Gertrude Bonincontro

My name is Gertrude (Trudy) Bonincontro and I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and a Doctorate in Counseling Psychology providing telehealth to adults in Northern California. I work with adults who are grieving the loss of their beloved one by having their grief witnessed. Grief is not something you get over, through, under, or around. Grief becomes a part of your life.

My approach

I am a certified Grief Therapist and utilize Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) and Narrative concepts to assist with managing grief symptoms of depression, anxiety, and anger. Together we will explore the various stages of grief and find meaning to your loss.

My focus

I thoroughly enjoy working with adults who are grieving the loss of their spouse or their parent. Grieving evokes many emotions ranging from, but not limited to, anxiety, depression, sadness, guilt, and anger. Together we will explore and navigate your feelings while honoring your beloved one.

My communication style

My communication style is calm and direct. I want to witness your grief and that requires I listen to your story of loss. I want you to feel heard and understood.

My journey to mental healthcare

I have been a Christian all my life and feel very blessed to be doing God's work as His servant. I volunteered in my community at the Salvation Army, Big Brother and Sisters, and The Counsel on Aging, just to name a few as a way to give back to my community. I have been in the counseling field for over 30 years and truly feel my work is not a job, it is an honor to walk alongside others.

My goals for you

My approach to goal setting with clients includes being direct and asking what they hope to obtain from our sessions. Grief is not something that can be fixed. Clients grieving do not need to be fixed, they usually need their grief witnessed, heard, and honored. If there is a specific goal a client would like to set for their grief, together we will work towards achieving it.

My first session with you

What you can expect during our first session together is spending time exploring specific grief feelings and what you specifically need from our sessions. Initially, we will spend time establishing rapport by inquiring about your loss, where you think you are in your grief stages and create a navigation map to assist you with accepting your grief process.