Transcending Grief

I don't know what I would have done without Deborah and the Grief Recovery Method. After the sudden loss of my mother, I reached out to Deborah for help a week later. Growing up, I was never taught how to grieve but rather - to simply toughen up and move on. That approach was not going to work for me and needless to say, I was devastated, lost and deeply distressed by my mother's death. Deborah held my hand throughout the grieving process and held space magnificently - truly I don't know what I would have done without her. I found the action step process of the Grief Recovery Method profound and effective; unlike the traditional therapy sessions that I've encountered which felt entirely too clinical. The relationship graphs and the notion of forgiveness and apologies that have been unsaid my whole life was tremendously helpful and allowed me to reflect on several significant losses outside of the death of my mother that needed tending too as well. Needless to say, I was cracked open and put back together during this process. Deborah helped me with not only the grief recovery method, but also with my day to day, how to navigate going back to work, supported me throughout the planning of my mother's service and prepared me with outcomes that were sure to come with my familial relationships - which were spot on. I appreciated her valued insight and wisdom and will carry it on with me for the rest of my life. Ironically, I will be grieving the loss of Deborah and our weekly counseling sessions but with the tools that she taught me...I'll manage and hold her close to my mended heart. Thank you Deborah.

I have suffered for many years from the loss of a relationship with my brother. No matter what I’ve done, or said, we’ve been unable to mend our differences. Thoughts and feelings had arisen from this loss, where I began to believe that I was unlovable and worthless. These thoughts circulated in my head all the time and I couldn’t break free of this ruminating, negativity loop. Alone, I just couldn’t find a way to heal from this loss. Sleeplessness and anxiety began to affect my emotional and physical health, so I urgently sought out and found help. I found the Grief Recovery Program and Deborah. Deborah walked me through the program with compassion and an open heart. I was able to see the big picture and learn more about the relationship and why it is the way it is. We found ways together, to help end my suffering and heal. Deborah is a great listener, non-judgmental, and knowledgeable. She gave me wonderful ways to deal with the loss not only today, but in the future. Finally, I was able to recover, and although the sadness sometimes reappears, it is no longer debilitating. I’m living my life, am sleeping better, and am beginning to feel joy again. Thank you, Deborah, for all you do and for your support.

This program changed my life. During one of the first sessions, Deborah explained to me that by the end of the program, I would be a different person and my attitudes towards life as well as my priorities would change. She was absolutely correct. Not only did she help me resolve a very tragic loss of my brother and his wife, she kindly and very patiently helped me address other areas in my life that I had been burying and repressing for so long, leading to unresolved pain, disappointments, anger, and an inability to live in my truest self. The work I did with Deborah was not only transformative in dealing with my grief with my brother and past losses and hurts, but also towards becoming a more loving and confident version of myself. This version of myself is so much fun to live with and embrace the world and others with. My relationships with others, including family and friends, the ability to look at loss and grief as not an isolated emotional state where others could not understand, my understanding of the grieving process, my relationship with my brother, holding space for myself during this time, and, most importantly, my relationship with myself, has never been healthier and more whole. The process is an incredible gift and, although very challenging at times, is something everyone experiencing grief and unresolved hurts should participate in. Thanks to the program and the healing work that Deborah brought to my life, I will never be the same. Thank you, Deborah, and the Grief Recovery Institute for providing a life changing experience during the most difficult time of my life.

I am so appreciative of Deborah's kindness, compassion and listening skills. She was able to hear my story and create a safe place where I could observe my grief and try and work through it. When I found Deborah I was at a very difficult point in my life. I was suffering in many ways over the death of my mother. She was able to understand the importance of healing and the patience required to do the work. The only regret I have is not finding her earlier and trying other therapists along the way.

