Grief is not something I believe we simply “get over.” Nor do I believe there is one right way to grieve or a timetable for doing it. Your grief is uniquely yours. It changes over time, and sometimes it shows up in ways you never expected.

My role is not to fix your grief. It is to walk alongside you as you find your way through it.
 

That may mean giving you a place to talk openly about what has happened and what life feels like now. It may mean helping you understand what you’re experiencing, sorting through the practical realities that can accompany loss, finding resources, or simply having a conversation where you don’t have to protect everyone else from your grief.
 

I also support the people who are supporting someone who is grieving. You may be a family member or friend trying to figure out what to say, what to do, when to step in, or when simply to be present. And you may be grieving, too. Supporting someone you love while carrying your own sadness, fear, exhaustion, or sense of loss can be incredibly difficult. We can talk about how to be there for the person you love without losing sight of your own grief and your own need for support.
 

I am a Certified Grief Educator through the program of grief expert David Kessler and continue my education in grief and grief-informed support. I hold a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage & Family Therapy from JFK University. My professional background includes behavioral health, social services, advocacy, group facilitation, parenting support, and helping individuals and families navigate emotionally difficult and often complicated circumstances.

But credentials are only part of what I bring to this work.
 

I bring curiosity, compassion, humor when there is room for it, and a deep respect for the fact that you are the expert on your own life. I don’t believe grief needs to be made prettier, more comfortable, or more acceptable for other people. There is room here for sadness, anger, confusion, relief, laughter, love, regret, exhaustion, and all the contradictions that can come with loss.
 

I may occasionally share something from my own experience when I believe it could genuinely help, but our conversations are not about my story. They are about yours.
 

Above all, if we work together, my goal is to provide a place where you don’t have to worry about grieving “correctly.” There is no correct way to grieve. You don’t have to say the right thing, explain what you’re feeling, or pretend you are doing better than you are.
 

You don’t have to have grief figured out before you ask for support.

Dana Lucas provides grief education and non-clinical grief support, guidance, advocacy, and resource assistance. These services are not psychotherapy, mental health or medical treatment, diagnosis, or crisis intervention.

Currently, all sessions are held remotely via Zoom.