Most of us acknowledge how a recent loss or significant life transition can affect someone
We sympathize with their need for support, reassurance, and help through the first days and weeks of adjustment. Few of us, however, appreciate that a significant loss is a “life-changing event” that requires considerable understanding and effort to adjust to, and is one that affects the survivors for the rest of their lives.
If you have been negatively affected by either a recent loss or one that you experienced many years ago, and it is affecting how you live your life today, you may benefit from counseling with a therapist who specializes in loss and bereavement. I understand both the short-term needs and long-term impact of loss, and can help you at whatever stage of bereavement you are.
Grief Counseling
I work with individuals and families, who have confronted many forms of loss — death, divorce, illness, career changes, lifestyle changes, and pet loss. All life changes involve painful transitions, when we are not sure who we are and where we are going. Together, my clients and I identify the ways in which their loss and associated grief affect their lives — from day-to-day changes to crises of faith, and the ways their losses challenge their perceptions about the world.
We explore the “why” questions.
For example:
Why is this happening to me?
Where do I fit now?
Can I trust people?
Am I safe in this world?
Examples of people I work with include:
Widows and widowers, parents who have lost children, adult children who have lost parents, and siblings who lose siblings;
Adult children of aging parents, having to make difficult decisions about how and where they should live their remaining years;
Seniors between 65 and 90 years old examining their options for their lives and their deaths;
“Empty nesters” confronting changing roles and relationships with their spouses and children;
Men and women facing career changes– voluntary and involuntary–who wish to explore the relationship between their work and their identity, and the implications of these changes.
Pet lovers who have lost these treasured “family members,” and need special understanding and acceptance for their grief.
Client Testimonials
“After my husband’s death, 10 months after the diagnosis, I felt lost, frightened and very sad and lonely. I sought your help and experience in understanding the loss, experiencing the sadness and loneliness and moving forward. Your book put things in perspective for my personality. I am grateful for having met you and your efforts in helping me to struggle through the grief. Your parting comments to me “We can never replicate the relationship that is lost, but we can find something different.” This gives me optimism and hope. My therapy has been rewarding for me.”
“Thanks so much for your counsel and support…I am grateful to have had a professional with whom to work and discuss this important life change.”
“…I never predicted where the process of self discovery took me while working with you … I could not have done this if I hadn’t had a positive experience working with you…Please accept my thanks for getting me on the voyage of self-discovery which led to the path for healing and growth.”
“ I consider myself most fortunate to have been given the opportunity to work with you, Susan. You have been an excellent coach, support and sounding board…You have consistently demonstrated compassion, concern, and insights about my experience that have helped me find resolution and move forward.”
