James Brent Isaacs

The Grief & Bereavement Club is the worst club ever, and we all join it eventually – but it doesn't have to be the loss of a loved one that brings us there. My interest is in working with anyone going through a major life change or loss. Whether it's the loss of a person, a pet, a home, or a job, I want to work with you to learn how to live in this new reality of your life.

I'm a therapist specializing in grief counseling for those experiencing loss of any kind, be it a loved one, a relationship, a profession, a home, a sense of self, or a terminal illness. Whatever brought you to therapy, I don't care. I'm just glad you're here. I'm honored to be part of your journey, whatever you wish to work on.

My goal as a therapist is to help you navigate whatever has brought us together. For those experiencing grief or facing the end of life, we may draw on approaches like Meaning Making, Dignity Therapy, Narrative Therapy, and even Play Therapy. No matter the modality, we’ll look at therapy as a collaborative exercise, and work together to find what you respond to.

We'll approach your journey from session to session. Some weeks you may need structure, other times you may just need to be in the moment with someone who listens. We're going to roll with it together, and you can expect some levity along the way. There are so many serious things that bring people to this room; sometimes a little laughter makes all the difference.

Before becoming a therapist, I volunteered at domestic abuse emergency shelters and worked as a padded instructor for women's self-defense companies. After a series of personal losses, I found I had gained fluency in the language of grief, and felt called to be of service to those experiencing their own.

I've been a martial artist since I was five years old, with belts in Krav Maga, Tang Soo Do, and Eskrima. You'll often find me on the subway reading my book of the month, usually on the way to a theater, a convention, or a renaissance fair.