Grief
your pain is welcome here
Grief is a heavy coat, woven of the fibers of love and loss.
Whether it's the loss of a loved one, the end of a significant relationship, or a major life change, navigating through grief can be overwhelming. The emotional, mental, and physical toll can leave you feeling lost, stuck, or isolated. Grief counseling can help you understand your feelings, manage overwhelming emotions, and begin to find a path forward toward peace and acceptance.
Why Seek Grief Counseling?
Grief affects everyone differently. For some, it’s an expected process that may naturally subside over time. For others, the emotional pain can feel like a constant weight, making it hard to function. People seek grief counseling for a variety of reasons, including:
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Feeling overwhelmed by emotions
Grief can bring a tidal wave of emotions like sadness, anger, guilt, or confusion. You may feel like you can’t manage your feelings, or that they’re too much to bear.
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Difficulty accepting the loss
Sometimes, the shock of loss leaves you in disbelief or denial. You may struggle with accepting the reality of the situation, finding it hard to move forward.
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Physical symptoms
Grief can also manifest physically—such as difficulty sleeping, changes in appetite, or even pain. These physical symptoms are real and can make it harder to heal emotionally.
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Strained relationships
Sometimes grief leads to tension or disconnect with family members or friends. You may feel isolated in your sorrow or unsure how to communicate what you’re going through.
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Complicated grief
In some cases, grief doesn’t subside over time. The pain of loss may feel unrelenting, or you may find it difficult to move forward with your life, which is known as complicated grief.
Types of Loss
Loss can take many forms - death, divorce, miscarriage, estrangement, identify shifts, or the quiet grieving of something hoped for that never came to be. Grief is deeply personal, and even if others don’t recognize your loss, your experience is real and worthy of care.
Death of a Loved One
Loss of a Child
Miscarriage
Divorce or Separation
Loss of Health, Physical Ability or Chronic Illness
Loss of a Job or Career
Loss of a Community or Sense of Belonging
Estrangement from Family or a Community
Loss of identity
Ways We Work with Grief
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Somatic Experiencing
Grief isn’t just an emotional experience; it affects the body as well. SE focuses on the mind-body connection to help release the emotional and physical tension held in the body. SE encourages awareness of how grief manifests physically.
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Mindfulness
Grief often brings a flood of thoughts, memories, and feelings. Mindfulness is a practice that helps you stay present and observe your emotions without judgment or resistance. Instead of avoiding painful memories, mindfulness allows you to acknowledge them with compassion, reducing the power they have over you and helping you stay grounded in the present.
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Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
ACT focuses on accepting the emotions that come with grief. This therapy encourages you to stop fighting your grief and instead, commit to living a meaningful life, even in the midst of loss. ACT helps you engage in meaningful activities or relationships, allowing you to both grieve and live simultaneously.
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Complicated Grief Therapy
For some individuals, grief becomes so intense or prolonged that it interferes with their ability to function. This is known as complicated grief. It can manifest as persistent yearning for the lost loved one, an inability to accept the reality of the loss, or difficulty finding meaning in life after the loss. CGT helps individuals process the intense emotions of grief in a way that allows them to gradually accept the loss and re-engage in life.
Our therapists are “Neurodiverse Informed”, which is to say that we all have training and skills to work with a range of folks on the neurodiverse spectrum from ADD/ADHD, gifted, and high functioning autism. We fully celebrate the Neuro-Spicey and the Bright and Quirky!
Meet Your Specialists
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Meet Your Specialists ⚘
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Lauren Boland, LCSW
My heart-centered approach cultivates healing through attunement, nurture and collaboration. Working with me, your voice will be heard, your emotions validated, and your growth supported. I enjoy working with adults of all ages and genders and older teens and excel with trauma, anxiety, and neurodivergence.
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Alicia Boone, PCLC
I have a deep passion for supporting young women navigate life, pregnancy, miscarriage, and motherhood. Helping women understand and manage the unique challenges of ADHD is also a specialty, and I provide tools to improve emotional regulation, focus, and self-esteem
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Becky Johnston, LCSW
As a down-to-earth therapist, I have enough life experience to know that things don’t always go as planned. My warm and collaborative style is like a friend who asks all the good questions - but doesn’t steal your fries. I specialize in anxiety and depression for ages 16 through adulthood.
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Ellie Jorgensen, LCPC
My passion is helping individuals and families navigate life’s twists, turns, and roller coaster moments. I specialize in working with children, perinatal women, and family systems, focusing on challenges like childhood behavioral concerns, attachment, big life transitions, trauma, anxiety, and OCD.
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Tori Kenyon, LCSW
I try to bring a strong sense of professionalism, but also know that I have a naturally playful approach to connection. My varied clinical past has allowed me to develop confidence and skills working with all genders ages 16 to 35. I feel at my most skilled when I’m working with life transitions, trauma, anxiety, and depression.
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Sarah Webb, LCSW
I am passionate about burnout, anxiety, rage, postpartum, birth trauma, attachment, and healthy coping in women. With expert training in Somatic, Mindfulness, and Attachment, I get to the core quickly so therapy has big impact. Our collaboration will help you reclaim your power and vibrancy.
“safety and security…”
“I have such a feeling of safety and security I receive each session. I know that I can bring my whole self to that room.”
— ILLUMINATE COUNSELING
Ready to take the next step?
Whether you're seeking clarity, healing, or growth, our team is here to support you in finding what you need.