What you can Expect with our Counseling Services

Many people benefit from engaging with support before and after a loss.  Our licensed and trained counselors stive to help them access and enhance their coping skills by providing support, education, and connection.  We are here to walk alongside them for a time as they re-orient themselves to a world without their person.  Sharing in a non-judgmental, confidential setting can decrease feelings of isolation which are a common part of the grief experience.  Building on this foundation of trust, they are encouraged to create a meaningful path forward.

Our program of support is designed to allow you choices in how you engage, learn from, and care for your grief.  Regardless of the offering, our practice is guided by the following principles:

• Our work is client-centered. We respect each client’s right to self-determination.
• Our program and practices are trauma-informed, evidence-based, and demonstrate best practice.
• The primary focus of individual counseling is coaching, providing guidance and education, with continued support as necessary that is solution-focused.
• Individuals receiving counseling are active participants in creating their care plan, in collaboration with their counselor.
• Individual counseling is offered in consultation with a counselor during an initial assessment. A counselor may recommend support in addition to or instead of individual sessions as indicated by the assessment.
• The need for, the benefit received from, and the limits of those benefits from individual counseling evolves over time. Those who can further benefit from peer-centered support can expect to be referred to a group offering when appropriate.

 

Goals of the Program

In addition to one’s own goals for support, we maintain the following goals for everyone participating in our program of support:

• Education: You can expect to receive education to better understand grief, both as a reaction and response to loss, helping you access your innate healing and coping skills more effectively.
• Expression: You can expect the opportunity to express your thoughts, feelings, and questions without judgment.  This itself provides relief, and it increases personal insight and awareness.
• Participation: You are a full participant in your care plan. This includes being intentional about your participation in support, how you celebrate and remember your person who has died, and how you honor and care for your grief.
• Balance: We are not meant to carry grief 24/7. It is natural and healthy to make time to intentionally engage with and care for grief.  It is equally important to balance this with time that provides welcome distraction from grief, and which allows you to focus on other needs and life demands beyond your grief.
• Network: As you participate in our programs, our goal is that you create, enhance, and engage your own network of support that remains available to you beyond our services.

 

Individual Counseling

For those engaging in individual counseling, you can expect:

• Initial sessions with a counselor to share your loss experience and identify your needs. Your counselor will assess your coping and adjustment, providing grief education and guidance.
• Together with your counselor, you will create a care plan that is unique to you and your needs, and which is informed by your counselor’s expertise and recommendations.
• Your care plan will be revisited and reassessed periodically, allowing it to evolve to better meet your needs.
• As you continue to grow through your grief you can expect a referral to additional support including peer-centered support groups or other offerings.
• Our focus is on grief counseling and support. Sometimes one’s needs lie beyond the scope of our practice.  As you and your counselor better discover your needs, you may be referred to other support in the community, in addition to or instead of what we can provide.  When making referrals, we continue to provide support to you during your transition to a new provider.