Grief is rarely a straight line. There is often an unspoken expectation that it should look like a to-do list—something to be ‘completed’ within a certain timeframe. This is reflected in phrases like “it’s time to move on,” or “be strong,” but the reality is often much more complex and non-linear.
While the five stages of grief can help name our experiences, healing is about more than just finding closure. I hold the idea that grief isn’t reserved only for death; it is present in the loss of identity, changes in health, and the weight of systemic oppression.
Grief is a profound human experience to be honored, not a problem to be solved. Much like the rhythms in the seasons or a piece of music, grief also has an ebb and flow. There are natural moments of leaning into the loss, as well as moments of taking a breath and focusing on the day-to-day tasks of life.
When working together, we co-create space for your loss while slowly reconnecting with meaning and joy. I often lean on the idea of “life growing around grief”—the belief that while grief may not shrink, our lives can expand. New experiences, relationships, and routines grow around the loss, eventually allowing joy and sorrow to co-exist.
