Grief and Loss Counselling in Balzac, AB.

Gerard has diverse experience as a psychologist and leader in social services, schools, university, workplaces, and his private practice. Using a theoretical foundation of social learning and cognitive-behavioural training, he is well-versed in various kinds of formal and informal assessment and solution-focussed approaches. He listens carefully to understand your needs and relies on his extensive experience to help you find solutions.

I specialize in helping individuals process grief and loss through compassionate virtual sessions. In this safe space, we face the full spectrum of emotions together, embracing every aspect of your experience. By creating a narrative that honors your loved one’s life and legacy, we transform grief into understanding and connection. My approach supports healing, acceptance, and personal growth, empowering you to integrate loss while preserving meaningful memories and sustaining emotional resilience.

My goal is to offer a space for you to work through the grief process in however that needs to look for you. We will focus on exploring the loss in conjunction with understanding its impact on your functioning. We will exploring coping strategies to understand their role and function. We will focus on ensuring tools are in place for times when emotions are more challenging.

Grief and bereavement are very normal responses to loss. However, the experience of grief and bereavement can be extremely difficult and feel paralyzing or overwhelming. Whether you have lost a loved one, a beloved pet, or have experienced a change in ability or circumstance, I can help you explore loss, learn tools to process grief, and build a plan for coping.

[I OFFER VIDEO SESSIONS THROUGHOUT ALBERTA AND ONTARIO]. You are hurting now, and I understand that. I have been a psychologist since 1986 with plenty of hard-earned wisdom. I too have experienced grief and loss many times in my life. I can help. Let us chat about the pain you are feeling now. Book with me right now by going to https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=14249112

If one is going to love they are going to experience loss. Loss, suffering and grief are part of living. Research clearly shows that the grieving process entails emotional reflection and redefining one's way of being in the world. By engaging in grief counselling with me you will rewrite the story of your life so that the one you have lost lives on in you via your memories and in your life via the stories you tell others about them. As the saying goes, "after great pain a new life emerges" by deeply engaging in the grief process with me you will open yourself up to the emergence of a rich and full life.

Clients can expect a client centered, supportive and informative understanding of what to expect regarding grief and loss issues as well as how to work through these issues through hands-on therapeutic techniques. I currently use some emotionally focused therapy techniques as well as models from three different grief cycles for grief issues which can include anything from death and loss of a loved one to giving up substances or breakup of a relationship.

I help clients with grief and loss using cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), an approach in which I am certified. I encourage clients to set aside regular times to let themselves grieve. This makes it easier to focus on other matters during the rest of the day. I explore with clients ways of grieving which would be most helpful to them.

It is impossible to live without experiencing the loss of someone or something that really matters to us. Grieving is a normal human experience but the emotional pain can often be unbearable. Although grieving does not necessarily have an end point, therapy can assist you to cope more effectively with the loss and return sooner to a meaningful and satisfying life.

Grief counselling 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 emotional pain.

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.

Grief is not linear, it is messy and there is no cookie cutter support, each person's experience is individual and unique to them. At the heart of our approach is connection because when we are heard we begin to heal. Whether you’re mourning the death of a loved one, the end of a relationship, a shift in identity, or a future that no longer exists—your pain is valid, and your story matters.

Grief and loss counseling is provided for all members of the family. Grief and loss can complicate all areas of family life and make parenting difficult during this season. Keystone offers support to parents who are grieving and to parents who are trying to understand and support their grieving child. It is also sometimes difficult understanding how to help a grieving child. Keystone provides a developmentally appropriate perspective on grief and provides counseling to those going through this journey.

Grief is varies in the ways it shows up for different people, and the different reasons why it shows up. Together, we can explore both death and/or non-death losses (job loss, relationship loss, loss of access to things that are important etc.) My approach aims to help you explore the pain from the absence/loss and make meaning of what's left. I use an integrative approach that draws from narrative therapy, schema therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and acceptance and commitment therapy.

