Grief and Loss Counseling in Fairwood, WA.

Grief is a difficult issue for all of us because it looks differently for everyone. However, there are some common themes in how we grieve as men and women. If you or someone you know is grieving and finding it difficult to acknowledge their grief or know what to do next, therapy is the best place to explore how they might grieve fully and in so doing, be able to move forward in life.

Death of a loved one or loss of something significant can creep up in ways you hadn't expected. Together, you and I look at your situation with compassionate presence to help you explore your feelings and allow you deeper freedom to get through this difficult time. Finding the right fit with a counselor is of utmost importance. For that reason, I view our first few sessions as a period for us to get to know one another. I

You do not need to be alone with your grief. Together we can chart a path that will greatly reduce your pain and help you naturally process emotion, thought, and physical sensations that may be held in your body and mind. Although loss is a part of life, when we are not able to fully process these experiences we can become stuck and unable to create joyful relationships or feel happy in our daily lives. Feeling bad, angry, numb, or depressed can be a symptom of being stuck in the grieving process. Our society expects us to "get over it" when we actually need much longer to come to a place of acceptance. I provide a compassionate healing space to resolve your losses and return to life.

When grief and loss hit, life can feel unbearable. When this happens, we sometimes try to avoid our painful feelings, but this never works for long and can lead to unhealthy ways of coping. As hard as it is, the way to heal from loss is to lean into the pain instead of running away from it. I provide a safe place for my clients to heal and move through their pain so they can fully engage in life again.

Grief and loss are very challenging. The difficulty of processing these complex emotions is compounded due to the fast paced nature of our lives pushing us forward, not providing the space and time for the necessary reflection. In order to move forward, we need time to grieve what has been lost. Our work begins with addressing the loss currently burdening your heart. It continues with examining the depth of the loss and its various levels of impact on your life. For example, losing one's mother could also mean the loss of a confidant, a cheerleader, a friend, an advocate etc. Finally, we will work together through the stages of your grief, supplementing with reading material when necessary.

Grief and loss is, unfortunately, a normal part of living. There is no single "correct" way to grieve: different cultures and even individuals from the same culture grieve differently. The only consistent feature is that grief takes time. The most effective thing anyone can do for someone grieving is to be there—to listen, to empathize, to walk along with the grief. There is no "fixing" grief. But counseling can help prevent normal grief from developing into major depression or other mental health conditions.

Grief eventually finds us all, yet grieving is often interrupted by the practical concerns of continuing to live. Allowing yourself time and space to grieve is necessary to your recovery. No matter what the specific circumstances of your loss, there are common feelings, concerns, and anxieties that most people experience. I can help you know what to expect and how to cope with the intense emotions that surround profound losses such as the death of a loved one or abandonment. Grief counseling can help you at all stages of grieving, from supporting you through the logistics to forging your strengthened individual identity.

I support clients through grief and loss by helping you to understand the phases of grief, set expectations of what the the grieving process will look like, and understanding how to balance the need to continue living with the need to mourn the loss. Grief can be complex and bring out many emotional shifts that are at first confusing and hard to understand. Though grief and loss therapy, you will be supported in understanding your unique grieving process and how to work through each stage.

By employing various therapeutic techniques such as talk therapy, cognitive-behavioral interventions, and mindfulness practices, grief and loss therapy aims to help individuals navigate the different stages of grief, honor their loss, and gradually rebuild their lives. The benefits of grief and loss therapy include providing a supportive environment for processing emotions, developing healthy coping mechanisms, and finding meaning and purpose amidst the pain. Additionally, this therapeutic approach can facilitate the exploration of new ways to remember and honor loved ones, fostering a sense of resilience and acceptance.

I have learned that grief and loss are experienced very uniquely from client to client. The stages of grief are not necessarily experienced linearly. Working through grief and loss is not so much about recovery as it is about finding ways to incorporate the experience into a new version of yourself. There are ways to be proactive in processing grief and tools available that can help you through this process.

Many times surprising emotions come up after a loss. Often much guilt, regret, anger and blame contribute to thoughts of what we could or should have done differently. These thoughts keep taking up space in the mind and stop us from processing and coming to terms with loss. I help clients during this difficult time by listening empathetically and using methods that help clients grieve in a healthy productive way. I help client find self-compassion, forgiveness and hope during this time time of adjustment.

