ARE YOU CONSIDERING GRIEF AND LOSS COUNSELING?

Do you feel like you have no one to talk to about the death of your loved now?

Do you find yourself crying, breaking down, feeling guilty, feeling angry or not feeling?

Do you feel sad or depressed around the holidays?

Are you grieving over someone whom died by suicide?

Are you wondering how to grieve while being a parent?

Are you grieving over a miscarriage or a child loss?

Are you grieving over someone that is dying?

Some Statistics on Death and Dying

There is hope for you.  You don’t have to continue to go through this alone.  In fact, you shouldn’t go through this completely alone or isolate yourself.  Approximately 2.5 people die each year in the United States and leave behind about 5 people grieving for them.  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide was the 10th leading cause of death.  Among individuals ages 10 – 34 it was the second leading cause of death and among individuals ages 35 – 54 it was the fourth leading cause of death.  For individuals ages 10 – 44, unintentional injuries such as motor vehicle accidents were the leading cause of death.  For individuals ages 45 – 65, cancer was the leading cause of death and heart disease was the second cause of death.  Unfortunately, many women experience miscarriages.  In fact, 10% – 15% of women who know they’re pregnant have miscarriages and most of them happen in the first trimester.  Many of these pregnancy losses are also due to factors that women cannot control. 

Reaching out and connecting to others is very powerful

            It is very important to get counseling for grief and loss to take care of yourself while you’re grieving.  A therapist will work with you to find meaning and show you how to do this.  They will teach you how to grieve.  It may be hard to talk to your friends and family.  You may feel like they just don’t understand.  Perhaps, you feel like you’ll just be burdening them or bring them down.  Maybe you just don’t have anyone to talk to about it.  Talking and telling your story may be just the thing that you need.  Many people now attend counseling for different reasons.  Each person’s grieving period and process will be unique to them.  Grief has no instructions.       

How does this Grief and Loss Counseling work?

By now you may be curious about exactly how counseling for grief and loss could help you.  Some ways are by helping you to figure out how to love your loved one in their absent, establish a new relationship with them and how to live in this changed world without them.  Grief and Loss Counseling will help you to process the different stages of grief which are denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance.  You will also learn the myths associated with these 5 stages of grief.  In addition, you will learn how to find meaning.  No one else can find your meaning, but you.  

“Loss is what happens in life and meaning is what happens afterwards.” David Kessler

We’ll discuss interacting with others, responses from people and the grief timeline.  There may be moments in which you think “I can’t, I don’t want to or how can?”  I want you to know that you can and will get through this.  In fact, your loved ones would want you to go on continuing living life to the fullest.  At times, you may experience delayed grief, pain, racing thoughts and may even worry about feeling disloyal to your loved one whom passed.  Through counseling for grief and loss, we will explore and process all these things. 
            Counseling is a great way to work through your grief and loss.  By signing up for counseling with me, you’ll be working with a licensed clinical professional counselor who specializes in grief and loss.  Counseling provides many benefits such as helping you to process thoughts and feelings, giving you a safe space to talk or cry and providing you with tools.  Working with the right therapist can have a significant impact on your life and daily living.  

Grief Counseling is Available

Many people are now attending counseling.  Chances are you may have friends who are seeing a therapist.  Perhaps, there is a family member who is attending counseling.  Even celebrities are admitting to going to counseling for grief and loss.  Mental health is a real thing and there is treatment for it.  Many people grieve differently or for different lengths of time.  There is no set timeframe when you’re supposed to be finished grieving for someone.  This is the time to put yourself first and figure out what you need.    

Don’t Let Fear Stop You

Sometimes people have fears about attending grief and loss counseling.  They may be thinking I don’t need it, what will people think about me or what’s the point.  Don’t let others tell you what you need.  You determine what you need.  If you feel counseling would be beneficial, then sign up for counseling.

It’s my fault.  If I was just there, if only I listened more.  What will people think of me?

There are many reasons a person may not seek a grief and loss therapist after a loved one commits suicide.  Grief due to a suicide may be extremely difficult and intense due to the nature and sudden death of the person.  You may not want to talk about it or struggle with believing your loved one would kill themselves.  It may also leave you feeling shocked, confused, angry, shameful or even guilty.  Perhaps, you want help, but don’t know how to access it.  These are all normal feelings and they shouldn’t keep you from seeking treatment.  No one is judging you.  It’s not your fault.  Counseling is a safe place to be open and honest about the suicidal death. 

I need to move on.  I can do this by myself.  It shouldn’t take that long, right?

Many people don’t realize how long the grieving process takes and may feel like they need to be strong for others.  There is no timeframe for grief and loss or set period of when a person should be finished grieving.  It’s okay to let children see you grieve.  You don’t need to be strong all the time or pretend everything is the still the same.  Seeking counseling for grief and loss does not mean you are weak or that there’s anything wrong with you.  Life is still going on and counseling can teach you how to live in your new reality.    

My Specialty

While looking for a therapist, you’ll want someone who specializes in the reasons bringing you to therapy.  I specialize in grief and loss counseling.  Throughout the years, I have worked with many clients of all ages dealing with grief and loss.  This also includes families.  As a therapist, I have attended numerous trainings on grief and loss.  This helps me to improve my skills, obtain information and stay up to date.  It also guarantees that I am providing the best care to my clients.  Afterall grief and loss is a sensitive issue.  I pride myself on working with clients to develop an individualized approach to dealing with their grief and loss.  I also work with them to find meaning and continuing to live full lives.  Since everyone’s grief and loss is unique to them, their process is different too.

Contact Us Today

            If you are ready to sign up for grief and loss counseling just fill out our contact form.  It’s never too late to get started.  Let us show you how to work through this.  You no longer have to deal with it by yourself.    If still have more questions about grief and loss counseling, feel free to include them in your message.  We will get back to you with a reply.  We can also be contacted at 410 205-9631.  Just leave your name, number and reason for calling.