Gabriella Castorena

In my clinical experience, I’ve worked with all ages in a 24/7 psychiatric emergency room, where our focus was on utilizing crisis interventions that promoted stabilization and maintaining safety. This allowed me to gain a greater understanding of the possible effects that unmanaged grief could have on an individual’s mental health and well-being. During my education, I’ve worked with older adults in a mental health group home, adolescents at a charter school, first responders, including firefighters and medical personnel, and occasionally teachers. Grief and loss are inevitable, complex, and non-linear life experiences that we as humans go through. There are times when our loved ones are unsure about how to be there for us while we grieve. Shoot, sometimes we are not sure what kind of help/support we need or want while processing a loss. Deciding to start therapy is one way that can provide you with a safe, nonjudgmental, and supportive space to process your thoughts and emotions. I, a fellow human, use specific strategies from several therapeutic models in an integrated, person-centered therapy approach to develop a unique treatment plan for the client. You could use art or music to process your grief and loss if, for instance, your thoughts or feelings aren’t able to be verbally articulated. It’s possible that a song you’ve heard before will help you relate to and understand what you’re going through. There isn’t a single therapy model or method of processing thoughts and emotions that works universally for everyone, especially when trying to grasp grief and loss. Each client is an expert on their own life, and I consider it an honor to be a part of their therapeutic process. Through therapy, I enjoy working with clients to discover how various therapeutic interventions can be applied to their lives and how they may contribute to their healing process. Whether you’re adapting to a recent loss or have been grieving/mourning for years, I’m here to accompany you as you navigate and discover how to apply your personal recipe to grief in your everyday life. During our sessions together, you can freely laugh, cry, get angry, or be silent. When choosing to start therapy, you decide whether it will be one day or day one.