“I thought I had to be further along before I came. Nobody here asked me to be. I could just say what the week had been like.”
Tawny R.
Make room for what you've lost, one conversation at a time.
Grief counseling for adults after a death or another loss. In Portland, and by video for clients in Oregon.
Built around
What I try to make true in every session.
A room that holds you
Soft light, two comfortable chairs and a door that closes. Nothing here asks you to be further along than you are.
Your pace, always
There is no script and no schedule for grief. You decide what we talk about and when we stop.
Between sessions
You might take home a reading, a question or a small practice to try. It is always optional.
Privacy
Your records stay private except where the law requires otherwise. The first session covers those limits.
How I work with grief
Grief is not a problem to solve. It is what love does when someone or something is gone. My work is to keep you company in it, at the pace you set, and to help you find words, routines and people who can carry some of the weight.
Grief counseling is not getting over it, moving on by a certain date, or finding the bright side. It is not a set of stages to pass through, and it does not ask you to let go of the person you lost.
Relational at the core
Healing happens in connection. The relationship between us is part of the work.
Body and mind together
Grief shows up in sleep, appetite and energy as much as in thoughts. We pay attention to both.
Grief is not a defect
Sadness, anger, numbness and guilt after a loss make sense. We make room for them rather than trying to fix them.
Support for the loss you are carrying
Whether the loss was recent or years ago, here is what the work can look like.
Grief counseling
One-on-one sessions for adults grieving a death: a parent, partner, child, friend, or someone whose place in your life was hard to name. We talk about the person, the days since, and what is hard right now.
Grieving as a couple
When a loss lands on two people differently, sessions give each of you room to speak and to hear the other. It is a place to understand each other, not to assign blame.
Sudden and difficult losses
After a death that was sudden, or that left questions or tangled feelings, we go slowly and begin with what feels steady. Body-aware, somatic work is part of this when you want it.
Overwhelm and exhaustion
Grief can bring restlessness, racing thoughts and tiredness. We look at practical ways to steady a day alongside the deeper work of grieving.
Other losses
A marriage ending, a job, a move, a change in health, a pet, a home. Losses that nobody sent flowers for still count, and still deserve room.
“There was no hurry in the room. When I went quiet, the quiet was allowed, and that made it easier to talk the next time.”
Juan M.“I came in not knowing what to say. I was listened to carefully, and I never felt I was doing grief wrong.”
Tasnim A.“Sessions moved at my speed. I could bring a photo, a story or nothing at all, and it was all welcome.”
Bassam K.“The room is calm, and I felt that I could take up space in it. I left each time feeling a little less alone.”
Tyra W.“It helped to have one hour a week that was only for this. I was never pushed to feel anything I wasn't ready to feel.”
Kristal S.
Sample reviews.
Moments of Stillness & Growth
Glimpses of the room, the walks and the quiet moments that go with the work.
Sample photos.
Questions people ask
What happens in a first session?
We talk. I explain how privacy works and answer your questions about fees, then you tell me as much or as little about your loss as you want. Nothing is required of you. At the end we decide together whether to meet again.
How do I know if grief counseling is right for me?
If you are asking, you may be ready. Counseling can be a steady place to talk whether the loss was last week or years ago. It does not replace care from your doctor, and if you are in crisis, call or text 988.
How much does a session cost?
Your fee is given to you in writing before you start. The How fees work page explains insurance, paying yourself and the written estimate.
Do you accept insurance?
I am an out-of-network counselor and do not bill insurance, including Medicare and Medicaid. I can give you a monthly itemized receipt, called a superbill, to send to your plan if you want to ask for reimbursement. Your plan decides whether it pays.
How often should we meet?
Many people start with weekly sessions and meet less often over time. Your pace sets the rhythm, and we can change it whenever it stops fitting.
Can we meet by video?
Yes, for clients who are in Oregon during the session, where I am licensed. If you live elsewhere, I am glad to help you look for a counselor licensed where you live.
You are welcome here
There is no right way to start and no right moment. Whether the loss was last week or years ago, you can begin by writing a few lines. Come as you are.
Let's talk
Write a few lines and I will reply by email or phone. If you would like to hear my voice first, we can set up a 15-minute call to see whether we are a good fit. It is not therapy, an evaluation or an assessment.
Phone(503) 555-0120
Emailhello@
Hours
- Monday – ThursdayToday
- 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
- Friday – SundayToday
- Closed