How to Write Effective Psychotherapy Notes: Best Practices and Sentence Starters

Loneliness after losing a spouse is a difficult and painful journey, but you don’t have to go through it alone. By acknowledging your emotions, creating new routines, seeking support, and finding meaning in daily life, you can navigate this chapter with resilience and hope. Healing doesn’t mean forgetting—it means learning how to live with love and loss, side by side.

Starting over can be both exciting and intimidating, whether you're changing careers, moving to a new place, or navigating a personal transition. In this post, we explore the psychology behind the fear of starting fresh and offer practical strategies to overcome anxiety, embrace uncertainty, and turn your new beginning into an empowering opportunity for growth. Learn how to reframe fear, focus on possibilities, and move forward with confidence.

In the aftermath of a loss, it's common to feel overwhelmed by emotions like sadness, emptiness, and despair. But how can you tell whether you’re experiencing grief, depression, or something in between? While both grief and depression share similar symptoms, they are distinct experiences. Understanding the differences can help you navigate your feelings and seek the support you need.

The Southern California fires have caused widespread devastation, but the impact goes beyond just the destruction of homes. From those who lost everything to evacuees, first responders, and the broader community, each group is grieving in its own way. In this post, we’ll explore the diverse experiences of those affected and the long-term support needed as the recovery process unfolds.

As the new year begins, many of us feel the weight of grief in unexpected ways. The turning of the calendar can highlight the distance from the last time we saw a loved one, deepening the sense of loss. For those grieving, stepping into a new year may not feel like a fresh start, but rather a painful reminder of what’s missing. This post explores why grief can surface at the start of a new year, offering expert tips for coping with these emotions, from creating rituals to honor loved ones, to setting gentle intentions and seeking support when needed. If you're struggling with the weight of grief as the year changes, know you're not alone—and that healing takes time.

As the holiday season wraps up, and we approach the end of 2024, there's a natural pull to reflect on the year gone by. The shift from one year to the next often brings a blend of emotions — excitement for new beginnings, but also a sense of bittersweetness, especially if you’ve lost someone or experienced significant change.

Are you a griever navigating the complexities of loss, a supportive friend seeking to provide comfort, or a clinician aiming to deepen your understanding of the profound subject of grief? If so, you may find value in this curated list of my favorite books related to grief. Each selection offers unique insights and perspectives that can help illuminate the grieving process for various audiences.

The photos of her and I closer to the end of her life, had run out. It feels really symbolic to the grief journey. At first there are many recent pictures to rummage through, maybe you just took one together the week before. After some time of looking through the same photos they start to feel old, like a chapter you've read over and over again but you still read it. Then with no specific time line, all of a sudden you realize that the pictures have run out and there will not be new ones. Ever. You only have old ones to hold, to recall on, to spark your memory.

What I wish I could have said 10 years ago with a clearer mind and more time,

When we knew we were losing you and we had to say goodbye,

While you sat there pouring out your heart, and I sat there falling fast apart,

You could see past the tears and into my future, knowing how much would change,

I couldn’t see past our holding hands, knowing all I wanted was to turn life’s page.

What I wish I could have said 10 years ago with a clearer mind a more time…

They say when you marry a person, you marry their whole family. I believe when you marry someone you also marry their grief.

Compassionate Friends conducted a study in 2006 stating, “72 percent of parents who were married at the time of their child’s death are still married to the same person. The remaining 28 percent included 16 percent in which one spouse had died, and 12 percent of marriages had ended in divorce.” 

REGARDLESS OF HOW STRONG THEY APPEAR, BE READY TO ASSIST THEM.

I’ve learned to ask questions, at the right moments. So I asked her if there was something she needed from me, which may sound silly but by asking we were both able to understand where we were each coming from.

I expected the loss of Dad would be different in the experience of what I call the “orphan syndrome.” That’s what occurs when you are a child, even an adult child, who has lost both parents. I have definitely felt the loss of both parents now in a way that has an entirely different emphasis than when we lost Mom, and still had Dad.

One thing I would encourage you in as you prep for Father’s Day is being mindful of your body. Notice how you feel physically. Notice any tension, tightness. Are you clenching your teeth resulting in holding stress in your jaw?

One of the most common things I hear people grieve after they experience the death of their loved one, is not being able to call them. It’s the weirdest feeling.

When it comes to death and grief, people often say to “think of the good times,” or “cherish the memories.” But what if you didn’t get the chance to know your loved one? What do you do when there aren’t any good times or memories to help you cope with your loss? How do you grieve a relationship you never got to have?

Something new and exciting happens and the words “I can’t wait to tell my mom” are on the tip of my tongue. But, it’s been a few years since she passed, I thought I’ve worked through this!

DIY Christmas ornament to make in honor of your loved one who has passed away.