Have you lost a dear one, or a dream? Grief counseling and life transition therapy can help.

During times like these, words can't always describe how you feel.

You could be experiencing unexpected emotional surges, never quite knowing from one day to the next how you’ll be feeling. Perhaps it even seems like you have no control, because a wave of grief might overtake you at any moment.

You might be wrestling with unanswered questions too. Or feelings of self-blame and guilt. You may even find it difficult to think about your loss, wishing you could push it aside and move on.

Counseling for grief and life transition offers a safe place to heal.

These days, we know a lot more about grief and loss than we used to.

For instance, there are many different kinds of losses, as well as many different reactions to loss. So one size doesn't fit all when it comes to helping you through your loss.

Thankfully, there are a variety of creative processes and approaches to support you during this time, no matter what you’re feeling right now.

Therapy also helps with the sense of isolation that often arrives with loss.

Although life goes on, you may feel disconnected, like a piece of you is missing. Or things that used to be second nature, such as getting up in the morning and getting on with your day, might seem overwhelming now.

You could even be wondering if you’re doing it "right." You’ve heard about the stages of grief and loss but you're not sure you’re getting through them like you should be.

But your experience of grief, loss, or life transition is unique to you. So there’s absolutely no wrong way to do it.

It is possible to create a personal pathway through your grief journey.

 You might be surprised to learn that current grief counseling approaches don’t focus on stages. Instead, the emphasis is on discovering and honoring your individual style of grief, loss and life transition. And then, helping you heal and create personal meaning from the experience.

Also, people feel emotional pain and experience loss during all kinds of life transitions. And it’s okay if you need to grieve and work through them, even if you haven’t experienced a death.

You may even experience emotional repurcussions during a life transition that you wanted and planned for.

Hope and healing are possible when you're experiencing...

• Relationship changes: separation, break up, divorce, ghosting
• Loss of a loved one: spouse, partner, parent, sibling, child, friend or pet
• Reproductive losses: infertility, miscarriage, abortion, menopause
• The aftermath of natural disasters: wildfires, floods, tornados, hurricanes
• Periods of uncertainty; questioning your core beliefs and values
• Relocation, selling a home or unexpected changes in your home life
• Job loss, unexpected career changes or financial losses
• Unfulfilled life dreams, expectations or life roles
• Life stage transitions: marriage, birth, caregiving, empty nest, retirement
• Illness and health changes in yourself or someone you care about
• Regret about time passing or past choices you’ve made
• Aging, facing your body’s changes and your mortality

You don’t have to go through this alone.

As your counselor, I’ll meet you right where you are and join you on the journey. I’ll also encourage you to take especially good care of yourself during this time.

I’ve learned from personal experience how important it is to create positive strategies for coping and self-care during times of loss and and life transition.

I'm a Certified Grief Support Specialist.

I've been through loss and life transition too. One of the earliest was the loss of my mother during my second year of college. It was a huge blow.

Over the years I've developed great respect for the impact that all kinds of losses and transitions have on our lives. Even things like relocating to a new city, making career changes, losing dear pets, and dealing with the end of friendships can really throw you for a loop.

But that's the thing about loss and life transition. They're shape shifters. You never quite know what form they're going to take.

So if you're walking through any kind of grief, loss or life transition, I'd be honored to be by your side and support you.