Grief or Loss

Alison provides tools for emotionally preparing for the anticipated passing of a loved one; managing feelings and reactions to a death or loss of significance; support during the process of healing and acceptance.

I have years of experience with grief and loss, both professionally and personally. I have run extensive grief and loss groups.

Grief and Loss affects everyone differently. There are several types of grief, and I am here to help support someone when they are ready to process, talk about, feel or just sit with their grief.

As a trauma informed therapist, grief and loss has been a focal point of my both my clinical training and practical experiences consistently throughout my entire career. I have extensive experience in facilitating it in electic ways and sincerely enjoy the nuances of the journey.

Following my own journey to parenthood, my passion is helping women and men with the hardships that can arise when building a family. I have more than 15 years of experience, specializing in helping clients coping with miscarriage, pregnancy loss, and postpartum issues. I completed the 10-month Fertility Counseling Postgraduate Course with Sharon Covington, MSW and Dr. Linda Applegarth, EdD and am certified in perinatal mental health (PMH-C) by Postpartum Support International.

As a former hospice volunteer who also has a person loss history, working with those who are experiencing grief is a natural fit. I believe we must first acknowledge the loss, explore the why, and then gently move to how to move forward. We will never forget, nor would we want to forget. Instead, we learn to have a different relationship with those who have died that we still love.

Life changes so much when we lose someone close to us. We are expected to “let go” when this person still feels very present in our daily thoughts and actions. We tend to become preoccupied with death and with the loss itself, and for good reason- grief can feel so painful and isolating. How do you carry the legacy of those we have lost and integrate them into our lives in new ways while moving forward? Let’s honor that loss by rebelling against this idea that we have to forget or leave behind.

Many clients find me by searching for support after a miscarriage or stillbirth. I've worked with many people who have experienced this uniquely painful loss. This kind of grief is not only about the loss of your baby, but also the loss of all of your dreams for your child, the loss of the idea of what your family would look like, the loss of a part of you and your identity, and anything else your pregnancy meant to you. It takes as long as it takes to move through grief, so don't rush yourself.

Grief is one of the most crushing human emotions. It has a way of opening our eyes to what is important in life, but does so in incredibly painful ways. Grief counseling focuses on honoring the grief journey and all the emotions that come with it. I join you on the road you never wanted to walk and listen as you process your hurt, sadness, anger, and loneliness. Though grief does not have a final destination, I walk with you as its weight eventually eases as it becomes part of your story.

As a survivor of loss, I know that the typical platitudes can feel empty and can provoke anger towards even the most supportive person in your life. Know that you will receive no such hollow words from me. What you will receive is a place to feel safe to feel or to not feel, skills to manage those feelings, and greater insight into your patterns so that you can feel more in control of the life you deserve to live.

Everyone experiences death and loss. Suicide is different. Losing a loved one to suicide is a traumatic experience that turns your world upside down. Feelings of denial, anger, guilt, yearning or despair wash over you and can get in the way of daily life. Each day you struggle, wading through the fog and aftermath, feeling overwhelmed by day to day tasks. Learn how I can help and book your free consultation today via my website: https://www.yourbestlifetherapy.com/survivors-of-suicide-loss

I work with a wide variety of individuals ranging from 14 to 74, some of which struggle are working through the healing process from grief and loss. Whether losing a loved one, a friend, a fur family member, a career or working through personal health concerns; having someone to walk through it with you helps provide the support and healing needed most.

We deserve to grieve the loss of our loved ones in a space that is safe, empathetic, and supportive. Grief can alter the world we once knew and leave us feeling lost. My goal is to walk beside you as you heal on the physical, emotional, and spiritual level. Resources can also be provided for support groups.

Therapy with me is informed by my five years spent as a hospice social worker and extensive grief and loss training. I help people deal with their grief or loss in any way they need and I understand that my clients are the expert of their own grief and loss experiences. They know nothing is off-limits, no thought or feeling will be judged, that this is a safe place to get it all out.

Any kind of grief and loss is breathtaking. You are left feeling shocked, forgetful and helpful. But grieving shouldn't be done alone. I am here to listen and give you the support to feel without judgment or expectations. Your grieving process will be validated and you will begin to find light, meaning, and purpose again. Even though you will forever miss your loss, you will find a new path. Your journey will continue and you will find joy again.

Death Loss, Alzheimer's, Caregiving, End of Life, Miscarriage, Parenting after Loss, Caring for Aging Parents, Anticipatory Grief, Life Limiting Illness, Cancer Diagnosis.

We all experience loss in our lives whether it is the loss of an influential person, job or experience. We even experience loss and grief with \'good\' things happen, we move, have the birth or adoption of a child, get a new job, etc. We often need help and compassion to sort through the various feelings and process the steps to help us move into places of acceptance of our new situations. Comprehensive grief work can help us get through and around change with compassion for ourselves.

Grief is complex in nature and impacts each one of us uniquely. In therapy, I like to provide my clients with a safe, nonjudgmental space to explore their symptoms and navigate through the stages of grief.

We currently live in a culture that is adverse to feelings of grief and loss, as evidenced by the many "quick fixes" none of which actually work. Loosing something or someone can be extremely difficult and painful and we have to learn how move through grief by feeling it and learning how to carry it within us in a way that can be transformative. When we loose someone or something important to us even though they or it may be gone, it is still a part of who we are.