Counseling in Miami & online across Florida [confirm]

Whatever you're carrying, you don't have to carry it alone.

Warm, grounded counseling for loss, life changes and the weight of everyday life, with a specialty in grief. Whether you are mourning a person or a pet, facing a diagnosis, or simply feel stuck, we start where you are.

Iwona Kruczek, Master's in Thanatology Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern · FL Reg. #[number]

What brings you here?

There is no right way to grieve, and no deadline for it.

Whether the loss was sudden or expected, last month or years ago, grief counseling gives you space to honor the person you lost and to find your footing again.

How I approach grief →

What I help with

Support for the moments that change everything

Grief & loss

My specialty. Support for any loss, recent or long ago, including grief that feels stuck, complicated or layered with trauma.

  • Death of a loved one
  • Pet loss
  • Anticipatory grief
  • Ambiguous loss
  • Prolonged grief

Health & caregiving

After two decades in healthcare, I know the emotional toll a diagnosis takes on patients and on the people who care for them.

  • New diagnosis
  • Chronic illness
  • Disability or injury
  • Caregiver burnout
  • End-of-life transitions

Life transitions

Even changes we choose can bring loss. Counseling helps you make sense of the ending and build what comes next.

  • Divorce & separation
  • Career change or job loss
  • Retirement
  • Relocation & cultural adjustment
  • Empty nest

Stress & everyday struggles

For when life feels heavy and you can't quite name why. [confirm scope with supervisor]

  • Stress & overwhelm
  • Worry & anxiety
  • Low mood
  • Relationships
  • Feeling stuck

A specialty in grief

Trained in the study of loss

“Grief is not a problem to be solved. It is a process to be honored.”Iwona Kruczek
Pet loss is real loss The death of an animal companion can hurt as deeply as any loss, yet it is often brushed aside. Here, it is taken seriously.

Thanatology, the study of death, dying and bereavement, recognizes that we grieve far more than deaths. These are some of the losses people bring to counseling:

PhysicalThe death of a person or pet, the loss of a home, or the loss of part of the body.
SymbolicThe loss of a dream, an identity, a role or a professional life.
SecondaryThe losses that follow the first one. After the death of a spouse, you may also lose financial security, your home or the friends you shared.
AmbiguousLoss without closure, such as a loved one living with dementia or an estrangement.
AnticipatoryGrieving while someone is still here, through illness or decline.

My approach

Listening deeply, meeting you where you are

Every person and every loss is different. My work is empathic and nonjudgmental, and it blends three things.

Expertise in loss

A graduate grounding in thanatology: how people grieve, make meaning and adapt after loss.

Trauma-informed care

Safety, choice and pacing come first, especially when a loss or change was sudden or painful.

Practical next steps

Concrete tools for daily life, so working through feelings and rebuilding happen side by side.

About Iwona

I know loss from the inside

I grew up with Polish traditions of mourning and remembrance, and my own personal losses are what set me on this path.

For more than twenty years I worked in healthcare, much of it in direct patient care and alongside veterans. As a CT technologist, I saw the toll that a loss of health takes on patients, their families and their caregivers.

That led me to a Master's degree in Thanatology and to counseling. A former New Yorker, I have called Miami home since 2012, and I bring a deep respect for every client's culture and story into the room.

Warmly, Iwona

Education
Master's degree in Thanatology
Credential
Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern, Florida
Background
20+ years in healthcare
Languages
English, Polish [confirm]

Why the elephant

No elephant mourns alone

The elephant is the heart of this studio. It reflects the journey we take together, and the strength and gentleness that healing asks of us.

The power of memory

Elephants are famous for their long memories. In grief we don't aim to forget or "get over" a loss. We carry the people and things we've lost with us, as a source of strength rather than only a weight.

The wisdom of the herd

When one elephant is suffering, the herd gathers around it and offers quiet comfort. Counseling offers that same circle, so you don't have to carry your burden in isolation.

Strength in gentleness

The elephant is a symbol of quiet power. It takes real strength to face pain and the courage to be vulnerable. This work is steady and resilient, and always gentle.

Honoring the ritual

Elephants are among the few animals known to return to the remains of their own and touch them in remembrance. Healing needs its own rituals and its own time, and we honor both.

Getting started

Three simple steps

Step 1

Book a consultation

Schedule online or by phone. We'll talk about what you're going through and whether we're a good fit. [length & fee]

Step 2

Your first session

We get to know your story and what you hope for. Intake forms are completed securely online beforehand.

Step 3

Ongoing support

We meet at a rhythm that suits you, weekly or every other week, and adjust as things change.

Fees & FAQ

Practical questions

What does a session cost?

Individual sessions are $[fee] for [50] minutes. If you are paying without insurance, you have the right to a Good Faith Estimate of expected charges under the No Surprises Act.

Do you take insurance?

[Confirm: in-network plans, or private pay with a superbill for out-of-network reimbursement.]

Do you offer online sessions?

Yes. Sessions are available in person in Miami and by secure, HIPAA-compliant video for clients located in Florida. [confirm]

Do you help with pet loss?

Yes. Losing an animal companion is a real bereavement, and it deserves the same care as any other loss.

What does "Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern" mean?

It is a Florida Department of Health registration for counselors who have completed their master's-level training and are completing supervised clinical hours toward full licensure. I practice under the clinical supervision of [Supervisor name], LMHC.

Contact

Ready when you are

Book a consultation online, or call or email. I'll get back to you within one business day.

Book a consultation[booking link]

In crisis? This practice is not an emergency service. If you are thinking about harming yourself or are in danger, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or call 911.

Phone
[phone]
Email
[name]@thecounseling.studio
Office
[address], Miami, FL
Hours
[days & hours]

Please don't share private health details by email. We'll go over everything securely once you're scheduled.