After losing my brother and sister within 3.5 months of each other in 2020, I was really struggling with feelings of deep loss and grief. Then, at the end of 2020, my relationship ended with the love of my life and 8 months later as I was beginning to heal he passed away in a motorcycle accident. My heart and soul were broken and grief consumed me. I truly did not know how I could recover. I felt safe starting the Grief Recovery Program with Deborah and it has been both a godsend and a blessing for me. Over the course of the program, I was able to see how my grief was holding me hostage and not allowing me to move on and let go of my deep all-consuming sadness. The seven week Grief Recovery Program along with Deborah’s compassionate nature and guidance was exactly what I needed. I feel confident that the tools I learned will help guide me and allow me to heal. It is a journey that feels brighter and manageable after completing the course. Deborah’s dedication and support continued after the 7 week course ended. My boyfriend’s family had excluded me from his Memorial service, and with Deborah’s encouragement I was able to honor and celebrate his life. I organized a nice beach party with his friends and Deborah came to support me. It meant so much to me that she was there, supporting me through the darkest moments I have ever experienced. My only regret is that I didn’t do this program earlier. My grief journey feels lighter and more manageable after completing the course.

I went through the Grief Recovery Program with Deborah and I can highly recommend the process and Deborah as a facilitator: with such highly charged and intense emotions as grief can present, Deborah was able to really hold space for it all to arise. The program itself is a very ‘easy’ one - I say easy, it’s obviously a deep process, but it’s very ‘step-by-step’; manageable and not too overwhelming. Deborah has a calm and compassionate demeanor which makes the whole journey and process very supporitve! I can 100% recommend Deborah and this work - I now have a set of tools in my toolkit to draw upon and perhaps even use again. Thank you Deborah!

I was one of those people who had years of acquiring things, relationships, employment only to lose them one at a time in rapid succession. Grief had consumed my life, my thought process and my physical ability to function in a healthy way. I made decisions for others but not for myself. All my efforts blew up in my face. I lost friends and family because my grief was so heavy I lost the ability to make sound decisions. Deborah was/is a Godsend. I needed a soft touch, smart individual who was not in my face overbearing or practicing toxic positivity. Deborah would listen to my grief and have an entirely different perspective. Her outlook made me feel seen, heard. My heart softened and I found myself on the journey to recovery. One thing I will say to all grievers: Grief will never leave us. But with the correct information and tools we can learn to manage our grief and live a full life again. I do hope reading this will persuade you to work with Deborah, she is Awesome and I am Thankful.

The Grief Recovery Institute's 7-week course transformed my healing process with grief after losing my grandmother in late 2020. Deborah's compassion and empathy paired with the program's step-by-step process helped me navigate my grief and enter into a state of completeness. Given Deborah's training and personal experience, I always felt comforted, heard and accepted. I would recommend this program to any person dealing with loss, and highly recommend Deborah as your Recovery Specialist.

As a clinician who specializes in grief, you'd be correct in assuming that I'm picky about who I turn to for grief support. As I navigate my own personal losses, I am so grateful I can lean on Deborah. She is genuinely kind, compassionate, honest, real, and is the perfect person to listen and reflect what I'm feeling. Deborah is and will continue to be my go-to. Thank you, Deborah for starting Transcend Grief and for providing a safe place for grievers. I'm grateful for the Grief Recovery Method and know it will continue to help the lives of grievers for years to come.

Although I have a wonderful support system, after the very unexpected sudden loss of my husband, I found myself very lost. I couldn't make sense of how to move forward without my partner. My future had been taken from me and I couldn't seem to figure out how to create my new future, or see that I could have a future without him. I finally decided I needed some guidance my support system couldn't give me, and I found The Grief Recovery Method, and Deborah Gallo. Deborah was an easy person to talk to from the very beginning, and very empathetic. Deborah made me feel safe to express my emotions without shame or embarrassment, and she made me feel as though she was invested in my recovery. I gained a new view on grief, and I definitely respond differently now than I did before when I encounter someone who has experienced a loss. I would highly recommend the program and Deborah as a Grief Counselor.