Grief Therapists in Esther Short, Vancouver, WA

Life is unpredictable and often does not turn out as we had hoped for and planned. The things that matter most to us -- our health, marriages, children, careers, families, friends and even our own self-identity -- sometimes fall apart. It is my belief that such moments of vulnerability present profound opportunities for growth. It takes strength and emotional intelligence to know when you need the assistance of a professional; coming to therapy is a positive first stride towards investing in your own sustainable happiness and contentment.

In a world that is habitually fast-paced and anonymous, it is easy to lose connection with ourselves and each other. Are you feeling disconnected or stuck? Like the parts of your life are out of sync? Having difficulties in relationships? Typically, I work with people experiencing disconnection and "stuck" feelings which often show up during times of transition and change within the context of significant relationships including parents, partners, children and friends. I also work with people around the stuck places connected to various trauma experiences.

For the past 25 years, I have worked with individuals with a wide range of concerns including anxiety, depression, grief and bereavement , post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), sleep difficulties, troubled relationships, marital distress, chronic illness, and life transitions. My practice currently focuses on working with clients who have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and other neurological disorders. I also see patients with cancer across the cancer continuum, from diagnosis, treatment, to survivorship or recurrence and end of life. I am passionate about working with both of these patient groups.

Foundational to my therapeutic approach is seeing you, hearing you, and accepting you exactly as you are. We all have an innate ability to heal, but we often need help figuring out what’s getting in our way. With non-judgement, compassion, and curiosity, I will guide you in reconnecting to yourself and to those who are important to you. I will empower you to recognize your needs and to get those needs met. Working together, I will invite you back to your life, helping you regain a sense of joy, peace, and ease.

Have you experienced a loss ? Are you grieving and haven't seemed to be able to move forward in your life? Perhaps you have just gone through a divorce, a bad break-up, or have begun the difficult journey of walking beside a loved one on their journey through Dementia/Alzheimer's. The Grief Recovery Method (GRM) is an action orientated program designed to help an individual like you complete the relationship to pain, isolation, and loneliness caused by a significant loss . It provides a method of releasing unfinished business which then allows you, the griever, to more forward towards a more healthy, joyful, and productive life.

I work with women: daughters, mothers, sisters, aunts, and grandmothers, and the people who desire to enjoy healthy, loving relationships with them. Together we work to develop the insight and skills necessary to experience the pleasure of love. We may explore trauma, loss , grief , anger, repressed desire, lack of vitality, and current challenging relationships. My orientation is analytical, depth/archetypal, and feminist. I am trained to listen for ways in which your own unconscious is your truest guidance. Through this connection you can access your most satisfying, unique potential. Above all, I am committed to female empowerment.

People come to me usually for one of two reasons: (1) things are going well but they want to grow and evolve, (2) things are hard because of a past traumatic experience or a current situation, and healing and change is needed. Symptoms often include anxiety, depression, anger, grief and relationship issues. I work from a depth psychological perspective which means that I address the cause of symptoms as much as the symptoms themselves.

I am deeply passionate about helping people feel better and experience RELIEF from intense emotional pain and suffering. As a therapist, I am no stranger to deep suffering. In fact, it has been the single most powerful catalyst to who I have become, personally and professionally. I LOVE this work. Nobody escapes trauma in this life. To be human is to suffer. But we can learn how to manage and navigate the things we can't control. We can HEAL from our pain. We can rise from the most desperate of circumstances. We can become FREE. I carry a continual burning torch of hope and light for every sacred person I sit with. I believe in you.

Compassionate, down-to-earth, practical help. I'm a licensed, board-certified psychologist. More than 25 years of professional experience working with individuals, couples and groups have taught me that we grow and make effective changes when we understand what is happening, appreciate our experiences, develop a plan to improve things. We'll work together on your goals- to enrich and repair your relationships, change long-standing patterns, develop self-acceptance and personal effectiveness, resolving difficult situations, reduce psychological distress, improve health, or enjoy more emotionally closeness and satisfying intimacy.

