Newport Beach Therapist Offers Counseling for Grief and Loss

April 11, 2012 - PRLog -- Newport Beach, Calif. – According to the Journal of the American Heart Association (JAHA), a grieving person’s risk for a heart attack is 21 times higher than normal the day after a loved one dies. Licensed counselor Jennifer De Francisco, LCSW, announced today that she is offering grief counseling in Orange County. With 15 years of experience as a counselor, De Francisco applies a psychodynamic approach to treating individuals who suffer from grief and loss.

“It's true: grief can kill you,” says De Francisco. “Science has confirmed that broken-heart syndrome is real. The intense emotional pain of losing a spouse can take a terrible toll psychologically, especially in the case of couples that have been in long-term marriages.”

The JAHA study’s researchers interviewed nearly 2,000 people hospitalized for heart attacks over a five-year period, controlling for variables such as a history of coronary artery disease. The study found that heart attack risks are extremely high for the bereaved in the days and weeks after losing a loved one. Fortunately, this heart attack risk declines over time. Surprisingly, those with history of heart disease were the most vulnerable to broken-heart syndrome. For this reason, it’s vital that recent widows and widowers pay attention to their health; counseling is equally critical.

“There is no one way to cope with grief, and it can vary significantly from person to person,” says De Francisco. “However, research shows that counseling can help most people work through the normal but often very painful process of grieving a loved one.”

Normal grief is painful enough; however, some people get “stuck” in their grieving and the emotional pain never seems to subside with the passage of time, De Francisco says. This scenario, called complicated grief, affects about 10 percent of the population. Complicated grief differs from normal grief due to complicating thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that derail the normal and healthy progress of adjustment.

“During treatment, we often uncover issues regarding emotional instability, previous losses, or difficulties in the relationship with the person who has died,” says De Francisco. “These issues must be addressed for an individual to make progress. I find that a Psychodynamic Psychotherapeutic approach is most helpful to help work through the grieving process successfully and with respect and dignity.

Those interested in Newport Beach grief counseling can call 949-251-8797 or visit www.jenniferdefrancisco.com for more information or to schedule an appointment.

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About Jennifer De Francisco
A Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 15 years of experience, Jennifer De Francisco specializes in couples therapy, separation, and divorce therapy for individuals and couples. A graduate of the University of Southern California with degrees in Pubic Administration and Social Work, she works with a broad spectrum of clients at her private counseling practice in Newport Beach, California. De Francisco is bilingual in Spanish, and works with diverse ethnic populations. She has conducted workshops throughout the Orange County area including Divorce Recovery, Child Abuse Reporting, and Improving Relationships. Learn more at www.jenniferdefrancisco.com.