My deepest condolences on the passing of your loved one.  Such a loss is never easy.  Your whole world has been turned upside down.  Nothing makes sense, and you may feel as though you can't cope alone.  Weeks and months go by and just when you think you are back on track, you experience deep waves of overwhelming grief all over again.  This is distressing but normal.  What can you do about it?

For a brief article on grief with a list of symptoms and differences in mourning between men and women, click here.

Many bereaved families turn to each other, to friends, or to clergy at times like these.  Often these supportive others can make a positive difference as you go through the sorrowful, confusing, and vulnerable first year of grief.  And, yes, grief is a process that takes at least one full year, and often longer when the important tasks of mourning are not successfully completed.  This is why many normal grieving people find that using the services of a professional therapist and grief counselor will help them regain a sense of normalcy and balance without the pressures to perform that can be imposed by well-meaning others.

If you are seeking a grief counselor, let me tell you what you can expect in working with me. 

Ï     You will move through the stages and tasks of    mourning at your own pace with my guidance.

Ï     You will be able to talk about your loved one, and about the death, as much as you need to.

Ï     If you need assistance in writing a eulogy, I will help you with that.

Ï     If you need help in knowing what to say to children and other relatives, we will discuss options for that.

Ï     If you need spiritual answers, I can help you talk about your questions, and offer my perspectives.

Ï     You will be nurtured as you cry and feel your grief in order to completely move through it.

Ï     You will have an objective sounding board for the difficult decisions you are struggling with.

Ï     If needed, you will learn balanced coping skills that help with grief as well as other life challenges.

Ï     If this death is triggering related or underlying emotional issues, I can help you resolve those.

Ï     When you are ready, I will provide guidance and support in moving back into the world.

Grief counseling is a form of psychotherapy.  One does not have to have a diagnosis to take advantage of grief counseling.  In fact, research shows that bereaved persons who engage in grief counseling during the first 2-6 months following a loss are much less likely to experience prolonged or abnormal anxiety and depression, or to need psychotropic medication. 

Dr Deah's Way Of Working

·        Sessions are 90 minutes, usually with the possibility of going longer for an extra charge.

·        Sessions cost $75.  Cash, personal checks, and online payment via PayPal are accepted.  Fifth session is free when four sessions are paid in advance.  Two additional sessions are free when 10 sessions are paid in advance.

·        Sessions can be held in your home or by email at no extra charge.

·        I combine a wide range of psychospiritual modalities to benefit your individual healing process.

·        Most grief counseling can be structured and time limited to weekly or bi-weekly sessions for 2-6 months  or unstructured, unlimited and dependent on what is most troublesome for you at each session.

·        Most clients benefit from bi-weekly or monthly sessions in the 6^th-12^th month after a loss.