Guy Albert, Ph.D.

Licensed Psychologist

PSY20961

"This life is worth living, we can say, since it is what we make it."  William James

Loss of family members and friends.

The loss of a family member or close friend can be very difficult and traumatizing. I know, since I lost several close family members over the course of my life. The trauma from these events can mark us last for many years. We think of ourselves as resilient beings, able to manage these losses with minimal support. I now wish I could have had more support to navigate this process more easily.

Loss is a part of living; it is a common occurrence that is difficult to avoid in one's lifetime. Even the loss of a job, a home, a pet, a precious object can leave scars that are difficult to heal.

Loss is also one of the first experiences of life. As infants, we learn about loss through something as simple as the disregard of a caregiver or through other more challenging events. We might build defenses around our experiences of loss, and this influences our future ability to adapt to and to deal with losses--of more significant magnitude--based on how we received support and guidance around these earlier experiences. Whatever the case, all of these losses can be managed through the careful attention of a skilled therapist able to recognize, hold, and honor the complex dimensions of one's grieving process.

510-496-3447

Copyright 2010