Compassionate and Holistic Grief Counselor in Los Angeles
I offer a caring place where you can honor your grief. Together, we’ll work on reflection, finding the meaning, and learning how to carry your loss in a way that feels purposeful.
Finding Hope and Moving Forward Through Grief Therapy
You've gone through a loss that has left a gap in your life and your heart. Whether it’s the death of someone you loved, the end of a relationship, or a dream that will never come true, grief can take many forms.
You might be feeling sad, anxious, or angry. Or maybe you're just numb, trying to figure out how to keep going when everything feels different. It's tough to know how to move forward when your life looks so changed.
Counseling for Grief Can’t Make it Go Away, But it Can Make a Difference
Grief counseling can help you find balance when everything feels completely different. It can help you build a "new normal" as you work through your grief.
Here’s what you might be experiencing:
Struggling to get out of bed each day, wondering, "What's the point?"
Feeling shocked or angry that the world keeps turning like nothing has changed.
Being fine one minute, only to burst into tears the next for no clear reason.
Feeling guilty if you laugh or smile as if being happy is disloyal to the memory of your loved one.
Putting on a brave face around others, even when you're hurting inside, like at a family event after a surgery that ended your chance to have children.
Experiencing a mix of relief and failure, like at the end of a difficult marriage.
Grief can bring up all kinds of emotions. It can affect your mood, relationships, and ability to focus on work or everyday tasks. You might feel like you want to move forward, but it’s as if your feet are stuck, unable to take the next step. Grief therapy can help you find the strength to move forward, even when it feels impossible.
What Grief Counseling Can Do For You:
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Managing the Pain
We work together to understand and feel the pain, rather than avoiding it. Experiencing and processing this pain is a key part of finding your way through grief.
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Adjusting to Life After Loss
Counseling helps you create new routines and find balance in your life after a loss. It’s about finding a new sense of normal when everything feels different.
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Keeping Healthy Connections
We explore ways for you to remember and honor what you’ve lost, allowing you to keep a meaningful connection without being overwhelmed by pain.
Do You Need Grief Counseling?
The impact of grief on your life can be profound, affecting every part of your being. Whether you’re adjusting to losing a home, facing a decline in health, or grieving the end of a long-term career, it’s normal to feel overwhelmed. You might wonder if grief counseling could help.
Ask yourself:
Struggling to enjoy hobbies that once brought you joy.
Avoiding places that remind you of your loss, like skipping a wedding after losing your partner.
Feeling alone in a crowd, as if no one understands your pain after losing a job that defined you.
If any of this sounds familiar, grief counseling might be a good fit for you. It’s a space where you can talk about all the feelings that come with grief, whether it’s sadness, anger, guilt, or even relief. There’s no right way to grieve, but through counseling, you can find a way to move through your experience with care and compassion for yourself.
What to Expect from Grief Counseling
Grief counseling is a space where you can openly share your feelings without being judged. You might have feelings you don’t want to share with anyone, and feel guilty for holding it in. Together, we’ll work through the emotions you're experiencing and find ways to handle them in your daily life. You’ll learn practical tools to help you manage the tough moments and build a life that feels meaningful again. I’m here to support you, not just now but in the long run, as you navigate the ups and downs of your grief. Through our sessions, you'll find acceptance, rebuild your life, and discover that it's possible to feel joy again, even while honouring your loss.
Grief Shapes You, But It Doesn’t Have to Control You
How Long Does Grief Counseling Last?
Grief counseling doesn’t have a set timeline because everyone’s grief is different. Some people find what they need in just a few sessions, while others might take several months or more. It comes down to what feels right for you. We’ll go at your pace, giving you the time and space you need without any pressure. The goal is to support you through this process, one step at a time, for as long as you need.
