Grief and Loss Counseling in Lake Forest Park, 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!

When you're going through a time of significant loss, our therapists at Mill Creek Family Services provide the support, care and understanding you need. We come alongside you with genuine warmth and compassion as you move through your time of grief. During a time that you just want the deep hurt to go away, we offer you a companion on your path as we shine a light in the direction of hope and renewal.

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.

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.

How do you move on when desire, hope, a loved one, or the something core to you has been lost? I am hesitant to answer that question in words because I think that there are no cognitive solutions to loss. You may have experienced this. In some ways, the only way to work with the grief is to go straight through it. It is a difficult journey, one you may have just entered or one you may have found yourself in for years. I offer a caring hand in your journey through it.

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.

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.

Grief eventually finds us all, yet grieving is often interrupted by the practical concerns of continuing to live. Allowing yourself time and space to grieve is necessary to your recovery. No matter what the specific circumstances of your loss, there are common feelings, concerns, and anxieties that most people experience. I can help you know what to expect and how to cope with the intense emotions that surround profound losses such as the death of a loved one or abandonment. Grief counseling can help you at all stages of grieving, from supporting you through the logistics to forging your strengthened individual identity.