“Grief is like the ocean; it comes on waves ebbing and flowing. Sometimes the water is calm, and sometimes it is overwhelming. All we can do is learn to swim.”
-Vicki Harrison
Adults diagnosed and living with serious illness
Being diagnosed with a serious illness can feel like a dizzying blow. Receiving a diagnosis can feel like you’ve crossed a deep chasm that divides your life in two categories: “life before” and “life after.” There is often grief that emerges in the wake of a new diagnosis. Common reactions include: anxiety, disbelief, sadness, fear, guilt, and anger. Your future path which once seemed certain, now is filled with holes of uncertainty and unease. You may be wrestling with many questions: How will I work? Who will take care of me? How will I live with my illness? How can I best care for myself now?
Getting the support of a therapist who is experienced in counseling individuals living with illness can help. As a medical social worker, I have worked in the hospital, clinics, and in-home settings, coaching individuals and their families through what is often the most difficult time of their lives. I help individuals identify what quality of life means to them. I assist with caregiver problem solving, and offer consultation about how to discuss these issues with your circle of support. Most importantly, I will meet you where you are. I will help create a space for you to process your feelings and help you connect with your wise inner self. Serious illness can be overwhelming and scary. You don’t have to face it alone. Therapy can help you live the best life possible during this time of uncertainty.
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adult caregivers
Caregiving can be rich and rewarding, but it also can be one of the hardest jobs we ever have: both physically and emotionally. Maybe you’re in a caregiving situation you never imagined, and feel guilty about missing the life you previously enjoyed. Perhaps you struggle with taking care of your own needs. Caregiving naturally changes the relationship you have with the person receiving care - which can bring up new dynamics and feelings. It’s common to feel unprepared, overwhelmed, and fatigued in a caregiving role. Caregiving is a tough job and a lot to navigate - but you don’t have to do it alone.
As a medical social worker, I have supported many family caregivers over the years. I understand the unique challenges and opportunities caregiving presents. I provide support that aims to prevent caregiver fatigue and burnout. As a therapist, I will support YOU and always advocate for your well-being, because - Taking care of yourself, IS caring for another person. Therapy can make the weight of caregiving feel more manageable and help reduce your stress. I encourage you to take this important step of self-care, and connect with a therapist that offers the support you need.
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adults who have lost a loved one
If you have lost someone, I want to extend my deepest condolences. The grief that comes after the death of a loved one can be devastatingly painful. There is often an emptiness inside that can be difficult to articulate. Sometimes grief takes the forms of a knot in our throat, or the tears that flood our eyes unexpectedly. It’s common to grapple with questions of “what if” and wonder what we could have done differently. If the loss was unexpected or traumatic, this can further complicate the grieving process.
Losing someone close to you can feel like an emotional rollercoaster. But it’s a journey you don’t have to take alone. Grief counseling can help you sort through your feelings of grief. It can help you process difficult emotions, and learn to cope with the loss. Remembering the person you’ve lost and telling their story with a therapist can also help ease some of the pain.
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Meet your therapist
Lucia Hollowell, LCSW, APHSW-C
As a hospice social worker and bereavement counselor, I have had the privilege of supporting individuals through anticipatory grief, and bereavement. I will hold space for you to share the contents of your heart and mind in the aftermath of loss. With compassion and tenderness, I will help you move through the common phases of grief. As your therapist, I will support your unique process of learning to integrate grief into your life. I will also help you identify coping strategies and look for opportunities for growth along the way. My goal is to help you discover a sense of wholeness and peace amidst your grief.
ABOUT LUCIA
Give yourself the gift of grief counseling, and get the support you need and deserve.
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