Grief and Loss Counseling in Fort Walton Beach, FL.

Grieving is a normal part of life - it takes time. We do not get over it; we get through it. When thinking of loss, we naturally think about the death of a loved one. Loss can also be losing your job, home, health, or realtionship. The goal of grieving is not to eliminate the pain, but to reorganize one's life so the loss is one important part of life and not the center of one's life.

As an experienced Christian Counselor and ordained pastor, I’ve supported many men through the grief process. If you’re grieving, I will provide a supportive space for you to process your emotions. Because grief is a normal part of being human, I can’t take it away or rush you through it. However, I can help you identify barriers to grief, and help you prevent the grief process from becoming stuck. I know grief professionally. But I also know grief personally. Losing one of my best friends and my beloved grandparents was hard enough, but facing the untimely death of my father was, and is, a uniquely painful experience. If given the chance, I would be honored to help you process your grief.

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. .

Perhaps one emotion which is often not recognized by those around us is grief, which is a natural response to loss. We often associate it with the loss of someone, but it is also caused by things such as divorce or a relationship breakup, losing a job, loss of financial stability, death of a pet , loss of safety after a trauma, selling the family home and many other things. I can help you understand the grieving process and that there is no right or wrong way to grieve, it depends upon many factors which include your personality and coping style, your faith and just how significant the loss was to you. There is no “normal” timetable for grieving and together we can find the ways to help you cope with the pain, and healing that allow you to move forward in life.

With my experience in ministry, in counseling, and in life-coaching, I’ve helped men work through the complicated emotions around grief and loss. As men we feel pressure to be a “rock” for everyone else. Then our wives tell us to open up and feel our feelings. But do they really want to see us fall apart? Like many things, the truth is somewhere in the middle. Chances are that you’ve bravely put your feelings on hold to care for others, and regardless of what the world says, there’s love and nobility in that. And at the same time, you need a place to be real and work through the pain. If you’re ready to take the next step and face what needs to be faced, man to man, I’m here to help.

We help our client to heal and process grief and loss through holding safe space for them to work through difficult emotions and experiences in a supportive environment. Everyone grieves differently, but it can be very beneficial to receive support from loved ones and therapists as you cope with grief and loss. Collaborative therapy, Emotionally-Focused therapy, grief psychoeducation, and techniques such as EMDR (Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and ART (Accelerated Resolution Therapy) can be especially helpful.

Grief and loss can feel overwhelming, isolating, and deeply personal. My approach to grief therapy is compassionate, empathetic, and tailored to your unique experience. I provide a safe, nonjudgmental space where you can express your emotions freely, process the pain of loss, and begin to find meaning and hope again. Together, we’ll explore strategies to honor your feelings, build resilience, and rediscover moments of peace and connection. Healing is possible, and I’m here to walk this path with you.