amyluster@parentingafteraloss.com      (310) 844-4414

    Parenting After a Loss

    Amy Luster, M.A., MFT

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    Parents Who Have Experienced a Child-Bearing Loss or the Loss of a Child

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    Email: amyluster@parentingafteraloss.com                         
    Phone: (310)844-4414   
    1460 7th St. Suite 303, Santa Monica, CA 90401                      MFT #35446

    As an interactive, solution-focused therapist who has experienced such loss first-hand, I provide support and practical feedback to help you resolve current problems and long-standing patterns. With sensitivity and compassion, I help parents find solutions to the unique challenges of parenting after experiencing profound loss.

    A goal for a parent who has lost a child is coming to the place where your sadness shares a space with a quiet joy and gentle peace. It means always remembering, honoring the relationship that is there, and knowing that one does not get over death, but gets on with life.
    (Parenting Through Crisis    , Barbara Coloroso)
    You Long for the Ability to Parent Free from Doubts
    Have you asked yourself:                                             

    "Will everything be okay with my living kids?"

    "Will I ever be free from the doubts that resulted from our loss?"

    "Are my living children paying the price of our past loss due to my / our insecurities?"

    If so, you are not alone!

    Many parents struggle with these questions for years without ever finding the help that leads them to have a happy and fulfilling family experience.

    Whether your surviving children were born after your loss or they were born prior and experienced the loss themselves, you probably have ongoing concerns. Once you've endured a traumatic loss, whether from miscarriage, stillbirth or the death of an older baby or child, doubts linger and often influence how you parent your other children.

    You don't have to go through the pain alone. Individual, couple, family or group counseling can help.

    Maybe you experience:

    • The pain of feeling set apart from close friends and family
    • The sense that talking about your feelings around those who haven't experienced such loss is taboo and stigmatizing
    • Awkwardness in how you respond when asked how many children you have
    • A lingering sense of self-blame and guilt, even when it's entirely unfounded
    • Lack of confidence in how you and your family talk about your past loss and the significance of the deceased child to the family
    • Inner worries every time your living children take a step forward in their development; you fear that you won't be able to protect them
    If you are experiencing any of the above problems, then you need to keep reading...

    Parenting Doesn't Have to be Filled with Anxiety and Fear

    Through individual, couple, family or group counseling, you can have:

    The strength of a supportive community 

    The ability to ask for understanding and acknowledgment from others

    Confidence in your decision to share the right amount for you, no matter the situation 

    Freedom from residual doubts and a sense of internal peace

    Trust that you and your family can acknowledge the baby or child who died in a way that is inclusive and respectful

    Assurance in yourself as a skillful parent


    You Can Break Free from Unproductive Patterns to Parent the Way You Have Always Envisioned

    No one taught you how to survive the loss of your precious child and return to the challenging job of parenting your other children, so why would you know what to do?

    I have extensive experience in providing counseling to parents who have struggled with the grief of losing a beloved baby or child. They are determined to be the best parent they can be in spite of the profound loss they’ve experienced.

    Through counseling, I will assist  you in defining your role as a parent. You will discover how to set appropriate limits that reflect your values rather than automatically react due to your past pain. You can grow as a parent and relate to others in healthier ways. You can find a way to address your fears and decide how much influence to allow them. You can feel safe and effective in your role as a parent and participate with your family in a satisfying and meaningful way.







    Serving the communities of: Santa Monica, Malibu, Beverly Hills, Westwood, Marina Del Rey, Playa Del Rey, El Segundo, Manhattan Beach, Culver City, Palms, Mar Vista, West Los Angeles, Encino, Sherman Oaks, Calabasas, Hidden Hills, Agoura and Ventura.
    Content copyright . Amy Luster, M.A., MFT. All rights reserved.