Grief and Loss Counselling in Balzac, AB.

At some point in our lives we have, or will be, confronted with a loss. Our responses to loss varies, but when the impacts of a loss persist and change the way in which we interact with our environment, it may be time to seek therapeutic support. Loss often results in grief and can occur by death of a loved one (person or pet), separation and divorce, loss of a job, illness and associated loss of ability, or a significant change in circumstances. Loss may result in a loss or change to our identity as a friend, partner, parent, pet parent, home owner, job role, and our faith. I assist clients in navigating their journey from loss to a redefined sense of wholeness and peace.

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.

Everyone grieves in their own way and in their own time. Each experience of grief is unique, complex, and personal, and our therapists will tailor treatment to meet the specific needs of each person. Four common tasks of grieving are accepting the reality of the loss, working through the pain of the loss, adjusting to a new reality, and maintaining a connection with the deceased (in the case of death of a loved one). Our therapists can help you to work through these tasks in a supportive and non-judgmental environment.

Standard Grief: Sadness directly related to a loss. Complex Grief: Sadness related to a loss. Includes additional meanings and associated emotions as in: Regret – “I am a horrible person” Anger – “The universe took something too soon” Hopelessness – “ My life has not meaning now” Fear – “I am at risk of losing more” Helpless – “I am incapable- I cannot go on” Complex grief is grieving that get stuck because of the complicating meaning the trauma of loss has triggered. In order to treat complex grief, we remove the LBs associated with the loss, as shown above, and this lets the standard grief progress through the regular stages of grief, to arrive at a healthy perspective on the loss.

Grief and loss are frequently a root cause of substance abuse, addiction and disorders. The grief process tends to deplete a person's resources, taking up a great deal of their physical, mental, and emotional energy. The absence is not the only thing they are mourning. Their plans, dreams and wishes have changed, and they are being required to let go of the future they anticipated. The phases of mourning include a desire to reverse the loss, feelings of pain and chaos, and the reordering of one's life. At Valiant Recovery, clients receive personalized grief counseling tailored to their needs, as well as specialized sessions on grief and loss.

How people experience grief and loss is in part influenced by their personal values and beliefs. I respect the unique approach, faith, worldview, or philosophy that every client brings to therapy. I accompany my clients in their journey of change and growth. I help my clients to give meaning to their experience and to face complex emotions and feelings. Time of grief and loss can bring surprising changes; it is often time of personal growth, increased self-awareness, and healing.

We all experience loss in our lives, to differing degrees. Grief is an emotional response to the experience of loss. Loss and resulting grief can come in a wide variety of forms. Grief can occur in a situation where we have lost a loved one. This type of grief is known as bereavement. Loss and grief can also occur in more subtle ways, such as feeling as though one has lost an identity after having a child. Grief can manifest in a range of feelings including deep sadness, anger, guilt, regret, and yearning . The journey of adapting to loss varies greatly from person to person. Whatever kind of loss you have experienced, therapy can be a safe space to explore your emotions and memories.

I offer grief and loss counselling for not only a human loved one but also a beloved pet. I can deeply empathize with my clients due to having experienced these types of losses myself. I believe that it is only through personal experience that one can appreciate the unimaginable sorrow and heartache of losing a special person or animal. This is why support groups are so effective, as people take solace in the reality that they are not alone.

Losing someone or something that is close to us, can leave us feeling as though we have a gaping hole in our hearts. Grief and Loss counselling will help you feel less alone during this time of struggle and provide the support needed to find new ways to flourish. It's incredible what kind of growth and new meaning can come from allowing ourselves to be transformed for the better by our loss.

Come and experience a gentle and quiet space where your feminine heart can just be. Forget having to look good or say the right things. Bring the hurt, the pain, the anger at God and the questions you don't even feel you have permission to ask and just let go. Let's walk through that fog together and see the hope God has for your future and the healing you can experience right now.

Losing someone you care about can be a very challenging experience filled with a range of emotions such as: sadness, guilt, anger, and regret. Although grieving is a natural process and is often resolved over time, on occasion people find that their feelings of loss are debilitating and are not diminishing over time. Others struggle to accept the loss and are inhibited from resuming their life without the presence of their loved one. In these circumstances, grief and loss counselling can be beneficial. If you are struggling, I will strive to accompany you as you work to integrate your loss so that you are able to reach a place of acceptance and reclaim a sense of peace and well-being.

Sometimes moving on is difficult. But we are expected to just go on with our lives.Maybe 'moving on' is not the way we want to be, maybe not just yet. Maybe we want to find a new way to have a relationship with a loved one we have lost, maybe we need to express anger, maybe we need to choose the memories we hold and cherish. Learn how to grieve as needed and find ways to maintain balance while you do. Find ways to honor those whom you will continue to be in relationship with. Learn to finish one chapter and start a new one.

Grief and loss extend to more than losing a loved one to death, it includes loss of a dream of what we thought our life should be or could have been. Loss of a relationship partner to divorce or separation. Understanding the process of grief/loss helps us learn to manage the process. Working with me I can show you tools to assist with pain. The use of mindfulness has been shown to effectively help with grief/loss.