Grief Is Love With Nowhere to Go
Loss changes the shape of a life. The calendar keeps moving. You're not sure you are.
Grief doesn't follow stages in a neat line. It comes in waves. It shows up in a grocery store aisle, a song in the car, an empty chair at the table.
There's no right way to do this. But you don't have to do it alone.
The losses we carry
The death of a parent, partner, child, friend, or pet.
Sudden or traumatic loss.
Loss after a long illness, and the grief that started before it.
Divorce, estrangement, or the end of a relationship.
Losing a job, a calling, a community, or a faith.
Losses others don't recognize, so you grieve quietly.
What it can feel like
Numb. Restless. Exhausted. Angry. Guilty for laughing, guilty for not crying. Some days fine, some days not able to get out of bed.
All of that is grief. None of it means you're doing it wrong.
How I work
I trained in grief therapy through the Portland Institute for Loss and Transition, under Dr. Robert Neimeyer. The work is built on meaning and story.
Loss can shatter the story we were living. Who I am. How the world works. What comes next. Grief therapy is the slow work of rewriting that story, with the loss in it.
I don't try to rush you toward "closure." Most people don't get over a loss. They learn to carry it, and to carry the person with them.
Together we can:
Tell the story of the loss, as many times as it needs telling.
Make sense of what happened, and what it means for your life now.
Use narrative and creative practices, like letters to the one you lost or conversations with an empty chair.
Stay connected to the person, not just let them go.
Work through regret, guilt, and the things left unsaid.
Rebuild routines, relationships, and purpose, at your pace.
If faith is part of your grief, whether it's a comfort or a complication, we can talk about that too.
Whether your loss was last week or years ago, I'd be glad to talk. Consultation calls are free.