Grief and Loss Counseling in Woodlawn, MD.

Loss is devastating. At GBCC, we have clinicians who specialize in grief and loss therapy to help you manage and process your grief. We understand that grief and loss are deeply personal and individual which is why we work collaboratively to figure out what will work best for you. Contact us today if you are struggling with the loss of a loved one.

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.

Grief and loss comes in many different packages: losing an elderly parent, a dear friend, and worst of all, a child. Another extreme form of grief and loss although not as readily identified in this category is the loss an adopted child suffers when being relinquished by his/her biological family. I have worked with many adopted children and adolescents who often struggle with depression and anxiety without even realizing that they are experiencing grief and loss. Often just labeling the grief begins the journey to healing. Others simply need permission to grieve. My office is a safe place where those who need to grieve are permitted to do so and find they then begin to heal.

Suffering a loss of a loved one can be devastating. You do not have to do it alone. Studies show that when one has a strong support team this can greatly help in their grieving process. I will work with you (and your family- if you so chose) to understand the grieving process, the emotional, psychological and spiritual aspects to help you get through this most difficult time.

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.

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.

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.

Grief can affect our actions, emotions, thoughts, body, and faith. These changes can be overwhelming and you may have a lot of questions about the future. People cope with loss in different ways. One of the most important ways, is having support from others. Our counselors have training and experience in grief that can provide support and help you to learn to live well despite your loss. We invite you to contact our office to schedule an appointment with our grief specialist.

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.

People who are expereincing grief and loss often feel overwhelmed with a variety of unpleasant feelings such as anger, quilt, sadness and shock. Adjusting to the loss can be very difficult and painful. There is no one way to do that. Grief and loss requires coping strategies that therapy can help you find. Therapy can help you find navigate the emotional challenges that come with grief and loss.

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.

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.

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.

Our team of caring therapists provide a healing space for you to cope with grief and loss. Painful and sad emotional times can be managed in a healthy way, allowing for new perspectives and understandings so you can return to your daily schedule once again. Through a combination of traditional counseling along with holistic therapies that heal the mind body and soul you will discover inner peace and acceptance. Each session provides healing tools to manage feelings of denial, anger, depression, and the guilt that often accompanies loss.