Bereavement Therapy

What to Expect

Bereavement therapy provides a supportive, non-judgmental space to process the death of a loved one. My work specifically focuses on grief related to human death—not the broader scope of grief that can stem from events like a breakup, job change, or life transition. Losing a person close to you can have a profound emotional, psychological, and physical impact. This therapy honors the depth and uniqueness of that experience, helping you navigate the complex terrain of mourning and healing.

As my client, you can expect:

1. A Safe and Compassionate Environment
I provide a confidential and empathetic space where you can speak openly about your feelings, memories, regrets, or anything else you’re experiencing—without pressure or expectation.

2. Understanding the Grieving Process
Therapy can help you understand the many dimensions of grief. You may explore personal and cultural beliefs about death, and how your loss affects different areas of your life. There's no "right" way to grieve, and I will support you wherever you are.

3. Emotional Expression and Support
You’ll be encouraged to express your emotions—whether it's sadness, anger, guilt, relief, confusion, or even numbness. These responses are all valid, and I will be there to help you process them in a healthy way.

4. Coping Strategies
You may develop personalized tools for coping with day-to-day challenges, especially during difficult moments like anniversaries, holidays, or sudden reminders of your loss.

5. Meaning-Making and Adjustment
Over time, therapy can help you find ways to integrate the death into your life story, preserve cherished memories, and explore how to move forward with meaning and purpose, even in the absence of your loved one.

6. Flexibility in Approach
Some sessions may involve talking, while others might include writing, art, mindfulness, or guided imagery—depending on your needs and preferences. Therapy moves at your pace.

7. Support for Complicated Grief
If your grief feels overwhelming, prolonged, or interferes significantly with daily functioning, bereavement therapy can offer specialized approaches to address complex or traumatic loss.

About Your Therapist

As your therapist, I strive to be a blank slate. Therapy is not about my personal views, preferences, or values—it's a space centered entirely around you. This is a place where you can speak freely and openly, without judgment, and be met with unconditional positive regard. That said, I understand that when you're beginning the journey to find support, it can be helpful to know a little about the person you're trusting with your story.

Here are a few things that may be helpful to know about me: I’m in my late 30s and hold two Master’s degrees—one in Education and another in Clinical Mental Health. I also earned a certification in thanatology through the Association for Death Education and Counseling.

My counseling experience spans a wide range of settings, including middle school counseling, childhood grief and trauma (including sexual and physical abuse), substance use disorder treatment, and, most recently, oncology counseling. Across all of these roles, one truth has remained constant: experiences of loss and trauma can significantly impact psychological functioning and alter the trajectory of an individual's life. I believe that compassionate, informed support is essential to navigating life after loss.

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