Although grief is a normal reaction to loss, getting over a broken heart may be difficult. I support my clients as they move beyond their loss, whether it's death, divorce or the numerous other common life experiences which are losses such as moving, graduation, reitement, holidays, empty nest or health changes. I will help you find new meaning in life as you deal with the many feelings that grief brings. As I work with you to recover from your grief, you will learn some skills that allow you to deal with loss directly. Recovering from grief takes courage and it's so worth the effort as you begin to live more wholeheartedly!

Are you going through a break-up, separation, or divorce? Do you need help through this difficult period? I provide a safe, warm, and understanding space for you to go through the grief and healing process needed to recovery from any loss you may be experiencing. Some aspects of loss include: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and finally acceptance. I will help guide you through the stages and help you get unstuck so that you can find the peace you want.

We examine the issues surrounding your grief and or loss, and then look at ways you can gain some healing. Much of this is through insight, reframing, exercises by way of homework, and other ideas that come from you. The process of moving through grief and loss takes time, and its important to be compassionate with yourself and allow yourself experience the span of emotions that are likely to occur.

If you have a loss of a loved one, or a change in your life that feels overwhelming, grief counseling is an opportunity for healing and resolution. As you share the tenderness of your loss there is a letting go that naturally occurs. In time, the sadness and pain of loss is replaced with a warm dearness seated in the depth of your heart.

When you're going through a time of significant loss, our therapists at Mill Creek Family Services provide the support, care and understanding you need. We come alongside you with genuine warmth and compassion as you move through your time of grief. During a time that you just want the deep hurt to go away, we offer you a companion on your path as we shine a light in the direction of hope and renewal.

Adults may encounter things we don’t feel completely ready for and may lose motivation or connection with our surroundings. Emotions like sadness, loneliness, fear, and anger can also emerge in adults and take hold. Layers upon layers, we find ourselves struggling and need help resolving the uncomfortable situation during critical times.

Suffering loss can result in a mix of strong emotions such as sadness, anger, confusion, and regret. I lost my mother in my twenties, so I can relate to the overbearing range of emotions you might deal with. You can benefit from my first-hand experience, along with learned counseling techniques that can help you find peace. Personally, I learned that my feelings of sadness and loss meant that I loved my mother, and that she had a stronger impact on my life than I realized. I’ll always miss my mother, but I’ve found ways to deal with the loss by honoring her memory, and helping others who are struggling in this way. Talking with someone who understands can help you tremendously.

The loss of a loved one is difficult to work through. It helps to have someone to talk to. Sometimes new relationships are difficult because of loss of past relationships and the abandonment we feel. It is hard to love, trust and move forward after loss and the grief that accompanies it. I provide a comfortable, confidential environment with tools to help you move into your future.

At Bluestone Psychological Services, you will find Dr. Bill Roedel and Randie Clark, LMHC, each of whom have had extensive and yet unique training in helping people cope with grief and loss. In a way that honors what has been lost, each will help you express all that has changed and figure out how to shape your life in a way that respects and maintains your connection with what is missing as well as build a life filled with meaning as you go forward.

Grief and loss effects every one at some point in their life. At times when grief or loss become so great that they feel unmanageable, it is necessary to reach out to others. Better yet is reaching out to professionals who have training and experience helping individuals process their grief in a safe, structured, and effective manner. Please don't feel as if you have to go through this time of grief and loss alone. There is hope! You just need to make the first, often difficult step of reaching out for help. Please don't hesitate to contact me.

If you have lost someone close to you through death, relocation or the end of a relationship, and feel isolated and lonely, it takes time and support to gently move forward in life. If you are shy or feel anxiety in social situations it can be hard to reach out for help and create the supportive relationships you need. I can help you move forward, gain a new sense of self worth, and begin to create meaningful nurturing social connections.

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.

The pain of grief and loss can be so heavy and isolating. It often feels like others do not understand the depth of our despair or they move on and expect us to be able to move on within a certain time frame as well. Grief and loss shake our foundation and it can seem unfair that the world keeps moving on. Grief is a process and there is no specific time line. Some of us even have ongoing grief, which can feel unbearable at times. However, even with continuous grief, we can find ways to cope and find joy and freedom again. Though our grief can seem big, we can find hope that is even bigger.

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.