Hello! My name is Nicholas, a Greif Recovery Method Specialist certified by the Grief Recovery Institute and a Bereavement Coordinator with Crossroads Hospice in Valley View, OH. Through my role in bereavement with Crossroads, I was introduced to the transformational program and structure of the Grief Recovery Method, however my relationship to grief and loss extends much deeper. When I was six-years old, my grandfather died. His funeral is my first conscious memory. At the young age of six, I did not have the developmental skills yet to comprehend the permanence of death. Rather than sad memories from the funeral, I have happy ones. Family was all together in one place. The funeral home had coloring pages and other age-appropriate activities for my six-year-old self. I found sugar cubes and built a sparkling castle from them. This sense of creativity continues to allow me to process grief and inspired my journey into an understanding of grief and loss, first through art followed by academic studies into my current role in hospice. The Grief Recovery Method allowed for me to give voice to my feelings, and to honor YOU, the griever, by being a heart with ears. It is truly a privilege to listen and be of supportive presence at a time of heightened emotional need.

I am available to work with you in a one-on-one in-person format in the greater Cleveland and Northeast Ohio areas. We can meet at my office with Crossroads Hospice or in a setting most comfortable for you. Regardless of our meeting place, I want YOU to be assured that confidentiality and respect to your shared emotions, experiences, and vulnerabilities is of my upmost and highest priority. To be emotionally honest takes great courage and I thank you in advance for your emotional honesty and willingness to share and dedicate yourself to the Grief Recovery Method.

My focus is specialized in grief and loss associated with death, in particular grief stemming from terminal illness and a lingering death trajectory. My educational background is a Master of Arts in Thanatology (the study of grief, loss and death) from Hood College (Frederick, MD) and a Master of Social Work from Cleveland State University (Cleveland, OH). I am a licensed Social Worker in the state of Ohio. Additionally, I have a Bachelor of Fine Arts, with my thesis project and artwork based in grief and memorial.

Thank you for taking the time to read this introduction. I look forward to working with you in the Grief Recovery Method program.