Counseling Services in The Woodlands and Montgomery, Texas

Throughout my career, supporting those who are grieving has been a central focus. With extensive training and experience in grief counseling, I am well-equipped to help guide you through this difficult journey. If you’re seeking a grief counselor, it’s important to choose someone who truly understands the complexities of grief and how to support you through it.

If you’re grieving, you don’t need me to tell you how hard it is. Unfortunately, I can’t promise when you will feel better – no one can. What I can offer is the reassurance that grieving in a healthy way will help you adjust to your new reality. While you will never “get over” losing a loved one, with time, you will begin to feel better, in your own way and on your own timeline.

If you love someone who is grieving, please recognize that you cannot fully understand their pain, even if you too had a relationship with the deceased. Every person and every relationship is unique. You can only acknowledge their pain, not truly know how they feel. It’s also important to remember that there is no set timetable for grief. It lasts as long as it needs to, often ebbing and flowing over long periods.

Working with a trained and experienced grief counselor can help you navigate the complexities of your loss, adapt to your new circumstances, and support your healing process.

I understand, from personal experience, how shocking and devastating a diagnosis of a chronic or terminal illness can be—whether you are the patient, a spouse, a parent, a child, or a close friend. A chronic illness often brings dramatic lifestyle changes, which affect not only the patient but also everyone involved in their care. Any major lifestyle change can be challenging, and adjusting psychologically can take time. However, the diagnosis of a chronic or terminal illness is a traumatic event in itself, and when combined with significant changes in daily life, it can feel overwhelming.

Depression and anxiety often complicate the medical challenges faced by patients and, in some cases, can hinder their treatment. These mental health struggles are also common among caregivers, who may find their ability to function impacted, which in turn can affect the quality of care provided to the patient. If you believe you are experiencing symptoms of depression or anxiety, or are having difficulty adjusting to your diagnosis, I strongly encourage you to consider scheduling an appointment with a counselor. Support during this time can help you navigate the emotional and psychological aspects of chronic or terminal illness more effectively.

Depression is one of the most common psychological challenges that impacts work, social, and family life. It causes significant pain and distress for both those living with the disorder and their loved ones. While feelings of sadness, fatigue, or discouragement are normal from time to time, they can become concerning if they persist and begin interfering with your work, school, or family responsibilities. If this happens, it may be time to seek professional help.

A counselor can assess your symptoms and determine the most appropriate course of treatment. While antidepressants can help improve functioning for some individuals, seeking support from an experienced mental health professional is often essential for a more complete and lasting recovery from depression.

Trauma refers to any event for which we were unprepared, leaving a lasting negative impact. These events are often emotionally painful, distressing, or shocking. It is common for individuals to carry the effects of trauma long after the event, which is why seeking help from a trained and experienced professional, such as myself, is crucial to healing.

Understanding Post-Traumatic Stress Responses: The limbic system, the part of the brain responsible for scanning for potential danger, plays a key role in trauma responses. When the limbic system links current situations to memories of trauma (for example, loud noises or authority figures), we are triggered—feeling the trauma again rather than merely recalling it. These memories are often felt deeply, not just remembered cognitively, and tend to remain vivid and unchanging over time. This is why old traumatic memories can feel as raw and impactful as they did at the time of the original event.

What is EMDR? EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a well-researched and highly effective psychotherapy method used to treat trauma, as well as other mental health conditions. EMDR follows a set of standardized protocols that integrate elements from various therapeutic approaches, often leading to significant and lasting improvement in a relatively short time. This therapy is especially effective at transforming emotional reactions, changing negative thought patterns, and alleviating physical discomfort that cannot be “thought away.”

Learn more about EMDR

Are you effectively coping with the stress in your life?  Take this short quiz to find out.

____    Give yourself 10 points if you feel you have supportive family around you.

____    Give yourself 10 points if you actively pursue a hobby.

____    Give yourself 10 points if you belong to a social or activity group in which you participate more than once a month.

____    Give yourself 15 points if you are within 10 pounds of your “ideal” body weight, considering your height and bone structure.

____    Give yourself 15 points if you practice some form of “deep relaxation” at least five times a week. Deep relaxation includes meditation, progressive muscle relaxation, imagery and yoga.

____    Give yourself 5 points for each time you exercise for 30 minutes or longer during an average week.

____    Give yourself 5 points for each nutritionally balanced and wholesome meal you eat during an average day. A nutritionally balanced meal is low in fat and high in vegetables, fruits and whole-grain products.

____    Give yourself 5 points if you do something you really enjoy and which is “just for you” during an average week.

____    Give yourself 10 points if you have a place in your home to which you can go to relax or be by yourself.

____    Give yourself 10 points if you practice time management techniques daily.

____    Subtract 10 points for each pack of cigarettes you smoke during an average day.

____    Subtract 5 points for each evening during an average week that you use any form of medication or chemical substance, including alcohol, to help you sleep.

____    Subtract 10 points for each day during an average week that you consume any form of medication or chemical substance, including alcohol, to reduce anxiety or just to calm down.

____    Subtract 5 points for each evening during an average week that you bring work home – work meant to be done at your place of employment.

____    Total

A “perfect” score is 115. If you scored in the 50-60 range, you probably have adequate coping skills for most common stress. However, keep in mind that the higher your score, the greater your ability to cope with stress in an effective, healthy manner.

If you scored less than 50, however, it may be helpful for you to speak with a professional counselor about your stressors and to assist you in developing good coping habits.

*Reprinted from a U.S. Public Health Service pamphlet, “What Do You Know About Stress” (DHHS Publication No. PHS79-50097) by Dr. George Everly, Jr., of the University of Maryland.

When constant conflict arises in a relationship, frustration can run high, concentration often suffers, and the entire family feels the weight of stress. If you are in a committed relationship that is facing ongoing difficulties, it may be time to seek professional support.

In my marital and couples sessions, I prioritize equality and balance within the relationship. My work with you is focused on helping you express your needs clearly to your partner, gain a deeper understanding of both your own and your partner’s reactions, and foster greater emotional and physical connection.