Grief and Loss Counseling in Florence Graham, CA.

Are you grieving or experiencing a loss? Do you feel like the sadness will never let up? Most people associate grief with the death of a loved one. However, any loss can cause grief. The loss of: relationships, health, jobs or a goal. Experiencing a loss may result in many difficult & surprising emotions; shock, anger, even guilt. Together we’ll resolve your grief & lessen the painful emotions you’re experiencing; accepting them as part of the grieving process & developing some healthy, productive ways to cope with your sadness. Everyone grieves differently. There’s no order or timetable for grief. In session I’ll help you find the best way to resolve your grief & heal from your loss.

The loss of loved one can bring a lot of mixed emotions ( anger, depression, sadness, desire, shock, guilt) for us. In personal therapy, in a safe environment, I will help you to process the negative events in order to move forward and start the healing process. I will practice positive communication, relaxation techniques and mindfulness during our session.

I have worked with victims of trauma and abuse for over 15 years. I have been trained on many different methods to helping a client through their trauma so that they can begin living without PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) symptoms. Many people come to therapy because of the nightmares, trouble sleeping, having flashbacks, and having intimacy issues because they cannot let their guard down. For 10 years I worked using strictly a “person centered” approach to therapy. That means that I would let the survivor tell their story in their own way and not really guide them much. My main job was to make sure they felt safe and figured out ways to be safe. This process took a very long time, but it ....

Grief and loss is a very personal and individual experience. Finding one's words in relationship to a significant loss can be very helpful and healing. Traumatic loss, out of time loss and abandonment are specific losses that may need a sensitive and unique understanding. In a safe and empathic environment, psychotherapy for grief and loss can be a part of the healing process.

Depression and anxiety are often a result of not having processed past difficult situations. We all experience loss, and we have a natural process involving our emotions which helps us recover. Most of us do not receive the permission or the teaching to help us use this natural process. Therapy can help work through "stuck" experiences so that we are freer to move forward in life with less restriction.

I address grief and loss issues with understanding, validation, and empathy. My deep respect for the fact that it takes time to sufficiently mourn and grieve the loss of what once was is key in working with clients who experience grief and loss. We are all unique, and we grieve in ways that may look different than other's ways. There is no wrong way to experience loss! I model compassion and patience, hoping that in time my clients can experience self-compassion and allow themselves to feel the depths of their feelings without excess shame or self-judgment. I believe that social and cultural factors may also play a role in our grieving process, so I explore those factors in therapy as well.

Grief counseling helps people cope with grief and mourning following the loss of a loved one or due to major life changes that trigger feelings of grief (i.e. job loss or divorce). It provides a space for individuals to work through and process the complex emotions surrounding loss. Healthy grieving results in remembering the loss with a newfound sense of peace, rather than searing pain.

In treating grief and loss, it is essential to facilitate a safe, respectful therapeutic interaction, in which clients are able to tell their story, process and express their feelings of grief, explore the meaning of their loss, and revise their relationship with the deceased. Additionally, using cognitive and behavioral therapy techniques enable people to develop skills for coping with the anxiety, depression, and difficult emotions that may arise as a result of the grieving process.

Grief is hard. Grief is natural. Animals grieve. Grief is something we feel deep in our bodies and can be disorienting and destabilizing. Grief brings up questions about who we are, the world, the existence or goodness of God, and purpose and futility of life. Dealing with grief, especially when the loss is traumatic and unexpected, requires a slow and tender space to allow the grief to move through our body and to settle in our hearts with warmth and memory. I am here to help you grieve the loss of your loved one, experience, health , future or even your beloved pet. .

Losing a loved one is extremely difficult and takes time to grieve. Loss can bring up intense feelings that cause problems in our lives, and sometimes paralyzes growth. There are also other types of losses that have a negative impact on us, and get in the way of personal progress. The goal of grief work is not to “get over it”, but rather to learn to live with the loss, finding a “new normal”.

Have you lost a loved one? Had a divorce? Laid off from your job? There are many ways we experience loss, and it often hampers the way you live life. Come learn how to process and move on--in a healthy, natural way that honors your loss . . . and honors you. At CCRG, you will learn why you're feeling this way, and often, you'll learn WHAT you're feeling--it's sometimes confusing to identify just what's going on because you may have never felt these things before. We understand, and we want to help you along.

It's hard to know what to do when we're grieving. Everyone's experience is different and often times that can leave a person feeling alone, even when they have supportive people around them. I often find with grief there's a rollercoaster of emotions happening. The good news is, you don't have to go it alone. Together we will process your grief so real healing can occur. If you're tired of going it alone, or struggling to know how to talk about it--I'm here, and I hope to hear from you soon.

