Margaret Pendergrass, LCSW, GC-C
Certified Grief Counselor
About Margaret
We often shy away conversations about grief, loss and death for fear of upsetting others, but grief counseling can be a safe place to express yourself and be heard by a specialist. One of the most common questions that I get asked as a grief therapist is- “Am I grieving correctly?”
I’m here to reassure you that the most important part of grieving is to allow your emotions, accept your thoughts and be kind to yourself- all things that can be hard for us to do in daily life.
My name is Margaret Pendergrass and I am a licensed therapist and certified grief counselor located in Roswell, GA. Prior to becoming a therapist, I worked in medical social work for over a decade. I became the person that doctors sent in to talk to patients and their families after a challenging or terminal diagnosis. Modern medicine can provide some incredible treatments, but medicine still struggles when it comes to talking about your challenging feelings and thoughts.
During my own experience with losing a close family member, I felt overwhelming sadness, powerlessness, regret, guilt and yes, even a sense of relief that their suffering had come to an end. I heard a lot of platitudes from well-meaning friends and family, but none of it really connected to my experience. I faced a sense of meaninglessness: Why did such a horrible thing happen to me? How could the rest of the world just keep going on untouched by my tragedy? What’s the point of all the things that I was working towards in my life if it could all just be taken away?
I’ve personally and professionally felt let down by the traditional medical approach to grief. After working in the medical field, I have seen firsthand the isolation, stigma and misunderstandings that arise with how we traditionally talk about and handle death and illness.
It wasn’t until I learned new approaches to loss that I finally felt heard and understood. My passion is making sure that you never feel alone on your grief journey. I want you to understand what is really normal after a loss- not just what society tells you.
Grief isn’t a diagnosis, and it doesn’t need to be “cured”. You can still build an intentional and meaningful life in the face of your loss. Grief shows up around death, but also chronic illness, job loss, identity loss and so much more. If you feel that you may be experiencing some form of grief and want help processing those thoughts and feelings, let’s chat.
Trainings and Certifications
Licenses:
-Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Georgia (LCSW)
-Certified Grief Counselor (GC-C)
Affiliations and Trainings:
Adjunct Professor, Tulane University School of Social Work
Georgia Society for Clinical Social Workers
American Academy of Grief Counseling
School of American Thanatology
Trauma-Sensitive HeartMath Certified Provider
Brainspotting Training, Phase 1
