Grief counseling
for adults, teens & children
“No one ever told me that grief felt so like fear. I am not afraid, but the sensation is like being afraid.
The same fluttering in the stomach, the same restlessness, the yawning. I keep on swallowing.”
A Grief Observed by C.S. Lewis
Grief is not only about losing a loved one by death, it is also there in the ‘loss of life’. For example:
Loss through illness or disability, relocation, divorce. ‘Living loss’ is saying goodbye to expectations.
Do you recognize these kind of questions:
Grief counseling (one-to-one)
- How do I cope with losing someone I deeply loved?
- What is the ‘right’ expression of grief?
- How do I deal with grief when the world moves on?
- How can I regain a sense of purpose?
Grief counselling (for families)
- How do I tell my child that a loved one is ill and/or dying?
- How can we, as a family, manage huge changes in our lives?
- How do I involve my child in a sudden death?
- How do we as a family deal with a diagnosis that turns everyday life upside down?
The way I work
‘You don’t resolve loss, you learn to integrate it into your everyday life’.
As a certified grief counsellor, I am educated to guide you through your grieving process. I want to help you do that, at your own pace. In counselling, I find it important to respect the other person, ‘stand beside’ them and discover how I connect best with you and guide you in a way that is appropriate for you. My main focus will be your impact narrative. I will do this by offering a listening ear and explaining what grief means. We look at your coping style and whether it is helping you in your process. Finally, we look together for new meaning in your life.
About me
I am originally from the Netherlands and as a mother of three, my family and I have been living in Munich for a couple of years. I studied Social Work at the University of Applied Sciences in Utrecht (BA). I then completed a postgraduate course in Grief and Loss Therapy. My professional background includes working in a rehabilitation centre, where I faced significant loss of life due to chronic illness and non-congenital brain injury, and the impact this had on the entire family. I’ve also supported children and teenagers coping with the loss of a parent or sibling. Through these experiences, I’ve come to understand that children, teenagers and adults navigate the grief process in different ways. In schools, I have conducted training sessions for teenagers on coping with grief during the challenging period of adolescence. I work with children, teenagers and adults and provide family counselling. I support people coping with the loss of a loved one through death and those coping with ongoing or ‘living’ loss.
What can grief counselling do for you?
- Fewer physical and emotional symptoms
- Development of coping skills that can help you adapt to life without your loved one
- Improved self-awareness, as you start to understand what you are feeling and why
- Acceptance of your loss, which involves integrating it into your reality and maintaining a
healthy bond with the person you lost, as you move forward with your life
I look forward to working with you to find the right balance between expressing your grief, moving
on with your life and knowing what coping works best for you.
Fees:
€110 per 55-minute one to one session
€140 per 60- minute family counseling
A limited number of sliding scale spots are available for those who need financial assistance.
For a Free Consultation:
Email astrid@mourningstart.com
Working days:
Monday, Wednesday & Friday 8.30-11.30 a.m.
Tuesday & Thursday 8:30am – 3:00 pm
Evening and/or weekend consultations are available on request.
You can also visit my website www.mourningstart.com
