Why is loss so powerful and potentially crippling?

DR. GWEN FINESTONE HECHT, MFT, PhD

Certified in Thanatology: Death, dying and grief.
Specializing in Grief and Loss issues.

I retired, as of 7/25/2020.

I placed my license is on inactive status, which does not allow me to treat patients or

evaluate clients.

My expertise is in understanding the experience of loss,
whether due to trauma, violence, accident or grief,
and its meaning to the person who is suffering the loss.

My special gift is being able to articulate clearly, concisely,
and in layperson's words,
what I know to a judge and jury.
As a THERAPIST, I treat patients who are trying to live their lives

under the burden of significant losses.

As an EXPERT, I work with attorneys to assist with:
Education
Case Evaluation
Case Development
Comprehensive Narrative Reports
Depositions
Trial Work

WHY IS LOSS SO POWERFUL

AND POTENTIALLY CRIPPLING?

Because loss has meaning.

The meaning of an experience, the meaning of the loss, differs for each person.

It is the meaning of the loss that can change an individual’s personality, world view, and life path.

Truth be told, what constitutes a deep narcissistic wound for one person (a piercing wound that erodes one’s identity and sense of Self), may be barely a scratch to another.

We suffer losses when we:

• Divorce

• Lose a valued job

• Move to a new neighborhood or school

• Amputate a limb

• Deploy to a combat zone

• Suffer a life-altering physical injury

• Have an unwanted hysterectomy

• Survive a traumatic experience

• Endure rape

• Bear years of incest

• Have an abortion

• Suffer a miscarriage

• Place a child for adoption

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Founder and Executive Director,
The House of Ruach

Co-Founder and Executive Director,
Long Beach Rape Crisis Center

Foster child and family therapist

Psychiatric therapist

Hospice therapist

Hospice interfaith chaplain

_____________________________

SPECIALIZING IN

Grief/ Bereavement
(including death of a child, teen or adult;
military and combat)

Loss Issues
(including amputation, maiming, pregnancy loss, military rape, abuse, etc.)

Victims of Violence
(including murder, rape, trauma, suicide, witnessing acts of violence)

________________________

PROFESSIONAL AFFFILIATIONS

California Association for Marriage and Family Therapists

CAMFT, Orange County Chapter

ISST-D - International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation

ADEC - Association for Death Educaiton and Counseling

Expert Witness Network

SEAK
Intota

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LAST UPDATED: July 2020