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Grief Counseling and Grief Coaching
(757) 990-1050
Anne@Annesbereavementhaven.llc
Compassionate Grief Counseling
You do not have to walk the path of grief alone.
I am available to help you understand what is happening to you as well as help you cope with your loss.
Providing solace and guidance
after loss is my specialty and my passion.
It would be my privilege to assist you in your grief.
Loss
Loss of a loved one
Losing a loved one is one of the hardest things in life. Your world is turned upside down and you may not know what to expect or how to move forward. The death of your loved may have been expected or it may not have been expected. Your loss may be recent or longer ago. No matter your circumstances I hope you find value in this website and its information.
Lived Experience
If the death of your loved one was expected and you had time to prepare you may be surprised by your grief reactions. You contemplated life without your loved one, but your wondering was not a lived experience yet; now you are living your life without your loved one and your grief reactions are taking you by surprise. You may feel lost and confused, misunderstood and unsupported. Some people want to help but say things that set you back rather than help you.
Reality
Not only have you lost a person close to you, you may also have lost the person who was your staunchest supporter, your confidante, your friend, or the person who always remembered your birthday. Your loss is multifaceted and not summed up in one word or processed in one sitting.
Hope
One thing is certain though, you will get through this time.
Bereavement
Timing
Everyone will experience loss of a loved one at some point in their life. For some people, bereavement happens early in life and for other people it happens later in life and for others any time in between.
Impact
Some losses affect us deeply and other losses affect us less so. What determines the impact of bereavement is your relationship to the person you lost and the many meanings this relationship held for you. This is why bereaved people in the same family are affected differently by the loss.
Example
For example, five children have lost their mother. For one daughter the mother was her coach through life, for another daughter the mother was providing emotional support, for yet another daughter the mother was her role model, for her son the mother was his help with childcare, and for the youngest son his mother was teaching him all of her culinary secrets as he was in culinary school and needed to diversify his style. All five children lost the same mother, but all five children are bereft in different ways.
Grief
What is grief?
You may think of grief as an emotional reaction to the loss of your loved one. In reality, grief is all encompassing and can affect you emotionally, physically, mentally, socially, behaviorally, spiritually or any combination thereof.
Grieving Style
Your grieving style will determine the best way forward for you. You may benefit from doing rather than expressing your feelings (emoting). You may benefit from understanding what grief is rather than emoting or doing.
Factors influencing grief
Grief is influenced by many factors both internal as well as external; both will also influence how you grieve.
Note
First, it is important to remember that grief is a normal reaction to loss. Just as you have loved you will grieve. Just as grief is normal and natural, grief is also necessary.
Second, it is important to know that grieving is a healthy way of coping with the loss of your loved one.
Third, it is important to realize that avoiding your grief or ignoring your grief may cause you more pain not less pain and may actually prevent you from feeling any joy at all from the memories you created with the person you hold dear.
In short, it behooves you to grieve the person you lost and if you are at a loss as to how to proceed, please reach out to me. I offer a free initial 20-minute session to determine if you could benefit from working with me on your grief.
Mission
It is my mission to offer solace and guidance to people who are affected by the loss of a special person in their life whether the loss is recent or longer ago.
Counseling Approach
I believe that every bereaved person can process grief, integrate the loss into their life, restructure their life, and renew the self however painful and confusing at times. I use a person-centered approach to grief where you and your experience are center, not a theory or a model.
Also know that I am a safe haven for your confusion, sadness, frustration, anxiety, fear, regrets, anger, guilt, or despair. I can educate you on grief, provide you with relief from grief, help you see your strengths as well as provide you with tools that fit your grieving style to get you through the intense work that grief demands of you.
My purpose in helping you work through your grief is to get you to a place where you are comfortable with the realization that grief and joy truly go hand in hand and to a place where you can actually look forward to tomorrow again.
Testimonials
"Words cannot begin to express how much you have helped me through my sister and brother's passing. Your kindness and understanding are just a sample of what makes you so special and makes you such an amazing therapist. I will always keep you in my heart, will pray for you each day, will remember our moments of bereavement during my journey getting through it. You are a very incredible lady."
Theresa
"I just wanted to extend a HUGE thank you for all the wonderful work you have done for me. I am so impressed and grateful that I had you to help me through my grief. It means so much to me!! You have offered so may great resources and so much compassion and kindness. Know that you make a huge difference in people's lives!"
Cathy
Feeling in crisis?
If you are experiencing a mental health emergency and need immediate help, call 911 or 988.
You can also text HOME to 741741 and a crisis counselor will connect with you.