Grief and loss are both highly individual and intensely personal. Although we all experience grief and loss in different forms (death and non death), nothing describes the pain. Together we will create tools and awareness to process these painful life bereavements.

Losing a person, relationship or beloved companion animal can leave you feeling alone, lost and scared. I can help you give voice to your emotions and begin to integrate the grief into your life in a healthy way. It's normal to grieve deeply when we love deeply. Honoring those feelings is an important part of walking the path of healing. Therapy offers those experiencing the tidal wave of emotions that are often present after a loss the opportunity to process the past, present and future in a safe, non-judgmental environment. I work together to process the loss, discuss stages of grief & begin working towards deeper healing & acceptance. We never fully "get over" the losses in our lives, but we learn how to accept them & move towards a healthier view of...(view profile to read more)

Using the tools of Grief Recovery, I help you accept and heal from the pain of a loss. I offer support in a safe environment where you can express yourself openly and work through your most profound feelings. With the help of counseling, you can process your feelings of fear, anger, guilt and deep sadness and find a way forward. You don’t have to be alone during this trying time. Discover coping strategies for adapting to a loss and releasing yourself from pain.

Grief is a potential reaction to a loss of any kind whether through death, divorce, abandonment, separation, job loss, illness, disease diagnosis, kids leaving home, etc. Feelings of anger, resentment, shame, confusion, isolation or abandonment can result. Friends and family may not know what to say or how to provide support. A trained professional, who is profoundly sympathetic, respectful and empathetic, with the skills required to help one navigate through this difficult time, can be critical in helping one regain equilibrium.

The loss of a loved one is never easy to cope with, neither is the loss of intimate relationships, separations or life changes that cause us to experience grief. Remember, your grief/loss process is unique to you. Give yourself the opportunity to share your feelings in a safe environment, where no one is pushing you to "move on" or "get over it."

Unfortunately, grief and loss are inevitable in life and sometimes we need guidance to process all that we’re feeling. My approach is to validate their loss and allow them to speak openly about it and then help them find healthy connections to their loved ones through memories. So much of the time when there is a loss, all people hear is “time heals all wounds.” That is rarely helpful in getting your life back on track because that implies you need to wait awhile before feeling better! Through our work, you will slowly learn to adjust to the new reality of your life without your loved one. This might require incorporating a new routine or even adopting a new sense of identity.

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 dont 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

Loss is a natural part of life, but that doesn’t make it any less difficult an experience when we lose someone close to us. The grief we feel at that moment can surround us completely, permeating every aspect of our lives. We can sometimes feel the grief we’re experiencing in our bodies, see it change our relationships and impact our work. It filters through into our daily thoughts, our vision for the future and our remembrances of the past. Grief is a natural and necessary process, but sometimes having support can help. Story is a powerful tool; maybe one of our most powerful. Telling your personal story of loss, as an individual and a family, is an important part of the work I do. It helps you develop the positive coping skills to manage your sadness,...(view profile to read more)

Confronting the pain of loss may feel too intense, but counseling can bring relief. How? Talking about your sadness, regrets, guilt, anger, etc., will help you release thoughts and feelings… slowly accept how the loss impacts your life… give the lost loved one a new place in your heart... and eventually adjust to your changed life and often-new self. You can re-discover the joy of life without forgetting what you have lost.

Although loss is an inevitable part of life, it can be debilitating. I provide a safe environment where you can process your painful feelings so that you can find satisfaction and pleasure in your life again. Many people can feel paralyzed after the loss of a loved one. Often times this paralysis is a conscious or unconscious attempt to hold on to the one that was lost. Moving forward can feel unbearable, like you are losing your loved one all over again. I can help you move forward and still feel a deep connection to your loved one so that you can go on to live a life that feels fulfilling and worth living.

Grieving a loss can feel overwhelming and isolating. Whether you are grieving a recent loss or need to process a loss from your past, a safe space to freely express your thoughts and feelings can be healing. Children's response to loss is framed by their developmental capacities. For this reason, children may process a loss and then need to reprocess at a later stage of development. Therapy provides an opportunity for children and adolescents to process their loss in age appropriate ways.

No One Should Be Alone in Their Grieving! Grief and loss is a very delicate and personal process. The pain and hurt one experiences through grief and loss is so deep. I believe prayer, reading God’s word, and processing your experience in your own time is helpful. There is no one way to heal from loss. Each individual has their own personal journey, but this is a process where having a supportive, caring, and knowledgeable counselor can be of assistance. No one should deal with loss alone.

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.