Grief Counseling in Cottage Grove: What to Expect and How to Start
If you're navigating loss — and not sure how to move forward — this page is for you.
You didn’t expect to be here.
Reading about grief counseling.
Wondering if what you’re feeling is “normal.”
Trying to decide if now is the right time.
Let me ease the pressure:
There is no “right” time.
If it still hurts — if you feel stuck, numb, or overwhelmed — then support is allowed.
At Paws and Reflect Services, I offer grief counseling for women in Cottage Grove and surrounding areas, in a setting that’s trauma-informed, nonjudgmental, and deeply human.
Whether you’ve lost a loved one, a pet, a relationship, or part of yourself — you’re welcome here.
🧭 What Is Grief Counseling, Really?
It’s not just talking about who or what you lost.
It’s not about pushing you to “move on.”
It’s not a one-size-fits-all 5-stage checklist.
Grief counseling is:
- A safe place to say the things you haven’t said out loud
- A container to hold the overwhelm, guilt, or anger that others can’t
- A process of learning how to carry grief — without letting it consume you
At Paws and Reflect, your grief is treated with care, not urgency.
📍 Why Local Grief Support in Cottage Grove Matters
Cottage Grove isn’t a big city.
Which means it can sometimes feel like you’re supposed to hold it together. Smile at the grocery store. Pretend you’re fine.
But grief doesn’t care where you live.
It shows up in your body, your thoughts, your routines — even when life keeps going.
That’s why I offer in-home and nature-based sessions — so you can process in places that feel safe and familiar. Or if you prefer, we can meet virtually from the comfort of your home.
💬 What You Can Expect in a Session
You won’t have to retell every painful detail.
You won’t be judged for how long it’s been.
And you won’t be forced to “look on the bright side.”
A grief counseling session may include:
- Breathwork to soften emotional overwhelm
- Gentle conversation — with space for silence if needed
- EMDR for trauma or guilt related to the loss
- Rituals to honor and reconnect with your loved one
- Optional presence of a therapy dog for comfort and co-regulation
- Practical tools for navigating hard days (birthdays, holidays, anniversaries)
🧘 Who It’s For
I specialize in working with women who are navigating:
- Loss of a parent, partner, sibling, or child
- Pet loss that feels minimized by others
- Unresolved grief from years (or decades) ago
- Complicated or traumatic death
- Midlife grief and identity loss
- Caregiver loss, burnout, and emotional exhaustion
You don’t need a “major loss” to be struggling.
Grief is grief — and all of it is welcome here.
💬 Client Reflections
“Grief counseling with Sonja felt like breathing for the first time in months.”
“I was stuck in guilt — she helped me find forgiveness and peace.”
“Her dog was in the room with me. I didn’t realize how much I needed that kind of presence until I felt it.”
🧠 How Healing Happens (Even If You’re Not Ready to Call It That)
Grief doesn’t get smaller.
But you grow around it.
In our work together, I don’t push. I don’t fix. I walk beside you.
Some days we talk.
Some days we sit quietly with the pain.
Some days, you may even laugh — and that’s allowed too.
We let grief be what it is: an act of love that still needs a place to go.
📆 Getting Started Is Simple — And Flexible
You can choose from:
- In-home sessions in Cottage Grove and nearby areas
- Outdoor sessions (eco-therapy walks)
- Virtual sessions from anywhere in Oregon