In my practice, I treat adults with PTSD, borderline personality disorder, survivors of domestic violence, sexual abuse, religious trauma, people with suicidal thoughts or self harm, depression, grief , loss , and many other issues. I also see clients who are diagnosed with bipolar disorder. I work with folks on issues regarding family life: parenting and other relationships. In your therapy, I will work carefully to provide a calm, warm, safe space in which to explore your unique self, and what happiness, satisfaction, and fulfillment look like for you. As therapy progresses, we will talk about everything that is important to you.

Although it's true that children are resilient, there are times when children and their families need focused support and therapy in order to move forward and reach emotional health and balance. I am a Clinical Psychologist and Registered Play Therapist who uses cognitive-behavioral, play therapy, animal-assisted therapy, art therapy, and mindfulness techniques to help clients achieve better mental health. Having been licensed for sixteen years, I have worked extensively with children who present with anxiety, depression, a history of trauma including post-traumatic stress disorder, attention deficit, obsessive-compulsive disorder, autism, grief issues, and behavioral concerns.

Times of uncertainty often draw our attention to our fears and anxieties, but they also illuminate the things that are most important to us. Whether you’re wanting to learn more about yourself; worrying about your child’s well-being; suffering the loss of a loved one; processing abuse or trauma; experiencing a major life transition; feeling unsatisfied in your relationships; or are just wanting more out of life, therapy may be a great place to start.

Sometimes we find ourselves feeling stuck in unhelpful patterns in our mind, body, behavior or relationships. Other times we experience significant loss or an unexpected change in life. We can start to feel distant from ourselves, values and passions that get lost along the way. This can leave us feeling anxious, uninspired, disconnected, depressed or stuck. If you made the decision to reach out, you may have tried to make changes or cope on your own, but are struggling to achieve the peace or growth you seek. Therapy offers the comfort of navigating these challenges within the context of a safe and trusting relationship.

Sometimes we find ourselves feeling a sense of groundlessness during major life transitions, events, grief , or loss . Sometimes this groundlessness is experienced as anxiety, loneliness, relational distress, poor sense of self-worth, or insecurity. While these experiences can cause immense distress, they can also provide an opportunity to explore and get to know ourselves in ways we have not yet imagined.

I am currently taking new clients for youth and young adults. I have worked with this population for over a decade, and work comfortably as a collaborative partner and ally in their personal growth. Therapeutic goals and style are curated based on individuals needs and preference, that interweave the mind, body, and spirit. The client/therapist relationship is always at the center of my work, to assure a safe place to explore vulnerabilities and any hardship. Individuals that work with me often develop a broader and long-lasting sense of self, empowerment, skillfulness in mood mgmt. and capability maintaining ease in their life.

I provide therapy for individuals struggling with anxiety, depression, grief , exposure to trauma, suicidal thoughts, or domestic violence, among other issues. I enjoy helping individuals try to navigate these issues, in addition to working through everyday struggles, by utilizing a client-centered perspective. While we will work together to identify your specific goals for treatment, we will also work to reduce pain and suffering, while also increasing your sense of overall well-being and happiness. Please note, I have partnered with Mindful Therapy Group so please contact the 425 number to the right if you wish to use insurance.

Our work together can help release stuck patterns, expand mutual understanding, and increase trust and connection between you and those you care about most. Challenges with mood, transitions in life and emotional struggles often present side by side to relational hurts. www.michaeldangelotherapy.com Clients: - -Couples, polycules, open relationships, adults (18-80’s). - -Children, teens, adolescents ages 12–18 with adult caregivers (w/ legal documentation from guardianship, no drop offs). - -Blended families, families in transitions. - -LGBTQ+ Gender ID Journeys. - - Grief Journeys. - -Clients of Faiths, Beliefs - Spirituality.