That’s right! In our sessions, there’s no holding back necessary. The more honest you can be about your experience, your feelings, and the intensity of your grief, the more liberation you can open yourself up to over time.

Have you ever heard the phrase “name it to tame it”? Sounds simple, but naming what is, believe it or not, does make a difference. So many grievers are stuffing, simplifying, or contorting their grief in some sort of way—for themselves, others, or a little bit of both.

This ultimately results in things being left unnamed, therefore untamed, and eventually trapped inside or coming out sideways. This tends to work in the short-term but in the long-term it can grow your grief into a pretty nasty beast. I imagine it feels intense enough as is, so maybe, together, we can find some other options.

If you feel any ounce of repulsion to the idea of being with your grief right now, or don’t even know what this means, that’s okay. In early grief especially, a little distraction, ignoring, or distance will help you survive. And survival is incredibly important. We want you on this planet! The kicker: over time, this may not help you in the same way it does right now.

A big piece of grief work is about learning how to live with what cannot be changed. To move from wrestling with grief to the possibility of something different, requires time, presence, exploration, and breathing room.

Although you probably want certain things to stop, ultimately we’re not here to fix this. Being with means that, together, we get to know your grief, little by little, inch by inch, minute by minute. Digesting slowly so, hopefully, grief can become more of a friend than an enemy, less overwhelming, and something you begin to gradually weave into your journey. 

And no, because I know you’re worried about it, your person will not be forgotten, lost, let go of, or ignored in order to live again.

You know from experience, if grief had a superpower, it would be its devilish way of sneaking into every nook and cranny of your life. More than likely, you already know some of its patterns, tricks, and triggers. Other times, it comes flooding in quickly, taking your breath away, leaving you feeling helpless and in an uncontrollable fit of tears.

Grief is experienced on every level: emotional, mental, physical, spiritual, relational, cultural, and the list goes on. You probably won’t want to hear this but I bet you know it deep down…Since its reach is wide, its roots run deep, and it's uniquely designed to reflect you, your person, and your life’s journey, it’s only natural that grieving is a process that takes time.

But time alone doesn’t actually heal all wounds. With our time, attention, and care we can get to know your grief—its unique quality, flavor, needs, energy, pain points, & rhythm. With understanding, familiarity, and space, your grief can breathe a little, so you can breathe a little. With each breath, you, your body, your heart, and your spirit can get the oxygen needed to live and grieve. Not one or the other.