How to Find a Grief Counselor in Los Angeles That’s Right for You
Finding the right grief counselor in Los Angeles is more about connecting with someone who makes you feel safe and understood. Look for a counselor with experience in grief, but also someone you feel comfortable talking to. Trust your instincts. If you feel at ease and listened to in the first session, that’s a good sign. It’s okay to meet with a few different counselors until you find the one that feels right for you. Your journey through this grief deserves the right support. I offer a free consultation for a chance to see if you feel I am the right fit for you.
“We don’t move on from grief. We move forward with it.”
Finding Hope in the Pain of Loss While Carrying Grief Forward
Grief isn’t something you just “get over.” It’s something that stays with you as you move forward in life. When we lose someone we love, or something that is valuable to us, it changes us deeply, becoming a part of who we are. Grief isn’t a problem to solve or a wound that needs to heal, it’s a part of our journey that we learn to live with.
Grief is complicated. It’s possible to feel sadness and joy at the same time, to remember what you’ve lost while finding new reasons to smile. Moving forward doesn’t mean forgetting your loved one, it means finding a way to keep their memory with you as you continue to live your life.
What It's Like To Work With Me
A client once told me, “Thank you for making me feel so comfortable that I can share my darkest thoughts with you.” That’s exactly what I want for you. I give you a place where you can talk about the hardest parts of your grief without feeling judged. Grief can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to go through it alone. Together, we’ll face those painful feelings, and I’ll help you find ways to carry them while still moving forward in life. You’ll have the space to move forward at your own pace, with support every step of the way.
Understanding the 5 Stages of Grief For Those Who Are Facing The End of Their Life.
The "5 stages of grief" are often misunderstood. These stages were originally created by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross to describe the emotional process of people facing their own death, not the grief of those who’ve lost someone or something. Over time, they’ve been incorrectly applied to grief in general. Grief isn’t a step-by-step process. It’s deeply personal and can be very unpredictable. You might not experience all of these stages, and that’s completely normal. There’s no right or wrong way to grieve. However, these 5 stages are:
Denial
Denial is the mind's way of protecting you from the full impact of your loss. It might feel like a fog, where you can't quite believe what's happened.
Anger
Anger can surface when the reality of your loss sets in. You might feel frustrated or helpless, and that’s okay. Anger is a natural response to feeling out of control.
Bargaining
Bargaining often comes with "what if" thoughts. You might find yourself looking back, wishing you could change the past or make deals in your mind to undo the loss.
Depression
Depression can bring a deep sense of sadness or emptiness. It's a heavy stage, but it’s a part of processing the loss and beginning to understand its impact on your life.
Acceptance
Acceptance doesn’t mean you’re okay with what happened, but rather that you’re starting to come to terms with it. It’s finding a way to live with the loss, not moving past it.
In therapy, my focus is on your unique journey. We’ll work together to explore your feelings in a way that feels right for you. There’s no need to worry about fitting into a certain model or whether you’re grieving "the right way." Your grief is personal, and I’ll approach it in a way that honors your experience.
I want you to know:
Your grief is powerful, but so is your resilience
Let’s work together to help you move through your grief so you can find peace, reconnect with life, and discover a sense of hope again.
Frequently Asked Questions about Grief Counseling.
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Grief counseling is a supportive space where you can talk about your loss and the difficult emotions that come with it. Together, we’ll work on understanding your feelings and finding ways to cope and heal.
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Grief counseling can really help you work through your loss and the tough emotions that come with it. It gives you the support and tools you need to start healing and feeling more at peace. While everyone’s experience is different, many find that counseling helps them regain balance and hope.
You might be experiencing feelings of depression, anxiety, or unease. You might have nightmares or flashbacks. You might avoid people, places, or situations. You might have a really strong emotional reaction to a person, noise, or event and not understand why.
Trauma looks different in different people.
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For grief counseling, individual 50-minute sessions are $250. If you feel you need more time, I also offer 90-minute sessions at a pro-rated rate and 3-hour intensives for deeper work.
If cost is a concern, we can explore a sliding scale fee to make sure you get the support you need during this difficult time.