Grief and Loss Counseling in Bowie, MD.

Robyn Brickel and Brickel & Associates as a practice, treat grief and loss from a trauma-informed, systems model of care, as they treat all mental health issues. Understanding that people process grief differently and that losses can trigger other feelings, we aim to provide a safe space for clients to have their emotions held and witnessed by another and help hold themselves with compassion and kindness as they work through the stages of grief.

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.

One's grief and loss is very important for you to define with help and then work out each area until you have learned how to see the flags and cope with the truth. The fiction must be discovered from the truth, otherwise one will stay trapped. It's ok to cycle between the different stages of grief as long as you do not get stuck. It is a major key for me to listen to your pain. I have a free e-book called "Don't Waste Your Pain" Go download it; it's free to you.

Each loss is unique and so is the treatment. You may need a witness to tell your story in a safe, respectful place or find strategies to deal with unresolved issues with an important person you lost or a job. I can help you through this by using different strategies, such as, writing unsent letters to the person you lost, visualizing ways of moving on while establishing rituals to maintain good memories, connecting with support groups as needed,etc.

Loss is inevitable. It is the flip side of love and the greatest pain we know. Hearts can break and hearts can heal. We must first accept ALL feelings. We can cultivate gratitude for the gifts our loved one gave us. Sometimes it is also important to acknowledge and learn from the mistakes of the one we have lost., the ways they may have caused pain to themselves and others. If the person has been a large part of our daily living, it is as if we need to recreate our lives bringing new resources into the emptiness. The waves of extreme pain become less frequent with time. The person's memory remains with us, and their gifts to us can inspire those very strengths in ourselves.

Our society doesn't always do such a great job understanding grief and loss...well-meaning friends and family just want you to "move on" and "be okay". When I work with clients around grief and loss, I try to educate them on the wave-like quality of grief; that it comes in waves, and ebbs and flows. Just because it comes back occasionally doesn't mean you're not healing - it takes time, patience and understanding, but you can heal.

Have you had a recent loss. This loss may the death of a loved one, divorce, having children move away, or some other painful life experience. You are likely struggling with a variety of emotions and thoughts. You may at times feel overwelmed. Therapy can help you make sense of your experience and help you take the next step move forward when you are ready.

Life can present you with difficult situations which are hard to process and move past. These challenges are not on your timeline and affect everything. Having worked in many healthcare settings, I am familiar navigating life-changing events and grief. I understand the territory of encountering loss, coping with trauma, the complexity of the medical system and living with illness. These issues can have ripple effects on your relationships, sense of self and perceptions of the world. I know how complex things can get, and I will support you during this process.

Everyone faces grief and loss, whether it’s over a romantic relationship or a job ending, a physical health problem, or the death of a loved one. We offer support to face grief, understand it, follow the innate mourning process, and integrate the change into life and your sense of self. We offer a safe place to explore the range of emotions which accompany loss, which really matters when friends and family don’t know how to stay with and witness the pain and sorrow. Grieving has its own demands and pace, and we will stay with you through it.

When someone lost the loved one, he/she will experience different feelings, such as sad, angry, lonely, confused, and guilty. When these strong emotions all come together at the same time, one can be overwhelmed. Hence, grief counseling can help. Everyone goes through birth, aging, sickness, and death, and grief is a normal process of human’s life. Grief counseling gives you an opportunity to find a better way to memorize the loved one while moving forward your life.

Though I don't pathologies grief and loss, I help to prevent it from continuing to burden your life by (1) allowing you to freely talk about the deceased; (2) assisting with distinguishing grief from a traumatic event, and (3) assist you in dealing with any guilt and effectively organize your grief. We support persons encountering grief, adjusting to loss, in need of bereavement care, as well as seeking support while facing an anticipated loss.

Grief and loss are some of the most difficult issues we can encounter. The feelings can be very intense and feel as though they will never end. All feelings have a beginning, a middle, and an end. As we move through the stages of grief, we can feel confused about what is normal and what is to be expected. Seeking help will allow you to move through your issues more quickly and effectively. I will assist you in moving through the grief process towards healing and expanded growth.

