to loss, getting over a broken heart may be difficult. I support my clients as they move beyond their loss, whether it's death, divorce or the numerous other common life experiences which are losses such as moving, graduation, reitement, holidays, empty nest or health changes. I will help you find new meaning in life as you deal with the many feelings that grief brings. As I work with you to recover from your grief, you will learn some skills that allow you to deal with loss directly. Recovering from grief takes courage and it's so worth the effort as you begin to live more wholeheartedly!

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.

Working through grief and loss, while respecting needed defenses can take months if not years, but can enhance the quality of your life. We will respect defenses and consider a variety of emotions, which may include relief, anger, sadness, regret, fear and loneliness with my help. It is my strong believe that this process entails work and time, but can lead to personal growth, which can enhance your knowledge and appreciation of yourself and therefore enhance your capacity to be empathic with others.

There is no right way too grieve, no right amount of time to do it in, and no way of avoiding it. It is common for a person to withdraw from their friends and family, feel overwhelmed and helpless to the intense waves of emotions—sadness, anger, fear, anxiety, and numbness. When the emotional intensity becomes too much, we don’t seem to be able to move forward with life. I offer grief therapy to help you find ways to cope with grief and mourning following the death of loved ones, pregnancy loss, or the mourning that often comes along with major life changes.

Experiencing grief and loss often leaves us with a deep ache because the people and things that should remain with us no longer do. These are not issues to be processed from a distance and the relational approach I offer provides an opportunity for you to walk through these difficult times with a sense of being deeply cared for. This happens as I follow Jesus' words, "mourn with those who mourn." My previous clients have experienced the surprise of hope and have walked away changed. It is my desire that the same might take place for you.

Grief is a difficult issue for all of us because it looks differently for everyone. However, there are some common themes in how we grieve as men and women. If you or someone you know is grieving and finding it difficult to acknowledge their grief or know what to do next, therapy is the best place to explore how they might grieve fully and in so doing, be able to move forward in life.

We tend to bottle up our grief when we experience a loss. I seek to provide an environment for you to share the various stages of grief you may be facing, and in doing so, I journey alongside you in this painful season. At times I may recommend some reading that may be helpful to you as well as help you identify stages of grief that are commonly experienced by others.