Grief & Loss

Grief doesn't always look the way we expect it to. It can arrive as sadness, yes — but also as numbness, irritability, exhaustion, or a persistent sense that something is fundamentally wrong with the world. It doesn't follow a predictable timeline, and it doesn't limit itself to death. People grieve the end of a marriage, the loss of a career, a pregnancy, a friendship, a sense of identity, or a version of the future they had counted on.

Whatever your loss, if it has left you struggling to function, find meaning, or feel like yourself, you don't have to move through it alone.

What grief can feel like:

Grief affects people mentally, emotionally, and physically. You may notice:

  • Persistent sadness, emptiness, or hopelessness

  • Difficulty concentrating or making decisions

  • Withdrawal from people and activities that used to matter

  • Sleep disturbances — too much or too little

  • Physical symptoms like fatigue, changes in appetite, or a heaviness that's hard to describe

  • Guilt, anger, or a sense of unreality about the loss

These are normal responses to loss. They become a concern when they don't ease with time, intensify, or begin to interfere with daily life.

When grief counseling can help

Some losses are too large to process without support, and some grief gets stuck — cycling through the same feelings without moving forward. Therapy provides a structured, compassionate space to explore what you're carrying, understand your own grief process, and gradually find a path through it.

Through grief counseling you can expect to:

  • Process the emotions surrounding your loss at your own pace

  • Reduce feelings of guilt, blame, or unresolved anger

  • Develop coping skills that support you through difficult days

  • Rebuild a sense of meaning and connection over time

How I work with grief

I bring over four decades of experience working with adults through loss of every kind. My approach to grief therapy is compassionate and unhurried — grief has its own timeline, and I follow yours. I draw on evidence-based methods to help you understand and process your experience, while building the practical tools you need to move forward when you're ready.

I offer grief counseling via secure video therapy to adults throughout Oregon, including Portland, Salem, and Eugene. Major insurance plans are accepted.

If you're ready to talk, I'd be glad to hear from you.

Schedule an Appointment
Insurance Information