Grief and Loss Counselling in Peterborough, ON.

I know this is a difficult time for you. Everyone reacts differently about losing someone significant in their life. It can be hard when other people do not understand why you feel or react as you do. I honor your courage in reaching out for support and would like to assist by offering a compassionate ear. It may be that your grief is complicated by a traumatic loss. I want you to know that you are not alone and that I have supported many others through this difficult and painful time.

What makes grief so painful? Perhaps it's because we experience a double loss. The first is losing a loved one, the second is losing a part of our ourselves. This is why the familiar saying, "you gotta let go," can sometimes make things worse. Instead of letting go, I'm interested in how we can bring people closer: closer to what we hold dear, closer to what we cherished most… In doing so, we can begin to develop a new relationship with our departed loved one, and simultaneously offer comfort and healing to parts of ourselves.

We all grieve differently; there is no right or wrong way to grieve. It is a uniquely personal experience. My therapeutic approach is to meet my clients where they are and address their current needs. That may be sitting in a safe space and expressing your emotions, talking about how life will be different after the loss or focusing on self-care. I will provide guidance, validation, and support but this journey is yours so I will check in with you regularly to ensure that your needs are being met. Please contact me if you would like to book a free consultation.

Grief and loss can be overwhelming for people. Having someone to share their story with can help make the journey a little easier. Therapy can help lower feelings of isolation for clients. I help clients come to understand that grief doesn't just go away once the funeral is over, or the situation is over ( such as separation of spouses). Grief takes time. I provide a listening ear, compassion, and respect for how each person grieves. Art making can often be very helpful for clients moving through grief. It can provide them with an outlet for their emotions, and a way to express feelings that are sometimes hard to put into words.

Grief is a potential reaction to a loss of any kind whether through death, divorce, abandonment, separation, job loss, illness, disease diagnosis, kids leaving home, etc. Feelings of anger, resentment, shame, confusion, isolation or abandonment can result. Friends and family may not know what to say or how to provide support. A trained professional, who is profoundly sympathetic, respectful and empathetic, with the skills required to help one navigate through this difficult time, can be critical in helping one regain equilibrium.

My approach to grief and loss is rooted in empathy and understanding. I provide a supportive space for you to process your feelings and navigate the complex journey of healing. If you're seeking support during this challenging time, I invite you to reach out and book a free consultation. Together, we'll honor your experiences and find ways to move forward. Schedule a free 15-minute consultation to see if we are a good fit.

Grief can be experienced through loss of a loved one from death, the ending of a relationship or even loss of a job. It is important to understand that grief isn't linear but we experience it in waves that ebb and flow and can feel, at times, exhausting and overwhelming. As a counsellor trained in art therapy and psychodrama techniques, I use these modalities to help you accept and experience your grief without letting it overwhelm your life.

Individual therapy is focused on your unique needs and goals. Individual therapy includes learning about your history and life experiences then establishing goals to accomplish in counselling. Our histories are the roots that provide us with a foundation of strength and resilience. But, our histories can also hold the stories that cause pain, insecurity and doubt. It is our belief that the best therapy comes from helping to heal the roots that cause those stuck points. Through this we can create lasting change.

I believe that grief has no timeline. It is an incredibly painful and complex human experience, that is unfortunately universal, yet a completely individual and unique for everyone. I will work with you exactly where you are at to hold space for your complicated feelings. I find that rituals are often helpful to create connection with loved ones who have passed on or to mourn relationships that have ended. Grief and loss impact couples and families immensely. Often the way one person grieves can be experienced like an insult to another's grieving process. This can create conflict and feelings of betrayal, anger or abandonment. I can help you sort through all of these complexities.

Grief counseling helps people cope with grief and mourning following the loss of a loved one or due to major life changes that trigger feelings of grief (i.e. job loss or divorce). It provides a space for individuals to work through and process the complex emotions surrounding loss. Healthy grieving results in remembering the loss with a newfound sense of peace, rather than searing pain.

Grief & Loss is difficult to manage, and looks different for different people. What we do know, is processing our grief and loss is important in order to move forward and heal from our losses. We will move through your grief and loss in a client centered approach and at your pace. Our sessions are designed with your needs implementing a variety of modalities (CBT, ACT, trauma informed, art therapy, or play therapy). We may also used education to help with processing as we remember and find hope in our future. Look forward to walk with you through this life journey.