Grief and Loss Counseling in Des Moines, WA.

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.

When grief and loss hit, life can feel unbearable. When this happens, we sometimes try to avoid our painful feelings, but this never works for long and can lead to unhealthy ways of coping. As hard as it is, the way to heal from loss is to lean into the pain instead of running away from it. I provide a safe place for my clients to heal and move through their pain so they can fully engage in life again.

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.

Many times surprising emotions come up after a loss. Often much guilt, regret, anger and blame contribute to thoughts of what we could or should have done differently. These thoughts keep taking up space in the mind and stop us from processing and coming to terms with loss. I help clients during this difficult time by listening empathetically and using methods that help clients grieve in a healthy productive way. I help client find self-compassion, forgiveness and hope during this time time of adjustment.

Grief and loss effects every one at some point in their life. At times when grief or loss become so great that they feel unmanageable, it is necessary to reach out to others. Better yet is reaching out to professionals who have training and experience helping individuals process their grief in a safe, structured, and effective manner. Please don't feel as if you have to go through this time of grief and loss alone. There is hope! You just need to make the first, often difficult step of reaching out for help. Please don't hesitate to contact me.

I have learned that grief and loss are experienced very uniquely from client to client. The stages of grief are not necessarily experienced linearly. Working through grief and loss is not so much about recovery as it is about finding ways to incorporate the experience into a new version of yourself. There are ways to be proactive in processing grief and tools available that can help you through this process.

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 are very challenging. The difficulty of processing these complex emotions is compounded due to the fast paced nature of our lives pushing us forward, not providing the space and time for the necessary reflection. In order to move forward, we need time to grieve what has been lost. Our work begins with addressing the loss currently burdening your heart. It continues with examining the depth of the loss and its various levels of impact on your life. For example, losing one's mother could also mean the loss of a confidant, a cheerleader, a friend, an advocate etc. Finally, we will work together through the stages of your grief, supplementing with reading material when necessary.

Grieving is a deeply personal process that can bring intense sadness, confusion, or even numbness. I offer a compassionate and safe space to help you process your emotions, honor your loss, and move toward healing—at your own pace. Through support and reflection, you can rediscover meaning, find comfort in memories, and learn to carry your grief in ways that feel manageable and grounded.

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.

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 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.

We examine the issues surrounding your grief and or loss, and then look at ways you can gain some healing. Much of this is through insight, reframing, exercises by way of homework, and other ideas that come from you. The process of moving through grief and loss takes time, and its important to be compassionate with yourself and allow yourself experience the span of emotions that are likely to occur.