Karen Kagawa, BA-Psych

Hi there! My name is Karen and I've been a Grief Recovery Method Specialist for over a decade.  I was initially introduced to the Grief Recovery Handbook while working as a Residential Addictions Counselor at a facility that treated women with various types of addictions.  Through my work I was able to recognize that much of the initial draw for people to engage in addiction was their desire to numb the pain associated with significant emotional loss, whether recent or as far reaching as 20+ years from their past.  I also grew more passionate about helping grievers after experiencing my own major losses from chronic health issues, miscarriage, and divorce.  Additionally, having worked as a Case Worker with Child and Family Services and myself being a foster child/adoptee, I learned more and more about the impact of intangible losses that a person can experience not just as a child but into adulthood as well. One of my managers would give out the lavender-colored handbook to clients and I became curious about this enough to read the book myself.  As I worked through my own personal grief and loss, I realized that I wanted to further my education and training in order to help others learn these incredibly helpful tools.  I flew to Toronto, Canada to attend the Grief Recovery Method Certification Training facilitated by John James, in December of 2012.  Since receiving my certificate, I have helped grievers deal with and successfully process losses such as death of a parent, infant death, dementia, divorce, moving, loss of health, loss of trust, loss of faith, and loss of relationships.  I facilitate the 7-week One-on-One Program as well as the 8-week Support Groups.   Due to my husband's military relocation, I currently reside in Hawaii, but I can still assist grievers from anywhere on the globe as I am an Advanced GRM Specialist – Online Support; equipped to help people in need of one-on-one and group grief support. Also, being an Army Spouse, I desire to reach more soldiers and their family members who experience losses that are unique to the Military Community. In addition to my training from the Grief Recovery Institute, I received a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology (1994), a Diploma of Medicine in Community Rehabilitation and Disability Studies (2008), and am finishing up completing my Master's in Human Services Counseling (2026). Well, that's me.  Hope we can connect soon so you can tell me more about yourself as we decipher how I can best help you work through your own grief and loss.Thanks!