About Crystal
In many ways, this work chose me. Here’s where it all began.
I want my losses to inspire and give hope to people who are stuck in their grief!
A little about me…
I’m a country girl at heart from northern Illinois, where I grew up surrounded by open skies, dirt roads, and a slower pace of life. I’ve always loved being outdoors, especially when I’m with animals, family, and friends.
At 15, everything changed. After my parents divorced, I moved to the city and away from everything familiar. I coped by staying busy with school, sports, and work, trying to outrun what I didn’t yet understand. I finished high school early and earned a degree in Communication Studies from Northern Illinois University.
Soon after I moved to Hermosa Beach, California, and fell in love with the ocean, coastal life and beach volleyball. I worked for an action sports film company capturing the grit and stories of athletes pushing their limits. That season deepened my respect for the courage it takes to live fully—on and off the mountain.
Later, my life shifted in a new and beautiful direction as I became a mom to two amazing children.
Motherhood brought a different kind of adventure, one that stretched my heart with a love I had never known. The bond I felt with my children was indescribable, something I hadn’t experienced growing up, as my own mother had been emotionally absent. It made me realize how much we carry inside and how deeply we long to feel safe, seen, and loved.
Over time, I found myself craving a slower, more grounded life. Eventually, my family and I found that sense of home in Colorado, surrounded by mountains, blue skies, and a pace of life that finally felt right.
Finding Grief Recovery…
After my son and daughter were born, I felt easily triggered, quick to anger or tears and weighed down by the constant pressure to keep everything together. I loved my children with all my heart, but felt ashamed that I couldn’t fully show up for them. I didn’t understand why I was so overwhelmed.
As I struggled to hold it all together, I began to realize the emotions surfacing weren’t just about motherhood—they were the weight of unresolved emotional pain I’d been carrying for years.
I was desperate for help.
That’s when a friend invited me to a grief support group. I almost didn’t go because I didn’t think I was grieving. But as I listened to others share, something in me softened. I felt safe, seen, and no longer alone. That’s when I realized I had been grieving all along: childhood losses, emotional absence, broken trust, and the pain of never fully mourning my father’s death.
In that group, I learned the Grief Recovery Method®—a clear process with practical tools that helped me release long-held pain and finally begin to heal.
Grief is hard. You don’t have to carry it alone.
Whether you’re grieving a loss or struggling with pain you can’t quite name, there’s a place for you here.
You don’t have to have it all figured out. Just begin.
I’m here when you’re ready.
From my heart to yours,
Letters from Crystal
The Grief Recovery Method®
How it changes everything…
As I experienced my own healing, I couldn’t stop thinking about how many others were silently carrying emotional pain—feeling overwhelmed, alone, or stuck.
I wanted to help others find the same sense of relief and renewal that had transformed my life.
Becoming certified in the Grief Recovery Method® in 2007 allowed me to turn my pain into purpose. What began as a personal journey became a lifelong commitment to creating safe, compassionate spaces for healing.
That space became Ebb & Flow COS—named for Colorado Springs, where this mission took root. It’s more than a business; it’s a sanctuary for people navigating grief with honesty, courage, and tools that truly support recovery.
Since then, I’ve walked alongside hundreds of people through all kinds of loss—death, divorce, estrangement, trauma, life transitions, and even the grief of unmet hopes and pet loss. No loss is too small. Whether someone feels numb, stuck, or deep in heartbreak, my role is to offer nonjudgmental support and practical tools to help them feel whole again.
I especially love working with those who, like I once did, carried pain they didn’t even recognize as grief. Helping them name it, process it, and reclaim their lives is the heart of this work.
This isn’t about quick fixes. It’s about honoring each story and walking with people through the hard parts—without pressure, comparison, or shame. Healing happens when we feel safe to be honest and supported in moving forward.
In addition to working with individuals and groups, I partner with workplaces to help teams navigate grief with compassion and build a culture of care and connection.
Grief is hard. It can feel overwhelming and isolating—but you don’t have to carry it alone.
Why a fluffy, chubby, cute little bird?
I LOVE how these sweet little birds who often visit my deck make me feel. They’re full of warmth and comfort, and they bring me so much joy. They sing no matter the weather or season and seem to carry lightness wherever they go. They embody the essence of what I want my clients to experience on the other side of grief. So it felt only fitting that one of these birds became my logo mark. Meet Chubs!
Discover the Grief Recovery Method®
Choose a new path that will give you the skills to live a happy and fulfilled life — the life that you were created to live!
Learn the CORRECT action steps in an 8 week Grief Recovery Support group or one-on-one setting. Involves reading and writing assignments from the Grief Recovery Handbook.