Grief and Loss Counselling in Bon Accord, AB.

Grief counselling is a form of counselling that aims to help people cope with grief, & mourning following the death of a loved one, or with major life changes that trigger feelings of grief such as loss of a job, relationship or even a family pet. Everyone experiences and expresses grief in thier own way, which is often shaped by how their family or their own culture honors the process. The grief process has many faces and stages where one can experience a wide range of emotions and behavior associated with grief. A grief counsellor will facilitate expression of emotion and thought about the loss including sadness, anxiety, disbelief, loneliness, guilt, anger, confusion, or lack of feeling.

Our world is forever changed after experiencing a sudden and tragic loss. We may feel very vulnerable to the world around us. Everyday living can be an experience of heightened anxiety, loneliness and tears. We may even have strained relationships because the pain of loss is so overwhelming. Together, we can try to make sense of and to understand your loss. We can learn ways to control your emotions, find peace of mind and change your reactions of memories from sorrow to gratitude.

When we suffer a loss our tendency is to cling to the person or thing that was lost. Grief is the process of letting go. Through grief therapy you will be able to find the courage to embrace the inevitable pain and to transform the emptiness into a renewed affirmation of yourself. The pain needs to be fully experienced and expressed in a supportive environment. It is a normal reflection of our love for the one we have lost.

At some point in your life you will experience a significant loss. Being able to cope with this loss is a truly personal expereince that hosts many emotions. Moving through the stages of grief and learning how to deal and cope with these emotions are symbolic to remembering the good things about that persons life. Clients will experience relief from emotional suffering, experience increased energy for life and feel more "positive" about life.

Grief is often disowned and punished. This means that when grief does arise it can be extra painful because of years of being pushed away. Psychotherapy can be a place to acknowledge and rediscover our grief and explore it. As an inevitable part of life it is important to connect to our need to grieve. By doing this we heal and rediscover intimacy. Visit my website at www.prairieowlpsychology.ca from more details.

Loss and grief come in many forms. Grieving is a personal experience. I have worked with clients experiencing loss of a loved one including a pet companion, loss of functioning/mobility, employment loss including retirement, and relocation/joining a new country. My approach integrates compassion, hope, renewal, and ways to integrate the loss. In my work and research in this area, moving forward from loss combines honouring the past while actively finding new ways to engage in the present.

At Rivers Edge Counselling, our therapists can help you with your grief or bereavement by: helping you better identify and accept your loss, move through the various emotions associated with loss like anger, hopelessness, sadness, guilt and loneliness seek a new approach to remember and honour a loved one who has passed away, and finally accept the impact it has had on shaping your life.

The death of a loved one is one of the hardest losses to experience. There are many other losses that people struggle to process as well. Which losses have you experienced lately? Loss of a relationship, loss of a job, loss of financial security, loss of physical ability, loss of health, loss of independence, loss of possessions, etc. Any loss can lead one to feel like they can't move forward. When a person is able to find meaning to their experience of loss they tend to feel liberated and fulfilled, ready to move forward with their life. I am exited at the opportunity to join you in this journey!

It has been said that life is about loss, and how one deals with it. Grief is how we deal with loss. Uncomplicated grief is an adjustment process, not an illness. There is one, though...an illness, I mean. I'd say the "illness" is cultural: For one reason or another, people ordinarily lose patience with the grief process, and often well before a healthy mourner is through their active grieving process. Unexpressed grief from former losses can extend the time needed for healthy grieving. People's wounds and scars can close heart and mind toward the grieving process. In an imperfect world, psychotherapists hold space and make time for (and precious to) a balanced grief process.

Death is an inevitable facet of life, and the loss of a loved one ~ changes a lot of things. The greatest loss is loosing our part in the relationship and how it anchored us. Death changes one's entire platform of life. Complicated grief is when unresolved issues still linger, or when a difficult relationship has ended. It leaves us destitute and incomplete. At SunRise we would like to help you find a renewed sense of purpose. A way to reconcile and move on without forgetting. We would like to assist you in finding a deeper meaning to that persons life, and focus on the legacy they left behind ~ and the way they touched your hearts. We would like to help you grieve ~ and still grow.

While grief is a natural part of life, it can be overwhelming to go through the multitude of feelings that accompany a loss. I believe that people grieve a number of events in life, from the death of a loved one, to the loss of important relationships, retirement, the "empty nest," or transitioning from one phase of life to another. I help those who are grieving to understand the process, and learn how to bear the feelings that rise up "like waves." I also work towards helping people to honour the positive aspects of what has been lost, and reach a place of acceptance, while adapting to a new way of living.

Loosing a loved ones hurts especially if it's a spouse, child, parent, friend or family pet. