Grief is most often associated with the death of a loved one. This is a massive loss, to be sure, but grief can also follow many other life events such as divorce, the end of a friendship, job loss, a move, infertility or miscarriage, illness, lost opportunities, or planned and unplanned life changes. Moreover, each person experiences grief and loss differently. In the midst of your grief, you may feel angry one moment, numb and shocked the other, and crying uncontrollably the next. It is completely normal to experience a range of emotions (and in no particular order) in the days, weeks, months and years following a significant loss. In fact, grief can hit hardest after the first 6 months, when the steadfast calls and offers for help from friends and family began to cease as loved ones return to their normal lives and routines. On the other hand, the foundation of what is “normal” and “routine” for you has been completely rocked. You are left to pick up the pieces of your shattered life as you try to adjust and move on. Until you have experienced a significant loss, you may not understand just how profoundly your life will be transformed.

Yet there is hope. Though grief can be incredibly challenging, you can heal and move towards wellness with the right support and guidance. While there are many avenues to process our grief, therapy can be one safe and effective way to move through our painful emotions. When working with clients who have experienced a significant loss, I treat each person individually, tailoring my care to their specific needs. I respect and honor each person’s unique loss. I try to provide a warm and compassionate space in which people can feel comfortable sharing their story and their inner truth. I often incorporate EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy to help clients process and move through their grief, particularly when they feel stuck and hopeless. I have found this to be a very powerful, therapeutic approach. I also explore one’s spirituality and/or religious beliefs if one is open to it as this can be a significant contributor to healing as well.

While grief is something we all experience in life, we do not have to be alone on this bumpy, emotional and often isolating journey. Having experienced my own significant losses, I feel I can especially empathize and relate to my clients’ experiences. One of the reasons I love doing grief work is because I am deeply touched and inspired by my clients’ resiliency and strength. I find it profoundly moving to witness the growth that occurs when individuals are ready to move through their pain and fully process their emotions and beliefs. And if you so choose, I would be honored to walk beside you on your path to healing.