Grief and Loss Counseling in Fruitville, FL.

Grief is a life long journey we are thrust upon, oftentimes involuntarily, whether it is a reaction to loss of a loved one or a major life change/transition. While on your journey I can offer support by providing a safe and caring environment where permission is granted to grieve and encouragement given to share your story and where you can process your feelings, learn coping skills and ways to regain a sense of purpose, and the importance of self-care.

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. .

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 a normal reaction to loss. Grief has different forms and sometimes is seen as “acceptable” – loss of an elderly parent for example, and sometimes is “hidden” such as contracting a disease such as HIV or a miscarriage for example. Whether the loss is seen or hidden, it still causes a physical and emotional reaction which is absolutely normal. I help people understand their grief and its process and help them move through the stages of grief.

Grief and loss are the intensely personal emotions that occur after losing a loved one. Grief can also occur after the loss of a pregnancy, a divorce, a terminal diagnosis, the loss of a beloved pet, and changes in your health or the health of a loved one. Even the simplest tasks can trigger feelings of grief after experiencing a loss making everyday life feel impossible. Through empathy and the safe environment you'll receive in therapy, you can feel supported as you move through all of the emotions that grief brings with it. You can move towards acceptance and discover what your life looks like after loss.

The stages of grief are universal & experienced by people from all walks of life. Coping with death is a deeply personal experience that often leads to isolation & depression. In grief counseling, you can safely explore & learn to cope with the overwhelming feelings of sadness, anger & helplessness in order to eventually achieve a more peaceful acceptance of your loss.

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.

Losing someone or something is incredibly hard. I believe that one of the great myths that we are told is simply that “time heals all wounds.” Time can actually reinforce the pain of loss and it is important to mourn and grieve that which we no longer have. I am honored to partner with my clients on their journey through healing and finding peace after a loss. I look forward to the opportunity to work with you.

A lot of people run from grief work - I don't. I understand the pain of loss and I will help you through the darkness. Grief is a very profound and personal experience. The pain of loss never goes away completely - that person will always be an important part of your life and experience. I am happy to help you walk through that pain so that you are not alone in your grief.