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Lara Kennerly, PsyD
Grief & Loss Therapy in Sacramento, CA
When the world expects your strength, but your loss demands your attention.
Grief does not follow a clear path. Some days feel heavy, others feel numb, and even simple things can take more effort. You might feel like something is missing or not quite yourself.
Dr. Lara Kennerly provides grief and loss therapy in Sacramento, CA and online across California to help you work through what you are carrying and find some steadiness again.
Are You Carrying Grief That Feels Hard to Explain?
Grief is not always obvious. It does not always look like crying or talking about what happened. Sometimes it shows up in quieter ways, like feeling disconnected from people around you or not having the same energy for things that used to feel normal.
There may be moments where it hits out of nowhere, or days where everything just feels flat. You might find yourself more on edge, more tired, or having a harder time focusing. Even when life keeps moving, part of you can feel stuck or like something is missing.
Loss does not only come from losing a person. It can come from the end of a relationship, a shift in your life, or changes that you did not choose but still have to live with.
There is no right way to move through grief, and no set timeline for when you are supposed to feel better.
Grief & Loss Therapy in Sacramento, CA
Support for different kinds of loss, whether it is recent or something you have been carrying for a long time.
At Navigating Rough Waters Therapy, Dr. Lara Kennerly provides grief and loss therapy in Sacramento, CA and online across California for those moving through many forms of loss. This can include the loss of a loved one, a partner or relationship, a pet, or even a version of life that no longer feels the same.
Grief does not always come from one clear moment. Sometimes it builds over time or shows up long after everything around you has moved on. Whatever your experience looks like, the work centers on helping you make sense of it and find a way forward that feels steady and manageable.
In-person sessions are available in Sacramento, with support also offered to nearby areas including Elk Grove, Roseville, Folsom, Davis, Citrus Heights, Rancho Cordova, West Sacramento, Fair Oaks, Carmichael, Rocklin, and Woodland. Online therapy is available across California, making it easier to access support from wherever you are.
Therapy for Different Types of Loss in Sacramento,CA
Grief does not come from one kind of experience. It can follow many different types of loss, and each can affect you in its own way.
Sometimes the loss is clear and immediate. Other times, it builds gradually or is harder to name. You might notice it showing up in ways that feel unfamiliar or difficult to explain.
Below are some of the ways grief can show up and the types of loss this work can support.
Pet Loss Therapy in Sacramento, CA
Losing a pet can be just as painful as losing a person, even if others around you do not always understand it. Pets are part of your daily life, your routines, and your sense of comfort. When they are gone, the absence can feel immediate and hard to adjust to.
Dr. Lara Kennerly provides pet loss therapy in Sacramento, CA and online across California to help you process that loss without minimizing what it meant to you.
Therapy After the Death of a Loved One
The loss of a loved one can shift everything. It can affect how you move through your day, how you relate to others, and how you see your future. Grief may come in waves or show up in quieter ways that are harder to explain.
This work focuses on helping you make sense of that loss while finding a way to move forward without feeling like you have to leave that connection behind.
Life Transitions and Identity Loss
Sometimes grief shows up during major life changes. A career shift, moving, becoming a parent, or stepping into a new phase of life can bring a quiet sense of loss for how things used to be.
Even when the change is expected, it can still feel disorienting. This space allows you to process those shifts and reconnect with a sense of direction and stability.
Relationship Loss or Breakup
Not all grief comes from death. The end of a relationship can bring its own kind of loss, especially when it changes your daily life, your sense of stability, or the future you had in mind.
You may find yourself replaying things, questioning what happened, or feeling a mix of sadness, anger, and confusion. This work helps you sort through those emotions and begin to feel more grounded again.
What Does Grief Therapy Look Like at Navigating Rough Waters Therapy?
There is no set way this process has to look. Some sessions may be spent talking through the loss itself, while others focus more on how it is affecting your day-to-day life. You might notice it showing up in your energy, your relationships, or your ability to feel present.
At Navigating Rough Waters Therapy, Dr. Lara Kennerly keeps the work steady and paced in a way that feels manageable. There is no pressure to share everything at once or to have the “right” words. Some people come in knowing exactly what they want to talk about. Others are not sure where to start. Both are okay.
Over time, the goal is not to erase the loss, but to help you carry it in a way that feels less overwhelming and more integrated into your life.
Meet Your Grief & Loss Therapist in Sacramento
Dr. Lara Kennerly, PsyD
Grief can be hard to put into words, especially if you are used to holding things together for others. As a grief and loss therapist, I provide grief and loss therapy in Sacramento, CA and online across California, with a steady, grounded approach that meets you where you are. Some sessions may focus on the loss itself, while others center on how it is showing up in your daily life, your relationships, or your ability to feel present.
We move at a pace that feels manageable for you. There is no pressure to have the right words or to work through everything all at once. The goal is to help things feel a little less heavy over time, while making space for what matters to you.
“The reality is that you will grieve forever. You will not ‘get over’ the loss… You will learn to live with it.”
— Elisabeth Kübler-Ross
How Grief & Loss Therapy Can Help
Grief does not follow a timeline, and it is not something you need to get over. But with the right support, it can start to feel different.
In the beginning, it may feel like everything is heavy or unpredictable. You might not know what to do with the emotions, or how to carry them alongside your daily life. Over time, this work helps you understand what you are experiencing and find ways to move through it without feeling as overwhelmed.
You may not notice big changes all at once, but small shifts tend to build:
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The intensity of certain moments feels more manageable
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It becomes easier to get through the day without feeling as overwhelmed
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You can stay more present instead of feeling pulled back into the loss
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Your reactions start to make more sense
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You feel less alone in what you are carrying
Grief therapy is not about forgetting or forcing change. It is about finding a way to carry what matters to you while also making space for your life to feel a little more steady again.
Frequently asked questions
Start Grief & Loss Therapy in Sacramento, CA
You do not have to figure this out on your own. If you are ready to talk through what you are carrying or even just explore whether this feels like the right fit, that is a good place to start.
Dr. Lara Kennerly provides grief and loss therapy in Sacramento, CA and online across California.
You can book a free 15-minute consultation to get a sense of whether this feels like the right next step, with no pressure to commit.