Death is one of the hardest life truths we face. Losing a loved one can feel like your world stops but life continues for everyone around you. Often family members experience grief in dissimilar ways, which proves difficult to navigate and can mean you don’t receive full support. And if friends don’t always understand or stop checking in, having regular support in grief therapy can help. Whether your loss was sudden or expected, still anticipated, recent or years ago, it is possible to move forward through it.

Grief can be an immediate impact or arise years afterward, especially if you were not able to fully mourn at the time of loss. Grief can be anticipating the death of a loved one or receiving a life-changing diagnosis. Grief can also be complicated, which isn’t always said: some people had a complex relationship with the person they lost, so not every death is straightforward. If so, your bereavement might also include processing how the relationship was not always perfect or ideal. Having a sacred space to come to with your grief is healing and connecting.

My Clients Are Often Experiencing:

– External situation –

• A recent death
• Anticipating a death (anticipatory grief)
• Caretaking a dying loved one
• Navigating Hospice care
• A family member’s chronic or terminal illness, such as cancer or dementia

– Internal experience –

• A mixture of emotions: sadness, anger, guilt, betrayal, emptiness, numbness
• Navigating family dynamics
• Unsure how to grieve or move forward
• Loneliness, isolation
• Friends or family cannot relate or best support you
• Difficulty making decisions; distracted
• Feeling less functioning in work and social life
• Confusion about why you are “still” grieving if some time has passed
• A lovely fuller list is here

I believe much of grief work is allowing your emotions to be present and release, while also learning new ways to support this unique experience through connection, ritual, and remembering. In therapy I will hold space for you so that whatever arises is not judged, and all aspects of yourself and your loved one can be honored. Learning to grieve is unique and deep, and having someone alongside can really help. You will discover new ways to move through the loss and difficult emotions while retaining the loving memories of your departed.