Grief and Loss Counseling in Walnut Creek, CA.

Whether it is the loss of a friend or family member or the ending of a marriage or relationship, the pain of loss is a powerful time to grieve and to reflect about the meaning of your own life. Therapy for grief and loss can offer the opportunity to change and grow in profound and deep ways due to the vulnerability of emotions that may normally be unfelt or unexpressed. It is an opportune time to get support and to share your internal world with another.

Each persons grief journey is a deeply personal and unique experience. Recognizing this, my approach is empathetic and client-centered. In our work together, you can expect a safe and compassionate space to navigate emotions. Using techniques like narrative therapy and mindfulness, we foster healing and resilience, and empowerment to find meaning amidst loss.

Grey Matters International and the work of Kevin J. Fleming, Ph.D approaches issues of grief & loss through the lens of innovation----instead of growing the same neural networks responsible for the pain in weekly therapy sessions, we reset the brain to move forward quicker and efficiently by working on the stuck limbic system so as to empower the person with more success and traction. For no one wants to stay in a grief mode for too long; but when you don’t include the brain in your work with someone, you risk describing the water to them while they drown and calling it success. Contact Grey Matters International, Inc now at kevin@kevinflemingphd.com or 877-606-6161.

Grief and loss comes in all forms, from the death of a pet, to moving, to the loss of a dream, to the death of a child or spouse, and more. My clients discover grief and loss are a process (which includes: shock/disbelief, anger, blaming, depression/sadness, bargaining, and denial), and how to move through that process to an increased state of acceptance. As their state of acceptance increases, my clients experience an increase in forgiveness, healing, freedom and hope for the present and future. My clients see how they can begin to feel good about their life and future again.

Experiencing a loss, whether is a death or a relationship, can be one of the most difficult and life changing events one might go through in life. Grief comes in waves and can be overwhelming. Having a safe place to go express this grief and experience it can be very healing. Understanding how you might experience the grieving and loss process can be helpful when it feels like it is consuming you. Therapy can be a start to working through some of the feelings, emotions and thoughts about your loss. I will be able to support you through this process.

Grief and loss is not easy to work through. My approach to whether it is grieving the loss of a loved one or the loss of a relationship, I will support you and we will work together at a pace appropriate for you to first acknowledge your pain while working through the stages of grief and to learn ways to manage the familiar and unexpected emotions that are part of the loss. Also, you will learn to understand that your grieving process is your own and unique to you. Lastly, you will begin to create new meaning in your life.

I am a Certified Advanced Grief Specialist. Grief is a natural process following a meaningful loss and it can influence physical, emotional, behavioral & spiritual aspects of our lives. Grief is most associated with the death of a loved one, but also occurs with the loss of a pet, job, relationship, and changes in your health. People cope with grief in a variety of ways. The intensity and duration of grieving differs between individuals. Therapy is a safe place to express & explore your feelings. I will help you learn to cope and transform your pain into healthier ways of meaning and remembrance. Through therapy you will find permission to live your life and develop connection again.

Are you using alcohol, substances, or addictive behaviors to cope with grief and loss? Although they provide relief in the short term, their long-term effects on your relationships and health can make it even more difficult to cope. Through a compassionate non-judgmental approach, I help clients explore their relationship to grief and loss so that they can overcome addictive coping strategies. If you're looking for another way forward, feel free to reach out and we can set up a free consultation to discuss further.