Our therapists offer grief & loss counseling in Cornelius, NC

Kathy: My go-to approach to help people in grief and loss counseling is cognitive behavioral therapy. One may experience many benefits from cognitive behavioral therapy.

Amy : My go-to approach for helping people in grief and loss therapy is to focus on problem-solving and identifying negative thought and behavior patterns. I find the best benefit in this because this allows the client to process feelings, learn to identify triggers, and focus on future goals. I also cater my approach to each client's needs, as every person is different.

Kathy: I teach the following tools in grief and loss counseling:

• Refocusing and reframing: Ways to redirect difficult perspectives/experiences
• Journaling: A way to process the client's grieving process
• Empty chair: Express feelings to the deceased by imagining they are sitting in the “empty chair”
• Letter writing: Write a letter to the deceased individual as part of processing feelings
• Five Stages of Grief (Kubler Ross): Help understand the stages as part of normalizing feelings and experiences

Amy : "I teach the following tools in grief and loss therapy:

• Psychoeducation: Providing information and support to clients and families regarding their diagnoses, symptoms, and coping skills.
• Assertiveness training: Teaching individuals to express their needs, wants, and feelings in a clear, respectful, and confident manner.
• Coping skills: Strategies to manage stressful or difficult situations, emotions, and thoughts.
• Mindfulness techniques: Meditation and deep breathing can help individuals to be more aware of their thoughts, feelings, and body responses.

Kathy: I know a client is making progress in grief and loss counseling when they are able to improve in their daily functioning, process their grief, and engage in social activities to help with grief.

Amy : I know that a client is making meaningful progress when they report the improved use of positive skills, the self-management of symptoms, reaching their personal goals, and having decreased symptoms.

Kathy: Clients can supplement their time in grief and loss counseling with journaling, self-care, and engaging in social activities and relationships.

Amy : Clients can supplement their time in therapy through mindfulness techniques, increased socialization, open communication with their support system, and increased physical activity such as yoga.

Kathy: To prepare for their first grief and loss counseling session, an individual can journal the difficulties they are having and the goals they would like to work on during therapy.

Amy : To prepare for your first therapy session, you can write notes that you would like to discuss, think of your goals for therapy, and try not to be nervous because I am here to help!