Teri Holamon, LPC-S, RPT-S, CAAPT

09/09/2026

AI can do some fun things! This was just asking for a photo of with my work using what it knows about me.

09/01/2026

08/01/2026

One of the greatest shocks after the death of a spouse isn't just the grief...

It's realizing that half of the life you built together is suddenly yours alone.

Every relationship develops an unspoken division of labor.

One person may have managed the finances.

The other remembered birthdays.

One cooked.

The other fixed things around the house.

One scheduled appointments.

The other took care of the yard, the car, or the technology.

Over the years, these jobs become more than chores—they become part of the rhythm of your life together.

Then one day, that rhythm is shattered.

Suddenly you're expected to do the things your loved one always did...often while your brain is struggling to process one of the greatest losses it has ever known.

Psychologically, grief affects concentration, memory, decision-making, and problem-solving. The "grief brain" so many people describe is real. Even simple tasks can feel overwhelming because your mind is working so hard just to cope with the loss.

Physically, grief is exhausting. It can disrupt sleep, drain your energy, weaken your motivation, and leave you feeling like you're moving through wet cement. The very time you're asked to learn new skills and shoulder new responsibilities is often the time when you have the least physical and emotional capacity to do so.

This is why something as ordinary as paying the bills, mowing the lawn, filing taxes, changing a light fixture, or figuring out the television remote can suddenly feel impossible.

It's not because you're incapable.

It's because you're grieving.

Be patient with yourself as you learn the jobs your loved one once carried. Ask questions. Accept help when it's offered. Give yourself permission to learn slowly.

You aren't just replacing a set of household tasks.

You're rebuilding an entire life while carrying a broken heart.

08/01/2026

No One Warned Me About the Secondary Losses

When someone dies, we expect to grieve them.

What we don't expect are the dozens—sometimes hundreds—of smaller losses that quietly follow.

No one warned me that I would also grieve...
..having no one to share ordinary moments with.
..losing the person who knew my history better than anyone else.
..making every decision alone.
..holidays that would never feel the same.
..inside jokes that no one else would understand.
..the future we had planned together.
..the sound of hearing my name spoken in their voice.
..the loss of feeling like part of a couple.
..the person I used to be before grief changed me.

These are called secondary losses, and they can be just as painful as the primary loss itself.

They're often invisible to everyone else.

Friends see the funeral is over and assume the hardest part has passed.

But secondary losses keep unfolding...

Weeks later.

Months later.

Even years later.

Each new milestone, holiday, life event, or ordinary Tuesday can uncover another loss you never imagined you'd have to grieve.

If you've ever wondered why your grief seems to keep changing...

Or why you're suddenly devastated by something that seems "small"...

You're not grieving too much.

You're discovering another piece of what was lost.

And that's a normal part of loving someone deeply.

Be patient with yourself.

Grief isn't just learning to live without the person.

It's learning to live with all the losses their absence created. ❤️

07/23/2026

Did you know that Play Therapy isn't limited to just children? Teens and adults benefit greatly from it, and we see many incredible benefits for them interacting with our animals. This training starts you on an amazing journey understanding relationships with animals in the context of healing for your clients. Plus, you’ll receive 52 hours of continuing education (28 hrs. contact and 24 hours non-contact) all while discovering the most important aspects of working with your animals; body language, relationship, and agency. You can look over the full flyer for this training at https//iiaapt.org/training, or contact me with any questions at www.teriholamon.com

06/29/2026

Did you know that Play Therapy isn't limited to just children? Teens and adults benefit greatly from it, and we see many incredible benefits for them interacting with our animals. This training starts you on an amazing journey understanding relationships with animals in the context of healing for your clients. Plus, you’ll receive 52 hours of continuing education (28 hrs. contact and 24 hours non-contact) all while discovering the most important aspects of working with your animals; body language, relationship, and agency. You can look over the full flyer for this training at https//iiaapt.org/training, or contact me with any questions at [https://teriholamon.com]

06/01/2026

Three more weeks for Early Bird pricing! Don't miss out!