Testimonials For Deborah Gallo
I was isolating myself and very depressed. Gallo taped into our shared Italian heritage and family dynamics to move on to healing .. culturally family members expect you to grief a certain way and when I wasn’t it created a very hostile environment. Gallo explained that I needed to voice what I needed from family and ask for help. Not all members were supportive but the ones that were are now my support
Support Groups04/24/2025Participant in San Diego, Ca
My instructor demonstrated exceptional professionalism and sensitivity towards my situation. Her attentive listening, understanding, and responsive approach were invaluable throughout our sessions. I found them to be significantly more beneficial than traditional therapy, and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. I intend to return for additional grief/loss sessions focused on family members.
One-on-One Online Support03/25/2024Participant in Menifee, CA
Deborah was so helpful! I continued to see her after the completion of the program, even in the present, so now she has been my therapist for almost a year and a half. I am so grateful for her expertise and support!
One-on-One Support12/05/2023Participant in San Diego, CA
My therapist is Italian, grew up in an Italian fist generation Italian family, which is exactly like my husband. My father in law died very young and also hide his terminal illness from his family, until he entered a hospital and passed away. I felt that the cultural aspects played a large part in my husbands behavior as well and since my therapist had parents similar and some experiences the same I was able to understand this behavior more easily. Maybe it was a comfort to me not having to explain our weird Italian ways. I truly believe that Deborah Galla saved my sanity. She is now working with me because my father passed away 10 months after my husband which had caused a whole knew dynamic within my family w because mother who had Alzheimer’s now needs care. I guess life goes on
One-on-One Support11/10/2023Participant in San Diego, California
Deborah Gallo was so caring and compassionate, she instantly put me at ease. In no time at all she has gained my trust, and because of these factors I was able to follow her as she led me down the path of understanding and healing.
One-on-One Support07/11/2023Participant in San Diego, CA
When I lost my father, a part of me died with him. Nothing seemed worth while and I had lost all motivation. I honestly had no idea just how much hurt the soul could endure and for the first time in my life I was truly lost. The Grief Recovery Method was very clear, to the point, very relatable and sincerely helped me unclutter my feelings and the madness in my mind so that I could process the immense amount pain in my heart. The Grief Recovery Method helped me realize that I was NOT alone and there are tools to help move forward in a healthy manner. The homework assignments are intellectually simple but emotionally challenging, which is good. I didn't cheat the process, had an open heart to what ever feelings came and took the time to follow through. They really helped set me on a correct path for heathy acceptance and helped clarify all my feelings and scattered thoughts. My life has forever changed. I still cry, I still hurt, and to some degree I always will. But that is because my love for my father and the love he had for me will always be present. I smile more and able to let the the dark thoughts pass and let the warmth come whereas before I was trapped in a dark, cold, hell-ish night. If you have experienced loss I strongly recommend the Grief Recovery Method! Don't cheat the process and have a open and honest heart. Please don't suffer in silence!
One-on-One Support03/15/2023Participant in Pacific Beach, CA
I attended the Grief Recovery Method in San Diego with Deborah Gallo. At the time I had recently lost a close friend of mine and was experiencing panic attacks from the denial and burying of my feelings. In what I thought would be a fluke I googled "grief therapy" and Deborah's name popped up. I reached out, made an appointment, and began healing. Deborah was an amazing counselor. She was compassionate, empathetic, and I felt she truly listened and understood what I was saying. We worked through the program together and she slowed down for me when we realized the resurgence of emotions was too great for me and everything was moving too fast. She helped me find a newfound sense of peace that was previously absent from my life. I would highly recommend her to anyone struggling with grief or loss. She is a gift to anyone that seeks her help and I truly believe she was destined for this line of work becomes it comes so naturally to her.
One-on-One Support03/02/2023Participant in San Diego, California
The program has taken me, steadily, through a year of multiple losses, from shock and feeling lost, to regaining my inner connection, to developing new understanding of myself, and the people who died, leading to acceptance of what we each brought to our relationships, and finally, a sense of peace.
One-on-One Support01/02/2023Participant in SAN DIEGO, CA
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 preparing me with outcomes that were sure to come with my familial relationships - which was 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.
One-on-One Online Support10/12/2022
This program helped me to understand the depth of my grief and the effects it has on a person.
One-on-One Support07/27/2022Participant in San Diego, CA
I have been struggling with grief and loss of my family for many years. Trying to recover from my grief alone, I have suffered by being in a negative, reuminating loop.. All the negative thoughts, constantly circulating through my head, had adversely impacted my sleep, my day-to-day life, and prohibited me from building new relationshps. This program, and Deborah who worked with me, helped me to find ways to finally accept my losses. This acceptance has opened doors to new opportunities for really living life and again finding joy. I'm looking forward to each and every day and I'm sleeping much better!
Support Groups07/18/2022
Support Groups07/06/2022
The facilitator had a great understanding of what I was going thru having experienced the same loss of a sister. She helped me with unfinished grief with multiple loss in my family,
One-on-One Support04/27/2022Participant in San diego, California
I have had 4 deaths in my family and numerous losses of relationships. I felt stuck and depressed. This program helped me tremendously. My counselor, Deborah Gallo, was very caring and supportive. She was non-judgmental and understanding of my needs. I would recommend her to my friends and family. She was dependable and flexible. Thank you very much for everything.
One-on-One Online Support02/03/2022
We worked our way through the program and got a lot out of the weekly assignments. Writing the final letter last week of homework pulled it all together and helped us feel "free". Thank you for the opportunity to heal and move forward after our loss.
One-on-One Support12/15/2021
It got out emotional feelings that I would have never been able to unload on anyone else. And I felt I had my facilitator was by my side through my early grief.
One-on-One Online Support11/16/2021
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 have known Deborah Gallo for years and she has always been a compassionate and trusted friend. I felt safe starting the Grief Recovery Program with her. What a godsend and blessing working with Deborah has been. 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.
One-on-One Support11/12/2021
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.
Support Groups10/29/2021
Every week I could feel that I was feeling lighter as the grief lifted. I learned a lot. I would recommend this program to anyone.
One-on-One Support10/14/2021
I have learned how important it is to gain perspective on the details of a relationship, and how important it is to forgive myself for past shortcomings.
One-on-One Support09/15/2021
Very helpful to identify the issues in an objective manner and deal with them
One-on-One Support07/29/2021
I never would have recovered from the major loss of my grandmother so quickly without The Grief Recover Method. Ive since recommended it to coworkers, family and friends.
One-on-One Support01/01/2021
I've already recommended it to 4 family members and friends!
One-on-One Support01/01/2021