Grief and loss are a natural and unavoidable part of life, whether it is a sudden loss, like the loss of a loved one to death, or a more gradual loss, like the loss of physical vitality with illness or aging. When a very large loss overwhelms us and makes life seem painful and perhaps meaningless, it is time to get help to put that loss in perspective. I help people to work their way through loss and find ways to make it part of the larger mosaic of their life, helping them reduce the overwhelming pain and helping them find hope and meaning again.

Working with a grieving person is deep and delicate work, as all the other losses prior to the present one arise. There is a non-linear process that takes time, and the willingness to honor the grieving process. In addition to talk therapy, I often use Brainspotting (https://brainspotting.pro/) or Biofield tuning (https://biofieldtuning.com/) to help the person release the emotions from the body. Ultimately, grieving is about acceptance and love.

To help a client cope through grief and loss, I sometimes use the example of how an oyster forms a pearl. The oyster ingests a grain of sand that causes pain, and which cannot be removed or dissolved (just like we cannot eliminate the pain of missing a loved one). So the oyster begins to encase the grain of sand with layers of calcium-like substance, that makes the grain of sand easier to carry and hold, without the rough edges. Coping through grief and loss can involve learning how to unpack, experience, and adjust how we carry the pain. Therapy can help you soften and encase the pain of loss, forming a "pearl" around it that is easier to carry with you, and perhaps make it more precious.

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 don’t 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.

As much as any of us might wish grief and loss weren't a part of life, if we can integrate them into who you become, we really do grow to a better version of ourselves. The pain of grief isn't something to "get over," and the messages we sometimes get from others to do it can lead to withdrawal, more pain, and more feelings of loss. Working through your grief isn't about "closure" -- trying to close the door on your sadness and loss doesn't serve you. But with support, you can find your way forward to growth, joy, and a fuller life.

Everyone reacts to death differently. Some become numb and will eventually disconnect from friends. Despair sets in as the reality of the loss settles. The grieving process can be long and isolating. My objective is to counsel the soul with methods generated by the Spirit of God. So that the process is in reliance to Him. Receiving reassurance and feeling understood is also part of the counseling process and will make the recovery process more complete during one of life's most challenging times. Even Jesus wept. It is okay to do so. It is both natural and biblical to grieve. It is part of the healing process that I look forward to helping you through. You are not alone.

Grief and loss do not have to take over your life! There is a way to recover from unexpected loss and find life where there was once only grief. Find out more about a compassionate and structured way to heal, that makes use of and redeems difficult or painful emotions that get triggered from grief and loss. Your mind remembers (even if you think you've forgotten) how to balance itself. We use an effective and modern counseling approach that taps into the brain's amazing ability to re-mold itself when faced with catastrophic loss or pain. All psychotherapies aren't the same when it comes to knowing how to quickly facilitate this natural brain mechanism. Visit our website for free resources.

I have guided many people going through the loss of a family member or friend. I am currently working with a client who lost his mother. He has begun to feel better and remember his mother in ways that are deeply meaningful to him. I have also experienced losses which gives me a greater understanding of what you may need to express your feelings and continue to live a full life.

Handling loss sometimes feels impossible. Learning to live without the lost loved one oftentimes leads to feelings of hopelessness and fear of the unknown. I work with my clients to celebrate the ones we have lost as well as find ways to continue. I make sure that we don't go too fast in trying to "get over" the pain of loss. It's important to both celebrate our loved ones while we learn to move on without them.

Learn how to work with you grief due to loss. Understand that this is your journey to go through in the best way for yourself. Acquire emotional support; develop awareness and understanding; and utilize techniques that help you get through your time of sorrow in your own time. There is no defined time for grieving; only and acknowledgement and learning of how to live with it.

Loss of a loved one can impact us in so many ways . Often without talking to someone we struggle on our own to process and understand feelings pertaining to loss. With the help of counselor we can be able to communicate and process feelings of sadness and some anger that we experience after we have lost a loved one. Similar feelings can surface after a divorce, separation or job loss. By talking to someone about our loss we are able to process and understand that we are not alone. We can learn that loss/grief are a normal part of life and much can learned from how to go through the journey of life after loss.

I work closely with you to help you cope with grief and mourning the loss of a loved one, major life changes, and major life disappointments. We often feel alone and sad when we are disappointed by our losses. I will help you to develop a plan to recover move forward toward an inner peace with the past. We will move at your pace and honor your response to your loss.