Grief & Loss Counseling in Inverness, IL

Grief doesn’t follow a clear timeline—and it doesn’t always look the way people expect.

It can feel like:

Deep sadness or longing
Numbness or disconnection
Difficulty focusing or functioning
Waves of emotion that come without warning

Grief can follow the loss of a loved one—but it can also come from changes in relationships, identity, health, or life circumstances.

At Collaborative Healing, we provide grief and loss therapy in Inverness, IL to support you in processing loss and adapting to what comes next.

You do not have to carry your loss alone.

Schedule Your First Session Today

Ready to take the first step towards finding support? Contact us today to schedule your first session with one of our experienced therapists.

Schedule Now

Therapy For Grief and Loss

Understanding Grief Beyond Bereavement

Therapy For Grief and Loss

Grief is not something to “get over”—it’s something to move through.

In grief therapy, we focus on:

Processing the emotional impact of loss
Making space for complex or conflicting emotions
Understanding how grief is showing up in your daily life
Rebuilding a sense of meaning, identity, and connection

Therapy provides a space where grief can be expressed and understood—without pressure to move faster than you’re ready.

Over time, many people find that while the loss remains, their relationship to it begins to shift.

How Grief Can Show Up

Understanding Grief Beyond Bereavement

Therapy For Grief and Loss

While grief can look different for every individual, these are common ways it can show up in daily life.

Persistent sadness or longing
Emotional numbness or detachment
Difficulty concentrating or functioning
Withdrawal from others
Changes in sleep or appetite
Feelings of guilt, regret, or “what if” thinking

Understanding Grief Beyond Bereavement

While many people associate grief with death, loss takes many forms, including:

Death of a loved one
Divorce or relationship endings
Miscarriage or infertility
Chronic illness or medical diagnosis
Career loss or retirement
Caregiver fatigue
Changes in identity or life stage

Grief can show up as sadness, anger, numbness, guilt, anxiety, irritability, or even physical symptoms. You may feel disconnected from others or unsure of who you are without what was lost.

Grief therapy provides a supportive space to process these emotions at your own pace.

Complicated Grief & Prolonged Grief

Understanding Grief Beyond Bereavement

Sometimes grief feels stuck. You may find yourself:

Avoiding reminders of your loss
Feeling unable to move forward
Experiencing intense waves of emotion long after the loss
Struggling with intrusive memories
Feeling persistent guilt or regret

If grief continues to feel overwhelming or unrelenting, therapy can help you gently unpack unresolved emotions and begin integrating the loss in a way that feels sustainable.

Evidence-Based Therapy for Grief

Complicated Grief & Prolonged Grief

When to Consider Grief Counseling

We use evidence-informed approaches to support the grieving process, including:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to address patterns of thought and behavior
Grief-focused therapy approaches to support adaptation to loss
Trauma-informed care when grief is connected to sudden or complex loss

These approaches help support both the emotional experience of grief and the process of adjusting to life after loss. We approach grief with depth and respect for your individual experience—rather than applying rigid timelines or expectations.

When to Consider Grief Counseling

Complicated Grief & Prolonged Grief

When to Consider Grief Counseling

You may benefit from therapy if:

You feel isolated in your grief
Emotions feel unpredictable or intense
You are avoiding reminders of your loss
You feel numb or disconnected
You are struggling to adjust to life changes
You feel pressure to “be strong” for others

Grief counseling does not erase loss. It helps you learn how to carry it differently.

Meet The Specialists

Rachel Dunning, LCSW

Carol Trejo Kroeger, LCPC, C-DBT

As a Certified Grief Counselor, Rachel specializes in supporting individuals navigating loss in its many forms — including death, caregiving transitions, medical changes, infertility, adoption, and life stage shifts. With over a decade of experience in healthcare settings, she understands how grief can intertwine with anxiety, identity, and responsibility. Rachel provides a steady, compassionate space to process complex emotions and help clients move toward acceptance and resilience at their own pace.

