Grief Certified Counselor.

About me: I am a certified grief educator who works with and is trained by renowned grief expert, David Kessler.  I am currently co-moderater of 2 specific loss groups for Kessler’s online grief community, Tender Hearts where I supports people facing anticipatory grief, and the loss of a loved one by long term illness/dementia. I support clients on Zoom and in person in my office on Whidbey Island, Washington. I also have deep experience in dementia and sibling loss. As an adult I have walked with both of my parents (who were very difficult/abusive when I was a child ) through their illnesses and as they passed. I am a certified grief coach and a grief movement guide.  As a published poet and writer, I work holistically with individuals supporting healing using a variety of modalities to build self-compassion, awareness, and the embrace of inner knowing.  I also currently devote my time as the Director of the Hummingbird Choir, a joyful singing community for those with memory challenges and the Co-Director of Yuba Spirit Threshold Singers and a member of Whidbey Island Bedside Singers which brings gentle songs to those on the threshold of life, bringing moments of ease and comfort for clients, family and caregivers. I have recently begun a new group for working with grieving adults. Based on years of working with Ellen Bass and Laura Davis (groundbreaking authors of The Courage to Heal) along with my colleague who is a somatic therapist, IFS practitioner and also trained with David Kessler, we offer an online group that fills a current void in the grief world of supporting grieving adult children whose parents or caregivers were neglectful, narcissistic, emotionally absent, addicted, mentally ill. We have created a place where participants can feel understood within the complexities and confusion which may arise from these losses and often not recognized by the culture or peers who have had different upbringings. I  believe  that healing happens within connection and I am dedicated to serving others, letting them know they are not alone and are held with compassion.

Zoom or phone sessions and sliding scale available. For More Information, call or text at 530 913-0320 or email me at debkiva@gmail.com