Lessons Learned from a Grief Therapist about Navigating Loss and Healing
Kelly dives into the valuable lessons learned as a grief therapist.
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Grief and Trauma Therapy
in Batavia, Illinois
You didn't expect your life to look like this.
Have you been white-knuckling it for so long that you don’t even remember a time when you truly felt at peace? Have you been trying to cope by trying to convince yourself “It’s in the past” or “I shouldn’t still be affected by that”? Maybe you’ve gotten really good at ignoring it, pushing it down, or looking the other way.
Is the anxiety, hypervigilance, and emotional avoidance making your life feel overwhelming? Do you have thoughts that you have to be perfect, that you’re not good enough, or your needs don’t matter? Are you experiencing flashbacks, overreacting to others, or avoiding people or places that remind you of things you don’t want to remember?
Life doesn't have to
stay this way.
We can help.
We specialize in EMDR Therapy and EMDR Intensives using a compassionate person-centered approach to address grief and trauma.
A person-centered approach means we take the time to understand each client's unique experience and offer tailor-made approaches that address each person's situation and goals.
Our clients are better able to understand and cope with their feelings, experience more confidence, have rich and meaningful relationships, and live lives that are more aligned with their values.
Specializations
Grief
When we are grieving we can feel lost, overwhelmed, and unable to see a future. We understand that not all grief comes as the result of the death of a loved one.
We also experience grief when we lose a job, get divorced, or end a relationship. We grieve when the future we hoped for and worked hard for is lost.
Clients work with us when they want to gain a greater understanding of their grief and learn how to manage their often confusing and conflicted feelings.
Trauma
Oftentimes, our past hurts and distressing or disturbing events get in the way of feeling safe and connected with others. This often looks like unhealthy relationships, feeling anxious, or depressed, and unexplained health concerns or issues.
We understand trauma as our mind, body, and spirit's way of trying to make sense of overwhelming life experiences. We know that traumatic life experiences include assault, natural disasters, and violence.
We also know that we experience trauma from childhood abuse and neglect and discrimination.
Clients reach out to us when they feel overwhelmed with feelings of anxiety, depressed mood, and ruminating thoughts. They don't feel connected to others anymore and don't feel safe alone or with others.
You are here to do incredible things. Brave things. Bold things.
Things that only you can do.
Our Approach to Grief Counseling and Trauma Therapy
Grief Counseling
Many do not understand grief. This is because our western society is uncomfortable with sadness and emotional pain. We are an emotionally avoidant culture.
We like fixes and we love and crave the "quick fix". Unfortunately, this leaves grievers confused, alone, and oftentimes overwhelmed by their grief.
Common misunderstandings about grief:
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Grief is NOT something one gets over
-
Grief does NOT end
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Grief does NOT follow stages
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There is NO going back to "normal"
So where does this leave grievers? Are they doomed to a life filled with loneliness, longing, sadness, and confusion? No, we do not believe so.
We've journeyed with enough grievers to know this is not true and doesn't need to be a griever's life.
We wholeheartedly believe in the mind, body, and soul's ability to heal when provided the space, acceptance, and the right tools.
Through compassionate listening and validation, we help each griever understand their grief and identify their grief needs.
We help grievers unpack their loss so that they can develop an understanding of what this loss means to them and how to (re)discover a sense of meaning and purpose in their life.
EMDR Therapy
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy is one of the most widely researched treatments and has been shown to be very effective.
It is different from more traditional psychotherapy approaches that are commonly called "talk therapies" such as Cognitive Behavior Therapy.
EMDR Therapy is founded on the understanding that the brain, along with the rest of the body, is always programmed to heal.
EMDR Therapy allows for the part of the brain that stores memories to do its job, which is to adaptively process experiences/memories.
EMDR will not make memories go away, it will not make pain magically disappear, and is not a quick fix.
However, it will allow for the mind, body, and soul to finally begin the healing process in a way that has been life-changing for so many.
EMDR Intensives
We understand that trauma can impact every aspect of your life, including your
relationships, career, and overall well-being. The traditional model of weekly therapy is shifting to meet your needs. Now more than ever, we need flexibility in how we get support. That's why our EMDR Intensive program is designed to help you not only heal from your trauma but also thrive in all areas of your life.
EMDR intensives are personalized treatment plans that allow you to skip the waitlist by giving
you faster access to select spots, and are designed to support your preferred schedule and timeline for your treatment goals.
Perhaps you’ve been meaning to get into weekly therapy for a while now, but your schedule has been so hectic and demanding that a weekly therapy appointment feels more overwhelming than supportive.
Perhaps you need help —- and a lot of it—- right now, and you don’t want to spend months in the traditional weekly model of therapy treatment to feel better.
Our focus is on providing a safe and compassionate space for you to explore your trauma and learn new coping mechanisms to manage your emotions.
Our EMDR Intensive therapy approach has proven to be highly effective in helping clients heal from their trauma quickly and sustainably.
The Process for Getting Started
Schedule a consultation
Schedule a consultation today. We'll answer any questions you have and you can be sure we're a good fit.
Get the support you need to begin your healing journey.
Together, we will help you develop a greater awareness and insight into your concerns and goals. We'll develop the tools you need to heal and support you all along your journey.
Experience personal growth, and transformation
You will feel hopeful for your future and have a greater sense of meaning and purpose in your life. You'll be better able to handle the invariable ups and downs that will come.
This journey that you are on isn't an easy one. We know it can feel dark and lonely but we will be your companion, and together we will help you find a way forward by creating the space you need to experience healing, growth, and transformation.
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