Grief and Loss Counseling in Medina, WA.

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 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.

I support clients through grief and loss by helping you to understand the phases of grief, set expectations of what the the grieving process will look like, and understanding how to balance the need to continue living with the need to mourn the loss. Grief can be complex and bring out many emotional shifts that are at first confusing and hard to understand. Though grief and loss therapy, you will be supported in understanding your unique grieving process and how to work through each stage.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Grieving and recovering from the Loss of a beloved companion can be difficult and traumatic. Many people are surprised and confused when they are caught off guard at the intensity of their emotions regarding the loss of a loved one. Sometimes friends and family offer all of the care you need, but if you need more help and support, working with therapist can give you the additional warmth and nurturing care you need to move through your grief. I specialize in helping grieving clients to process their grief, so they can find peace again.

Adults may encounter things we don’t feel completely ready for and may lose motivation or connection with our surroundings. Emotions like sadness, loneliness, fear, and anger can also emerge in adults and take hold. Layers upon layers, we find ourselves struggling and need help resolving the uncomfortable situation during critical times.

The loss of a loved one is difficult to work through. It helps to have someone to talk to. Sometimes new relationships are difficult because of loss of past relationships and the abandonment we feel. It is hard to love, trust and move forward after loss and the grief that accompanies it. I provide a comfortable, confidential environment with tools to help you move into your future.

I provide a safe and compassionate container for the healing expression of grief and loss. I support your journey to clear feelings and unresolved relational issues that can get you stuck. Gently, we face the fears you may be feeling around your own life and moving forward. Your grief and loss can shift from an overwhelming, debilitating and soul-crushing, ever-present feeling to something clean, loving, bitter-sweet, slowly fading into the background. Thus, opening space for you, for life, for joy to show up, again.

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.

Is grief making it difficult to function in daily life, leaving you unable to enjoy living? Are you feeling overwhelmed by excessive bitterness, guilt or anger? Do you find yourself withdrawing from friends and family with near constant feelings of despair? If you find you answered yes to several or all of these questions, your grief may have evolved into clinical depression and it may be time to seek help. Be gentle with yourself, knowing there is no right or wrong way to grieve and all of your feelings are normal, even if it feels like you're going crazy. I will help you to understand what is happening to you and walk beside you as you move through your very personal grieving process.