Grief and Loss Counseling in Penndel, PA.

Grief Counseling Grief counseling is a journey with many turns in the road. One moment you can’t imagine how you can go on and the next, it’s seems like maybe the cloud is beginning to lift. When I work with someone who is experiencing grief, I sit with them during the painful trip that they are taking. Grief counseling more than any other kind of counseling as blend of spirituality and practical reality, In our work together we will work with both parts of the healing; how to gain some perspective that can help us to go on and practical things that can be done to help with deal with painful difficulties in relating to the deep sense of loss. Dr. Marty also uses techniques from EMDR (a t....

Grief and Loss is an often overlooked experience of modern life. Death of a loved-one is usually when we acknowledge actively grieving. However, life is in many ways a series of losses (life shifts) and with each loss comes the necessity to grieve. When we do not navigate our losses with the process of actively grieving, each new loss compounds those that came before. Learning how to honour your heart as a source of strength and wisdom through loss - even though it's hurting - is your path to greater strength and resilience in life. Support is available through divorce/separation, ill health, unemployment, "empty nesters," loss of pet, trauma, loss of a relationship, moving, ageing.

Grief and loss can be sudden or expected, as when a loved one passes from an accident or from a long standing illness. Grief and loss can also be felt when relationships end, or when major life changes occur. Perceived failures and unmet expectations can also cause feelings of grief and loss. Understanding and processing these events can help to reduce the effects of trauma, depression, anxiety, and self-doubt that can stem from grief and loss.

EMDR allows clients to remember emotional pain and loss without suffering the intense negative feelings that go along with it. In doing so, clients can begin to heal, move on, and even remember some great memories lost in all the pain. Traditional talk therapy helps normalize the various interlapping stages of grief. I also help clients re-evaluate their relationships that so often change as a result of loss.

Relationship endings are a guaranteed part of life that everyone experiences. When a relationship concludes – whether through death, divorce or some other reason – it is common to review it, examine it and even wish that something about it was different. Perhaps we regret something we said or longed to hear something from the other person. Endings are accompanied by conclusions to our hopes and dreams for the future. My approach to working with grieving clients is to permit them fully feel their loss and to process their grief in their own way and at their own pace. When it comes to grieving clients I will join with them in their loss and will encouraging them to feel all the feelings that surface about the person and the relationship they shared.

In grief and traumatic loss therapy, we recognize that there's no universal formula for healing, nor do we suggest that you "get over" your loss. Grief can be a lifelong journey, morphing in shape as time passes. At times, it may feel like an emotional roller coaster, unpredictable and intense; at others, it may numb you. Our mission as therapists specializing in grief loss is to guide you in reshaping your grief into a more manageable form and restructuring your life after your loss. We'll explore ways to honor and maintain a lasting connection with your loved one through collaboration. We firmly believe that even when someone leaves us physically, the love and connection we shared endure.

You can grow from grief. I can help you build the skills to better manage your loss. Grief has no infinite definition. There is grief associated with death. The death may be sudden, or it may be due to a long term illness. There is grief associated with relationship loss. This may be due to separation, divorce or loss of friendship. Catastrophic loss may be loss of a job, financial status, accident or medical illness. You can move on and grow from your experience.

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.

Grief and loss can be particularly challenging areas to address in therapy. They are often require long-term therapy. Grief and loss does not just happen once, particularly in the event of the loss of a loved one. When the grief/loss is connected to that of a loved one, most people still have some level of grief or sadness even when therapy is complete. This is normal as the loss will forever change the person's life. Much of therapy focuses on normalizing this experience, helping to determine ways they might want to stay connected to the person they lost, or just provide the space to process those feelings. Loss can also include loss of status, finances, and relationships.

Our approach emphasizes setting boundaries, managing emotional energy, and practicing self-compassion. By utilizing the Companioning Model of Bereavement Caregiving, we create a healing environment where shared experiences foster understanding and growth. This model focuses on being present with your grief rather than trying to fix it, honoring your unique journey. Our goal is to support you in moving forward with renewed hope and resilience, helping you find peace and acceptance during difficult times.

Have you been struggling emotionally or behaviorally due to a recent loss? Psychotherapy can be a powerful tool in allowing you to work toward moving on from sadness and greif. Ultimately, the goal is not to eliminate the pain, but to regain a sense of peace and acceptance while again moving forward toward meaning in life. I wouild be honored to help with coping with your life's recent events.

Grief and loss is a normal part of human experience. We can too often rush to pathologize and/or attempt to get rid of the feelings of loss and grief, something to stay away from. However, letting our grief be, or letting ourselves simply experience grief, making it a normal experience can help us not only heal from loss but move forward and grow from our painful experiences.

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.