Carol Trejo Kroeger, LCPC, C-DBT

Carol works with individuals experiencing grief connected to life transitions, relationship changes, career shifts, and the invisible losses that often accompany burnout and leadership roles. Her approach is thoughtful and grounded, helping clients make meaning of their loss while reconnecting with a sustainable sense of self. Together, you'll create space to honor what has changed while gently moving toward what comes next.

Vanessa Lowrey, LCPC, CADC

Vanessa supports adolescents and adults facing grief complicated by trauma, mood disorders, or substance use. Loss can intensify existing struggles, making emotions feel overwhelming or difficult to regulate. In a safe, non-judgmental environment, Vanessa help clients process grief while strengthening coping skills and restoring emotional stability.

Kelsey Johnson, LSW

Vanessa Lowrey, LCPC, CADC

Kelsey works with children, adolescents, and adults navigating grief and loss, providing a compassionate and affirming space to process difficult emotions. Whether grief is connected to death, life transitions, identity, or relational changes, she helps clients better understand their feelings and build healthy coping strategies.

Using a strengths-based and integrative approach—including CBT, DBT, MBCT, and play therapy techniques for younger clients—Kelsey support individuals in increasing self-awareness, developing resilience, and moving forward with greater emotional balance and clarity.

Begin Grief & Loss Therapy

Our Approach

At Collaborative Healing, we approach grief with respect, patience, and deep compassion. There is no pressure to “move on.” Instead, we focus on:

Normalizing the grieving process
Creating space for complex emotions
Exploring meaning and identity shifts
Strengthening coping skills
Supporting nervous system regulation
Rebuilding connection and purpose over time

We use evidence-based and grief-informed approaches tailored to your individual experience.

Healing does not mean forgetting. It means learning to live alongside your loss with greater steadiness and support.

Over time, many people begin to feel more grounded, more connected, and better able to carry their loss in a way that feels manageable.

If you are seeking grief therapy in Illinois, Wisconsin, or Missouri, we invite you to schedule a consultation. We are here to walk with you through this season of your life.

Serving Clients Throughout the Northwest Suburbs

Collaborative Healing provides grief counseling in Inverness, Illinois and serves clients across the surrounding Northwest Suburbs, including:

Palatine
Barrington
Schaumburg
Arlington Heights
Hoffman Estates
Rolling Meadows

If you are seeking grief therapy in Illinois, Wisconsin, or Missouri, we invite you to schedule a consultation. We are here to walk with you through this season of your life.

Schedule An Appointment

Grief & Loss Counseling in Inverness, IL

Schedule Your First Session Today

Therapy For Grief and Loss

Understanding Grief Beyond Bereavement

Therapy For Grief and Loss

How Grief Can Show Up

Understanding Grief Beyond Bereavement

Therapy For Grief and Loss

Understanding Grief Beyond Bereavement

Understanding Grief Beyond Bereavement

Understanding Grief Beyond Bereavement

Complicated Grief & Prolonged Grief

Complicated Grief & Prolonged Grief

Understanding Grief Beyond Bereavement

Evidence-Based Therapy for Grief

Complicated Grief & Prolonged Grief

When to Consider Grief Counseling

When to Consider Grief Counseling

Complicated Grief & Prolonged Grief

When to Consider Grief Counseling

Meet The Specialists

Rachel Dunning, LCSW

Carol Trejo Kroeger, LCPC, C-DBT

Carol Trejo Kroeger, LCPC, C-DBT

Carol Trejo Kroeger, LCPC, C-DBT

Carol Trejo Kroeger, LCPC, C-DBT

Carol Trejo Kroeger, LCPC, C-DBT

Vanessa Lowrey, LCPC, CADC

Vanessa Lowrey, LCPC, CADC

Vanessa Lowrey, LCPC, CADC

Kelsey Johnson, LSW

Vanessa Lowrey, LCPC, CADC

Vanessa Lowrey, LCPC, CADC

Begin Grief & Loss Therapy

Our Approach

Serving Clients Throughout the Northwest Suburbs

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