Meet the Creator
My name is Verónica Pereira, and I am a bilingual (Spanish) mental health therapist (LCMHC, NCC) specialized in grief counseling in the state of North Carolina. I have received extensive training in working with individuals who are grieving and have specialized in this area after noticing the lack of support around something that impacts us all. I have also faced grief myself and that was what pushed me to be where I am and to do what I do today.
My passion for providing support to those grieving came from The Children’s Bereavement Center of South Texas, a center dedicated to families who are grieving the loss of a loved one. In this place, I found inspiration and both personal and professional guidance on how to deal and sit with the uncomfortable feelings that come with grief. From this internship onward, I refocused my career on grief.
I also have a private practice called Magnolia Counseling and Therapy, PLLC where I provide mental health services in North Carolina.
Where did the idea come from?
The idea for the box came after noticing the lack of meaningful and intentional ways of showing and providing support to those who are grieving. As mentioned before, we “support” by sending sympathy cards, flowers, and food, but we do not facilitate healing.
Surprisingly, the name of this box came to me suddenly. For the first few weeks of working on the box, I was under the impression that the name “Laurel Leaves” was a placeholder. Then, one day, I realized that I unconsciously invoked my grandmother’s memory. This brought a huge wave of grief, and it hit me the same way grief does: unexpectedly.
I am originally from Uruguay, and it is common for us to use laurel leaves when cooking. After moving to the US, it was challenging for me to find this ingredient where I lived. Knowing this, every time I went back to Uruguay, my grandmother would have bags of dried laurel leaves for me to bring home. She knew that this brought a sense of comfort and familiarity, so this was also her way of showing love and understanding, despite her not knowing what being away from your loved ones, roots, customs, and traditions meant. So, just like my grandma’s homemade care package, this Grief Box is meant to provide support and guidance during a moment as difficult, confusing, and lonely as grief.
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