Are you feeling overwhelmed by loss, struggling to cope with the pain, and finding it hard to move forward? Grief can be isolating and exhausting, leaving you feeling stuck in sadness and longing for peace. As a clinical counsellor, I understand how difficult this journey can be. But I also know that healing is possible. Imagine having someone by your side who truly understands what you're going through, who offers compassionate support and effective strategies to help you heal. Together, we can navigate this difficult time and find a way to honour your loss, rebuild your strength, and rediscover hope. Let's start this journey together. Book a free 15-minute phone consultation today.

Loss is a human condition that none of us can avoid. Due to the pain, we can’t walk these grief journeys alone. I use EMDR therapy to desensitize painful memories and talk therapy to help navigate the stages of grief. Grief is a natural process our hearts, bodies, and minds use to help us navigate these complex changes. The pain will get easier.

Too often our society avoids grieving a loss, and much too often emotions are unnecessarily dulled by the use of tranquilizers. Dr Mervin (Paraklesis Counselling) can come alongside you with a hope-focused approach that is directed at the tasks of bereavement (rather than the phases of bereavement) that will help you make meaning of the loss. In addition, he will assist you with your medication-related counselling needs, especially where abnormal grief has set in and the depression needs to be treated.

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.

Feeling lost and alone? Wish others understood, or knew what to say? I journey with people touched by loss in their life, big or small (in fact, in my mind, no loss is really 'small,' because it's significant to YOU). What we do with our disappointments and losses will define who we are (Dan Allender). Whether you're stuck with grief from the past, or coping with life changes today, having friends along the journey who can be with you in your pain are what you need. Together you and I can help you move through this difficult phase of your journey, resulting in renewed hope and yes, joy, that comes from a healed heart.

Experiencing grief and loss can feel like navigating through a fog of pain and confusion. This intense emotional journey often brings feelings of deep sadness, loneliness, and disconnection from daily life. My approach provides a compassionate, understanding space where you can openly express and process your grief. Together, we'll explore healing paths, helping you to gradually find closure and peace. As we work, you'll begin to rediscover joy and meaning in life, transforming grief into a respectful memory that honors your loss while allowing you to embrace the present and future.

After significant loss, you may experience difficult and surprising emotions, such as anger, shock and guilt. It may feel like the sadness will never go away. I know personally what this feels like and I support many people who are trying to find ways to cope and find their reason to continue. There is no right or wrong way to grieve. There are however many healthy ways to cope with the pain. You can get through it! I can help you.

If you have lost someone close to you through death, relocation or the end of a relationship, and feel isolated and lonely, it takes time and support to gently move forward in life. If you are shy or feel anxiety in social situations it can be hard to reach out for help and create the supportive relationships you need. I can help you move forward, gain a new sense of self worth, and begin to create meaningful nurturing social connections.

When it all comes crashing down, everyone needs a safe place to be heard. It should be easier for Christians - but often it is far more difficult. It's hard to find a safe place to ask the really hard questions. It's even harder to receive subtle messages to, "Contain your sorrow," from others. So, if you're tired of putting on a brave face, come and experience a place where you can be really understood and real help with navigating through that surreal fog and haze. Life's losses are never a place for pat answers or bandaid solutions.

Grief is a deeply personal experience, and no two people move through loss in the same way. In grief and loss therapy, we provide a steady, compassionate space where clients can process emotions at their own pace without pressure to “move on” or feel a certain way. Together, we explore the impact of the loss, honour the meaning of the relationship or experience, and gently build coping strategies that support daily functioning. Clients often benefit from gaining clarity around complex emotions, reducing feelings of isolation, and learning how to carry their loss in a way that allows for both remembrance and continued growth.

Renee approaches grief therapy with a steady, grounded presence. She understands that loss can feel disorienting, overwhelming, and deeply personal. Her role is to create a compassionate space where clients can move through grief at their own pace without pressure, timelines, or expectations. Whether someone is grieving the death of a loved one, navigating a major life transition, or facing another profound loss, Renee’s goal is to help them integrate their experience in a way that honours what (or who) was lost. Together, the work focuses on building resilience, not by “moving on,” but by finding a way to move forward with self-compassion and hope for what lies ahead.