A photo of Hug Point on the Oregon Coast feature sea cliffs and the sandy shore.

Grief Counseling in Portland, Oregon

I provide grief counseling for people who are tired of fighting against their grief.

You may be feeling worried you’re not grieving normally, scared that you’ll be stuck in your grief forever, and hopeless about what the future looks like after loss. I understand, and I’m here to guide you through this process.

I help people better understand their personal grieving style while also teaching them how to find meaning after loss. 

If you’re ready to get relief, schedule a complimentary consultation with me today.

My Approach to Grief Counseling

Loss affects us all, but there is no one way to grieve. You might believe there is something wrong with you if you don’t cry after a parent, spouse, friend, or pet dies. You might also wonder if you’re normal for feeling guilty that you still want to laugh even after a death. 

Or maybe you’re questioning if you’re  allowed to grieve a loss that wasn’t a death. It may have been the loss of a job, a friendship, or a physical place that’s important to you. 

I can teach you about all the ways that grief affects your life on a physical, emotional, social, and spiritual level. This will help you to recognize your own personal grieving style. It’ll also provide evidence that the way you’re grieving is very likely normal. 

I’ll also provide you with a space to talk about your experience of loss and what it has meant for your life. If your loss was expected, this might mean discussing the impact of anticipatory grief in addition to the loss itself. If there was no time to prepare for your loss, this could look like discussing how disruptive the loss has been in your life. 

No matter what kind of loss you’ve experienced, you will always be provided with the reminder that you are not expected to grieve in a specific way. You will be supported as you explore different ways of continuing to  find meaning in your life.

Photo of a hijabi wearing a grey coat, plaid shirt, jeans, and black boots. She is sitting cross legged with her legs tucked into her chest. She looks sad.

Grief Counseling FAQs

  • I don’t believe death is something we get over. It seems like a very unfair expectation that you’ll get over the death of your spouse, friend, sibling, or pet. Instead, I believe grief is an experience we learn to carry. Part of my job is to help you learn how to carry your grief in a way that doesn’t feel so tiring.

  • Absolutely. Anything that has importance or meaning in your life is very likely to hurt when it is no longer part of your daily experience in the world. Grief counseling can help you to sort through your experience of grief, and to better understand how your loss is affecting your life.

  • Nope. There is zero requirement for you to tell me any details about the death that are too painful to discuss. It’s also important for you to know that I never judge the manner of someone’s death. Whether the person died from suicide, an accident, violence, or another cause, your experience of their death will be respected and honored.

Photo of Halle Thomas grief counselor in portland oregon

Hi! I’m Halle, your Grief Counselor.

Hi! I’m Halle, a queer, biracial, African-American therapist in Portland, OR who provides grief counseling in Portland, Oregon and throughout the rest of the state as well. I’ve been to far more funerals than weddings and have seen firsthand the variety of ways that grief can impact all aspects of a person’s life.

I believe we live in a culture that doesn’t allow grieving people enough room to experience a wide range of emotions. You deserve so much better than that.  I want you to be able to free yourself from how you think you “should” be grieving.