Grief is weird, sneaky, messy, and relentless.
But you can (and will) cope and make it through it.

Grief Counseling in Erlanger, KY

No matter what we do to run from it, grief comes to visit us all. We can't escape it. Many have tried, and all have failed.

To avoid the pain from the loss, we turn to things like diving into work, exercising excessively, not taking care of ourselves at all, avoiding loved ones, pretending the loss never happened, abusing substances, overeating, or maybe even self-harming.

These methods can distract you for a while, but eventually, the pain starts to seep negatively into other areas of our lives until it's impossible to ignore.

When we choose to sit with our grief, we can come out on the other side wiser, kinder, and hopeful for the future.

Learn to embrace your enduring connection to your loved one while developing coping mechanisms and emotional resilience to lessen the intensity of their presence in your thoughts and feelings with a counselor who really gets grief. Grief counseling can help!

There is no right or wrong way to navigate grief.

Everyone grieves differently. How you deal with grief will depend on many things, like your personality, beliefs, and how close you were to the person you lost. Even though everyone's experience is unique, some feelings and reactions are common, like difficulty concentrating, changes in appetite or sleep, or feeling tired all the time. Symptoms of grief can be emotional, cognitive, or behavioral.

Common symptoms of grief

Illustration of a tangled ball representing a mess of emotion and confusing feelings

Emotional

  • Sadness or yearning

  • Feeling numb or deeply alone

  • Frustration or anger

  • Guilt or worry

  • Feeling lost and unsure of you are

Illustration of a brain

Cognitive

  • The preoccupation with thoughts about the deceased

  • A sense of disbelief or protest

  • Imagining alternative scenarios

  • Difficulty concentrating, confusion, or memory troubles

  • Questioning existing beliefs and values

Lit candle representing honoring the loss of a loved one

Behavioral

  • Avoiding grief reminders

  • Finding ways to feel close to your loved one

  • Avoiding social events or time with friends and family

  • Changes in sleep or appetite

  • Loss of interest in activities or hobbies

From personal experience, a unique family history, and extensive training in grief, I know firsthand the relentless and complicated nature of grief and loss.

✺ The out-of-the-blue reminders of what you've lost.

✺ Feeling like your grief is on display for everyone to see and you're doing it all wrong.

✺ The endless loop of "I coulda, woulda, shoulda" guilt and shame.

✺ The hallow platitudes from well-meaning loved ones.

✺ Feeling ripped off and angry that the world keeps turning like nothing has happened.

✺ Finding it practically impossible to find meaning in life without your loved one.

✺ The profound loneliness, like you’re living on another planet or a different plane than everyone else.

✺ Struggling to find joy in interests or activities that once brought pleasure and fun into your life.

✺ Questions like "What am I supposed to do now?" and "Who am I without this person?" echo over and over again in your mind.

When we get stuck in our grief.

Soon after the loss of a loved one, we are overcome by these feelings and emotions, thoughts, and behaviors, and they tend to dominate our lives.

Some people recover from loss naturally over time. They learn to accept the loss fully, the thoughts and feelings that once felt too much to bear have softened, and their sense of meaning and purpose is restored.

Unfortunately, this is not the case for all of us.

For some of us, the constant weight of the grief pressing down on our chests makes it too difficult to breathe, let alone move forward.

Despite the world continuing to turn and those around you seemingly moving on, you're at a standstill. The intense pain is still there. Reminders of your loss are everywhere, and not much really seems to matter. If this sounds like you and it's been six months or longer since your loss, you may be experiencing prolonged grief disorder.

What Is Prolonged Grief Disorder?

Prolonged grief disorder (PGD) is a type of mental health condition that can develop after the loss of a loved one. It goes beyond the usual sadness and grief that people experience after a loss and can significantly affect daily life. While typical grief tends to fade over time, PGD remains intense and persistent. Once prolonged grief disorder takes over, it can become very difficult to adapt to the loss without help.

Prolonged Grief Treatment can help you heal.

Prolonged Grief Treatment (previously called Complicated Grief Treatment) is the most evidence-based treatment in the world. Dr. Katherine Shear developed Prolonged Grief Treatment and has proven its effectiveness over the last three decades. I've been fortunate to undergo extensive training in PGT with Dr. Bonnie Gorscak, a key leader in grief and loss who has worked closely with Dr. Katherine Shear over the last 20 years. As a grief counselor, I use PGT to create a safe and supportive environment to help you understand and overcome what's holding you back from adapting to your loss. We'll work together to face these challenges and build a new life filled with meaning and joy.

It’s okay to feel okay. You deserve peace, and I’d be honored to help you get there.

Northern Kentucky therapist and anger management counselor Kyle Linnemann sits on steps by hydrangeas.

I Can Help You Find Peace. Begin Grief Counseling in KY and OH

Throughout my years as an expert-trained grief therapist serving Kentucky and Ohio, I've seen individuals overcome grief's toughest challenges, develop skills, implement tools, and find peace. If you're struggling with distressing thoughts, emotions, or behaviors or feel stuck in your loss, I'm here for you to provide grief support in a safe space. Online sessions are available throughout KY & OH and in-person in my Northern Kentucky office.

Follow the steps below to get started.

  1. Let's connect! Fill out the contact form, give me a call, or send a text to get started.

  2. Start sessions with a compassionate grief counselor.

  3. Find a way forward, honor your loved one, and reconnect with your joy.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Grief and loss counseling provides a supportive space to help you express your grief, process your emotions, and develop healthy coping strategies after losing a loved one. Whether your loss was sudden or expected, grief counseling and therapy can help you develop effective coping strategies and navigate the emotional ups and downs of grief.

  • If you’re struggling to come to terms with the death of a loved one, feeling stuck in grief symptoms, or having difficulty managing daily tasks, grief therapy may help. Maybe you’re feeling lost, disconnected from family and friends, or experiencing intense emotions like anger, sadness, or guilt—therapy provides an opportunity to work through these feelings without fear of judgment.

  • Grief brings up a mix of emotions—sometimes all at once. In grief counseling, I help you:

    • Express your grief in a way that feels natural to you

    • Develop healthy coping strategies to handle overwhelming emotions

    • Understand the different stages of the grieving process

    • Find ways to remember and honor your loved one while still moving forward

  • I support individuals through many forms of grief, including:

    • Bereavement after the loss of someone close

    • Anticipatory grief, when you are expecting a loss, such as when a loved one is in hospice

    • Prolonged grief disorder, where grief feels long-lasting and overwhelming

    • Sudden or traumatic loss, when a death happens abruptly

    • Loss related to the pandemic, which has changed the way many of us grieve and memorialize loved ones

  • There’s no right or wrong timeline for grief. Some people rediscover a sense of normalcy in a few months, while others take years to fully process their loss. Grief counseling helps you move through your grief journey at your own pace, offering compassionate care and suggestions to help you heal.

  • I use a mix of approaches to help you navigate your grieving process, including:

    • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) – to identify unhelpful thought patterns and develop healthy coping skills

    • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) - to help you accept difficult emotions, focus on what truly matters, and take meaningful steps forward.

    • Prolonged Grief Therapy (PGT) - to gently guide you through intense, long-lasting grief and help you find a way to reconnect with life while honoring your loss.

    • Mindfulness techniques – to help you stay present and manage difficult emotions

    • Compassion-focused therapy – to help you practice self-compassion while grieving