Grief and Loss Counselling in Port Coquitlam, BC.

My approach to grief and loss is to first acknowledge that grief is our natural human reaction to the sadness of losing something or someone intensely precious and meaningful to us. Losses can be the loss of a person, a relationship, a dream, a pregnancy, a job, or even things such as our health, independence, or dignity. Working with me, I will create an environment of compassion, authenticity, empathy, and caring. Step by step, I will walk with you as we examine your emotional world as it relates to loss. Emotions which are allowed to be experienced and expressed with the safety of a genuine and caring therapist, can release us from the pain we experience and can open the door to healing.

When we experience loss, we can become stuck in a pattern of negative feelings and emotions. It can be hard to more forward in the healing process. EMDR can help by targeting and reprocessing the underlying memories and emotions associated with the loss, thus allowing us to move through the stages of grief in a more healing and adaptive way. By reprocessing the negative experiences, we reduce the negative symptoms and increase our sense of emotional resilience and well-being.

While grief and transition are a natural part of life, we are still often overwhelmed by sadness, anger and all the confusing emotions that come with loss. There is no right or wrong way to grieve—just your body and mind doing what it can to process the pain of major life change and the loss of how things were. Working with me means compassionate care that helps you to approach and feel your feelings in a safe way, taking things one step at a time. I promise you that all grief can be transformed into a gentle honouring of who or what was lost. I would be happy to team up with you in your journey towards peace and acceptance.

In my grief counselling practice, I specialize in guiding individuals through the intricate emotions that emerge following the loss of a loved one or a significant life change. I provide a secure and nurturing space where you can openly express your feelings, delve into memories, and address the challenges associated with grief. As your dedicated counsellor, I am committed to fostering a compassionate and understanding environment, supporting you on your journey to healing and finding a path forward.

The pain of grief and loss can truly be painful. This emotional challenge can extend beyond death. May it be the loss of a relationship - past or present, loss of health, retirement, financial loss, or the death of a loved one, I offer a compassionate and safe space to discuss this grief. In my practice I encourage clients to express their feelings about their losses as part of the processing journey. I offer strategies to cope with the overwhelming feelings while educating my clients about the stages of grief and the mind body relationship during such an experience. Recognizing that grief/loss are profoundly unique experiences, I embrace a person-centred approach during treatment planning.

When we are facing grief and loss, there is often a complex web of emotions and many layers of meaning-making to encounter in our healing process. The path is never linear. The timeline requires sensitivity and nuance. Compassion, patience and the ability to hold seemingly contradictory feelings are paramount. With gentle presence, we can hold the magnitude and the subtleties of this experience moving step by step towards healing.

It is beyond feeling down when you lose someone special or a loved one to death, addiction, divorce, immigration, or other life circumstances. You may find this a very lonely journey. We help you heal from your grief and loss using Narrative therapy, Gestalt therapy, and a person-centered approach while honouring the past about that loss and providing you with empathy in your grief journey.

When losing someone or something important to us, it can take lots time to adjust and learn to live our life without that person, thing or way of life. Either it is the death of a loved one, loss of a relationship, loss of a pet, loss of a job or important possessions, change to your way of life, grieving is a normal response to a life event and bottling it up can create damage or even harm to a person. It can take time to adjust and accept to learn to live life without that person, thing or way of life. When it gets too challenging or overwhelming, or if it gets in a way of living a healthy life, sometimes turning to professional support can help getting through this challenging event.