What is grief coaching?
Grief coaching is a gentle, supportive space where you can talk openly about your grief and everything that comes with it. There is no right or wrong way to grieve, and there is no timeline you are expected to follow.
As a Certified Grief Coach, I am here to listen, support you, and walk alongside you as you find your way through life after loss. You don’t have to have the right words or know what you need. Sometimes simply having someone truly listen can make a difference.
Is grief coaching the same as therapy?
No. Grief coaching is different from therapy or counseling and is not a replacement for mental health care when that is needed.
My role is to offer compassionate support and a safe place to talk about your loss, your feelings, the changes grief has brought into your life, and whatever may be weighing on your heart.
Some grievers find therapy doesn't fit their needs or feelings--that was my personal experience when I was seeking help. Grief coaching is a unique approach to grief.
What kinds of grief and loss do you support?
Grief can come from so many different kinds of loss, and you never need to wonder whether your loss is “big enough” to deserve support.
You may be grieving the loss of a spouse or partner, parent, sibling, child, friend, beloved pet, or another important person in your life. You may be facing an anticipated loss, carrying several losses at once, or struggling with a major life change that has left you grieving the life you once knew.
If it feels like grief to you, it matters.
Do you support pet loss?
Absolutely, and very close to my heart.
The loss of a beloved pet can leave an enormous emptiness behind. They are our family, our companions, our routines, our comfort, and often the quiet presence beside us through some of the hardest times in our lives.
Pet loss is real grief. You will never be made to feel that you “shouldn’t” hurt this much because your loss was a pet. Your relationship mattered, your loss matters, and your grief deserves to be treated with kindness.
My loss happened a long time ago. Is it too late to reach out?
Never.
Grief doesn’t have an expiration date. You may feel okay for months or even years and suddenly find yourself hurting again. An anniversary, a memory, a song, a place—or seemingly nothing at all—can bring grief rushing back.
It doesn’t matter whether your loss happened yesterday, last year, or many years ago. If you are hurting now, you are welcome here.
What happens during a session?
You don’t need to prepare anything. You don’t need to make a list, have a goal, or even know what you want to talk about.
This is your time.
You can talk about your loved one. You can talk about what you miss. You can talk about anger, guilt, loneliness, memories, fears, or the everyday things that suddenly feel harder than they used to.
And if you’re having a day when you don’t quite know what to say, that’s okay too. We can simply start wherever you are.
Depending on what feels helpful to you, I may also offer gentle tools such as journaling prompts, grounding exercises, reflection questions, ways to identify and express emotions, coping strategies for difficult days, and ideas for creating meaningful rituals or continuing bonds with the person or pet you’ve lost.
There is never pressure to use a particular tool or complete “homework.” Our time together is shaped around you, your loss, and what feels most supportive to you.
Do I have to be on camera?
Absolutely not.
Your comfort matters to me. Sessions can be held by phone or through Zoom, and you do not have to turn your camera on during a Zoom session.
Some people feel more comfortable talking when they aren’t being seen. You might want to curl up on the couch, sit outside, have a cup of tea, or simply close your eyes while you talk.
There is no expectation to look a certain way, act a certain way, or hold yourself together for our session. Choose whatever feels safest and most comfortable for you.
What if I cry?
Then you cry. I may cry with you.
There is no need to apologize, feel embarrassed, or try to stop yourself. Tears are welcome here. So is laughter. So is anger. So is silence.
Grief can hold many emotions at the same time, and you don’t have to hide any of them with me.
Will you tell me that I need to “move on”?
No.
I don’t believe grief is something we simply get over, and I will never give you a deadline for when you should be feeling better.
You don’t have to leave the person or pet you love behind in order to keep living your life. We can work together to find ways for you to carry that love and that loss with you as you move forward at your own pace.
What if I’m nervous about reaching out?
That’s completely understandable.
Reaching out to someone you don’t know and talking about something so personal can feel uncomfortable or even scary. You don’t have to tell me your whole story in your first email.
You can simply say, “I’m interested in learning more.”
That’s enough.
How do I know if grief coaching is right for me?
You don’t have to decide that before contacting me.
I offer a complimentary 15-minute consultation so we can talk a little, you can ask any questions you have, and you can decide whether I feel like the right person to support you.
There is no pressure or obligation to schedule anything afterward.
How do I get started?
Just send me an email.
You don’t need to explain everything you’ve been through. You don’t need to find the perfect words. You don’t even need to know exactly what you’re looking for yet.
A simple “I’m interested in learning more” is enough.
From there, we can take it one step at a time. ❤️