Grief counseling in Roanoke, VA

Leeann: As a licensed professional counselor (LPC), I utilize a person-centered approach in grief & loss counseling, focusing on meeting clients where they are in their grief process. This involves understanding their thoughts and feelings about the loss, processing the loss together, and assisting them in setting realistic goals over time.

Holly: My go-to approach for helping people in therapy for grief and loss is to identify and appropriately express their feelings as they move through the stages of grieving.

Leeann: In grief & loss counseling, I teach tools such as:

• Self-awareness
• Emotional regulation
• Cognitive behavioral techniques (including reframing and redirecting)
• Rewriting your narrative
• Mindfulness techniques (such as visualization, breathing, and grounding)

Holly: I teach clients about the stages of grief and loss, how to appropriately express those feelings instead of tucking them away, and how to acknowledge the milestones that occur after the loss.

Leeann: Progress in grief & loss counseling is observed when clients verbalize changes in their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, meet their previously set counseling goals, demonstrate more consistent emotional regulation, and apply coping skills more effectively in real-life situations.

Holly: I know a client is making meaningful progress in grief and loss counseling when they are able to discuss the loss without crying and are able to notice this outside of counseling sessions as well.

Leeann: Clients can enhance their grief & loss counseling experience by practicing key techniques learned during therapy sessions, participating in a grief & loss support group, and completing suggested homework, assignments, or projects. This might include reading a recommended book or journaling about their thoughts and feelings as they occur.

Holly: Clients can supplement their time in grief and loss counseling by writing letters to those who have passed away or are no longer with them.

Leeann: To prepare for their first grief & loss counseling session, individuals can write down any questions they have for the therapist and list their current medications along with dosages. This preparation helps ensure that the session addresses their concerns and that the therapist is informed about their medical background.

Holly: To prepare for their first grief and loss counseling session, an individual can start to list all of those that they have lost in their life, not just the recent losses.