Cedar Counseling & Wellness

Sarah Kernan,
LCSW-C/LICSW

(she/her)

Licensed Clinical therapist

I am a clinical therapist, licensed in Maryland and Washington DC, who specializes in grief therapy.

 

Deciding to seek support after losing a loved one takes great courage, and I deeply honor that first step. Grief can shake the very foundation of life, leaving us to wonder how we will move forward with the pain of loss. I am here to sit with you in that difficult, uncomfortable space and to be a companion on your journey as you navigate your new reality. My role is not to rush you or tell you how to grieve, but to normalize your experience, validate your feelings, and provide support as you find ways to cope. In our work together, you will be heard, seen, and met with compassion, understanding, and grace—without judgment or pressure to “move on.” Grief changes us, and I am honored to walk alongside you, holding space for both you and your loved one.

 

I offer complimentary 15-minute consultations and am available to connect via email or you can schedule an appointment at the link below. 

Schedule with Sarah

Grief

Grief touches every part of us—emotional, physical, mental, social, and even spiritual. It can bring waves of sadness, anger, guilt, regret, relief, or shock, often all at once. Beyond the loss itself, grief reshapes daily life and can feel overwhelming to carry alone. In our work together, I provide space for you to share your loved one’s story, honor your emotions, and gently navigate the changes that grief brings.

Traumatic Grief

Traumatic grief happens when a loss is sudden, unexpected, or violent, and may come with symptoms that resemble post-traumatic stress. This kind of grief can bring flashbacks, anxiety, numbness, or a painful preoccupation with the loss, making daily life feel overwhelming. Together, we will first focus on helping your nervous system feel safe, then use trauma-informed approaches to process what happened, honor your loved one, and support your healing.

Self - Compassion

Grief changes us, and our capacity often looks different than it did before the loss. Practicing self-compassion means offering yourself the same grace and understanding you would extend to a friend who is struggling. In our work together, we will explore ways to gently reshape expectations to fit your current reality, build supportive habits of kindness toward yourself, and honor the ways you are adjusting to life after loss.

My Approach

My therapeutic approach is one that is led by being authentic, down to earth, and deeply empathetic. In providing grief therapy, I am often meeting someone during the hardest moment of their life, and that must be met with sincerity, softness, and compassion. I have worked with all ages, and in that, I have seen that grief is a unique, personal experience and my goal is to meet you exactly where you are. I recognize that grief cannot be put in a box, and it is going to look different for each person. I believe in using a strengths-based approach to access your already present strengths and to help you recognize your own resiliency.

 

Grief therapy with me may look like psychoeducation to help you understand your own experience, using attunement and companioning to be present with you, teaching you regulation techniques to navigate grief or trauma exposures, engaging in honoring activities to remember your loved one, or spending time utilizing attachment informed techniques, to recognize how your attachment affects your grieving process. I will pull from psychodynamic therapy often, exploring not only your current grief, but also your past experiences that influence your current behaviors, thoughts, and feelings, as well as how you cope. Grief therapy may look like me holding onto hope for you, if you can’t find it at the moment.

 

Lastly, I will incorporate humor if appropriate! I have recognized in my work, at times, while experiencing pain, it can be useful for the heart to experience joy or laughter.

Areas of Expertise

  • Grief and Loss
  • Traumatic Grief
  • Trauma
  • Anticipatory Grief
  • Coping Skill Development
  • Parenting While Grieving 
  • Parenting Skills to Support Grieving Children
  • Self-Compassion
  • Grief Therapy
  • Trauma-Informed Therapy
  • Strengths-Based Therapy
  • Person-Centered Therapy
  • Psychodynamic Therapy
  • Trauma -Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
  • Mindfulness Based Interventions
  • Group Therapy for Grief/Loss
  • Therapy for All Ages (Children, Teens, Young Adults, and Adults) 

Professional Credentials

Licenses & Certifications

  • Licensed Certified Social Worker – Clinical (LCSW-C) – Maryland Board of Social Work

  • Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) – Washington DC Board of Social Work

  • Trauma Focused-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) Certification Training- Alicia’s Place Consulting

  • Counseling Grief Clients Certification Training – PESI

  • Roberta’s House: A Family Grief Support Center Volunteer Training

  • Additional trainings in grief/traumatic grief through Hospice of the Chesapeake and the nationally recognized Wendt Center for Loss & Healing         

Education

  • McDaniel College, Westminster, MD – 2013 – Bachelors in Social Work

  • University of Maryland, Baltimore, Baltimore, MD – 2014- Masters of Social Work, Clinical (Mental Health Concentration)

On a Personal Note

  • I have a dog who I adore, who was rescued from a desert in Kuwait. His name is Clyde, and we love taking walks where we live in Baltimore and enjoying our roof top deck together. 
  • My favorite season is the summer because I get to enjoy my favorite things: the beach, outdoor concerts, tubing, crabs and lots of sunshine! 
  • In my free time, I enjoy antiquing and love to hit all of the nearby antique shops, to find a special new piece or trinket for my home (that I may or may not actually need).