Grief or Loss

I work with folks who have anticipatory grief, are facing death/their own mortality, are caring for someone who is chronically/terminally ill, adjusting to a new diagnosis, loss of independence or other physical/cognitive capacity, loss of pet, loss of friend/family members, loss due to suicide, loss due to moving/life changes, complicated grief, etc

Losing someone can be the one of the hardest transitions that you will go through in life. Unfortunately, everyone in your life has a 100% chance of dying and you will at some point experience the pain of grief and loss. As a certified Grief Recovery specialist, I have worked with clients in this difficult phase in their life to move forward and continue living productive lives. When you lose someone, you don't move on from that person, you move forward with that person in a different capacity.

I am passionate in working with clients struggling with grief or loss. Loss may include the death of a loved one, as well as other types of losses such as the loss of an important piece of your identity, the loss of a friendship, the end of a particular phase of life, etc. With any type of loss, I believe that allowing space to grieve is vital to our healing and ability to move forward. I also have a particular love for helping adults process the death of a parent early in life.

I have worked in hospice for over 15 years. As the Doug's House program coordinator, I had the privilege of managing a home for people dying of HIV/AIDS for 3 years. They and their families allowed me into their hearts at one of the most difficult times of life, and it continues to inspire me in the work that I do. Though life's transitions can be gut-wrenching and traumatic, they also offer us a unique way of growing and healing old wounds.

My path of specialites began with my first hospice experience in my mid-20s and caring for my godmother. Since that time, I have solely focused my learning and experience in gerontology, death and dying and bereavement. As a hospice and palliative care medical social worker, I have worked with anticipatory loss and grief, complicated grief which might include multiple losses, challenges of mental illness, lack of support, and life transitions to name a few.

Grief is a natural response to the loss of someone or something dear to us. Whether you're mourning the passing of a loved one, the end of a meaningful relationship, or a significant life change, the emotions that accompany grief can be overwhelming. It's common to feel a range of emotions, from sadness and anger to confusion and guilt. My role is to provide you with a safe and empathetic space to express and explore these emotions.

In the UK, I had specialized training in the bereavement counseling. I provided counseling at a bereavement service to persons from all over the world, ranging in age from their late teens to their late-fifties, who had lost loved ones from cancer, unexpected sudden health conditions, or traumatic events. I also provided palliative care counseling to patients at King's College Hospital. Everyone experiences grief and loss in a different way. I can support you to process your grief your way.

When you lose someone you love the floor drops out. Your whole body has to reorganize itself around the loss of a beloved. It is often not an experience to describe in words because it lives in a part of us that is deeper than words can express. You do not have to be in that place alone. If it would help to have a companion/guide I would be humbled to walk with you.

No one sets out to start a family thinking they will experience infertility or be thrust into the grieving process. But for many, this is their experience as they yearn to start a family. Depression, anxiety and increased levels of stress are commonly known to be associated with each. Many feel isolated and alone in their experiences and do not feel their closest friends or family are able to relate or offer solace.

Grieving is a normal, necessary process that makes us human. We grieve because we’re attached. We love. We grieve. It measures the depth and intensity of our attachment and love for people, places, experiences, and other living beings. Therapy can provide a space for you to grieve. Our work together won’t be about forgetting or replacing what was lost. We will help you experience and be able to feel the full extent of your loss for the purpose of healing.

In reality grief and loss is the largest chunk of what I've always treated. The grief response is the response that humans have to change. Specifically I have helped many clients through grieving simple losses all the way to complex losses such as children, miscarriages, and stillborn.

There is no rule book for grief and loss. It can come in waves. It can look a lot different from person to person because we all grieve in our own unique way. I will walk with you through the trenches of grief through processing the loss you have experienced, and working with you toward a place of being able to move forward in a safe and effective way.

Grief is a process that affects everyone differently. There is no rush or speed to grief, and I encourage all emotions, anger, sadness, disbelief , to come naturally and support whatever other emotions arise on that spiral path. I support my clients by providing space and rituals to transition from heartbreak to acceptance.

We currently live in a culture that is adverse to feelings of grief and loss, as evidenced by the many "quick fixes" none of which actually work. Loosing something or someone can be extremely difficult and painful and we have to learn how move through grief by feeling it and learning how to carry it within us in a way that can be transformative. When we loose someone or something important to us even though they or it may be gone, it is still a part of who we are.

Trained in Grief and Loss and a Certified Grief Recovery Specialist, I can help you move through your loss and find joy and purpose again. I utilize the Grief Recovery Method to will help you work through your losses and identify what has been holding you back, areas where you have gotten stuck, and learning how to let go of the pain and suffering. I also am trained in Brainspotting and getting trained in Accelerated Resolution Therapy.

I completed specialized training in grief treatment through Columbia University.

I am a Certified Grief Treatment Professional. I have many effective tools available to use which can guide you through this process.