Grief and Loss Counseling in Port Charlotte, FL.

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.

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.

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. .

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 is a personal journey we do not all arrive at the same time, take the same route, or have a set amount of time to grieve. We are ritual by nature; writing a poem, planting a tree, or even watching a movie can be a memorial. Death is final but hope says we will see the people we have loved and lost again. I truly believe we are separated by time and a thin veil. The therapy technique, ' the empty chair', may be utilized for closure.

We will all experience grief and loss. This is what it means to experience life and love. Grief is a normal, healthy response to a loss. Grief can be experienced as a mental, physical, emotional, or social reaction. We all grieve differently and the way we process grief depends on our unique relationship with the person we lost, the situation surrounding the loss, our cultural and spiritual beliefs, and our previous experiences with loss.There’s no one right way to grieve. Mourning is the process of adapting to our loss. Bereavement is often used to refer to the period of grief and mourning, as we try to re organize our lives without our loved one. Suffering and loss can feel overwhelming,

GRIEF & BEREAVEMENT COUNSELING Bereavement and grief aren’t light-hearted topics. Bereavement refers to the process of recovering from the death of a loved one, and grief is a reaction for any form of loss. Both encompass a wide range of emotions such as fear, anger and deep, deep sadness. I can help with Grief and Loss through counseling & EMDR

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.

With in depth compassion, David has helped parents grieve after the loss of a child, adults grieve after the loss of their parents, a job, a marriage and more. His own work was deepened when his mother was stricken with dementia, and died. He teaches us how to go from "mourning to MORNING!" David gently guides his clients INTO the grieving process via talk and written therapy, as well as modalities to help deal with shame, guilt, loss, sadness, anger and even rage that sometimes occurs in the healing process. As David has said for 40 years, "grieving is never linear....it's back and forth, until you find your own sense of peace....please be patient in your healing."

I am sincerely sorry you are suffering. When you lose someone, or something, important, it can be so very painful. I have a very high level of training in helping people with these sorts of pains. You may have lost a person, a relationship, or perhaps a pet? I understand how bad such losses can be. It can feel like no one will ever understand. But you will receive my full attention, support, and high level of both academic and clinical training as we work together to attempt to sensitively, properly process your loss and slowly increase your quality of life. I know you might be feeling at your worst, or even worse than your worst. I hope to have the priveledge of supporting you.

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.

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.