I read this but wasn't quite sure what to say! I did recall today having had a phase (around age 8/9) of having to do certain rituals before I went to sleep (make sure my nose was above the blanket and pillow so as not to suffocate, say a certain prayer I'd created to ask for protection against all sorts of things, etc.) so I wouldn't be as likely to die overnight. It was instigated, as I recall, by two TV episodes (Little House on the Prairie and Waltons) that dealt with rather violent/sudden deaths. I did get over it. Eventually. Never told my parents about it, of course.
I don't say that to make light of your DD at all. Just to say it may be somewhat common to develop these notions, at least for gifted children. I hope that your counselor has some tips for what to say and do.
Maybe talking with her about God being glad to see people happy, too, might help? Seems that she has internalized the belief about heaven being the ultimate goal, but that she needs to know/believe that God is ok with people being happy on earth, too.
