Grief therapy is a specialized form of counseling designed to help individuals process the emotional, physical, and cognitive impact of loss. Unlike general therapy, grief therapy focuses specifically on the unique challenges of mourning — helping you understand your grief, develop tools to manage overwhelming emotions, and gradually integrate your loss into a meaningful life.

Grief extends far beyond the death of a loved one. I work with clients navigating many forms of loss, including the death of a family member, friend, or partner; terminal illness and anticipatory grief; suicide loss; pregnancy and reproductive loss; caregiver burnout and grief; divorce and relationship loss; job loss and career transitions; and the loss of health following a serious diagnosis.

You may benefit from grief therapy if you are experiencing persistent sadness, anxiety, or anger that interferes with daily life; difficulty sleeping or concentrating; feeling isolated or that no one understands what you are going through; a sense that your grief is "stuck" or not moving; guilt or regret surrounding your loss; or simply a need for a safe, non-judgmental space to process your pain. You do not need to be in crisis to seek support — reaching out early is a sign of strength, not weakness.

My approach is warm, collaborative, and grounded in evidence-based practice. I blend models of grief therapy with tools from Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Together we will work to understand your grief, manage overwhelming emotions, build self-compassion, and align your life with your values — so you can find peace and meaning even in the midst of loss.

Support groups offer community, shared experience, and the comfort of knowing you are not alone — and they can be enormously valuable. I actually facilitate grief support groups in the Boulder community. Individual grief therapy offers something complementary: a private, personalized space to go deeper into your specific experience, develop tailored coping strategies, and work through the unique dimensions of your loss.

Grief is not a linear process and there is no set timeline. Some clients find significant relief in a focused short-term engagement of 8 to 12 sessions. Others prefer ongoing support over a longer period. We will work together to determine a pace and duration that feels right for you.

My approach draws on a variety of treatment models including two powerful, research-supported frameworks:

Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) Developed by psychologist Paul Gilbert, CFT is designed specifically for people who struggle with high self-criticism and shame. It helps you activate your own innate capacity for warmth and self-compassion — not as a form of self-indulgence, but as a foundation for real psychological strength. Many high-achievers find that self-compassion, paradoxically, makes them more effective, not less.

Internal Family Systems (IFS) IFS understands the mind as made up of different "parts" — including the inner critic, the perfectionist, the anxious worrier, and the part of you that just wants to rest. Rather than fighting these parts, IFS helps you get to know them, understand what they're protecting, and lead from a place of calm, grounded self-awareness. When your inner critic feels truly heard, it often softens on its own.

The inner critic is the internal voice that judges, second-guesses, and tells you that you're not doing enough. It isn't a character flaw; it's a part of you that developed for a reason, often early in life, as a way to help you meet high expectations, avoid failure, or stay safe. The problem is that what once served a protective function can become exhausting and limiting over time. In therapy, rather than trying to silence or defeat the inner critic, we work to understand what it's protecting and help it find a less punishing way to do its job.

Many people ask this question, and it makes sense — pushing through is often what has worked in the past. But perfectionism and anxiety tend to intensify over time rather than resolve on their own, especially when the strategies that once helped (working harder, setting higher bars, staying in control) start generating more stress than results. Therapy isn't about working less hard — it's about understanding what's driving the pressure so you can make choices from a place of clarity rather than fear. Most clients find that the self-awareness they develop in therapy actually makes them more effective, not less.

The quick answer is “sometimes.” Perfectionism and anxiety can exist entirely on their own — but they also frequently arise in the wake of loss. The loss of a relationship, a career, a sense of identity, or a vision of the future you expected can activate the inner critic in powerful ways. If your anxiety or perfectionism has roots in loss or life transition, that thread can be gently explored in our work together.

es. I am in-network with Aetna, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Colorado, Cigna, Carelon Behavioral Health, and Quest Behavioral Health. If you have a different insurance provider, I am happy to provide a superbill so you can seek reimbursement directly from your insurer. Please visit my Insurance page for the most current information.

Yes. I offer both in-person sessions at my Boulder, Colorado office and telehealth sessions for clients located anywhere in Colorado. Telehealth sessions are conducted via a secure, HIPAA-compliant video platform.

My office is located at 1650 38th Street, Suite 100E, Boulder, CO 80301. I serve clients throughout the Boulder area, including Longmont, Lafayette, Louisville, Broomfield, and the greater Denver metro area. Colorado residents statewide are welcome via telehealth option

Your first session is an opportunity for us to get to know each other. We will talk about what brings you to therapy, your history, and what you are hoping to gain from our work together. There is no pressure to share more than you are comfortable with. My goal is simply to create a safe, welcoming space where you feel heard and understood.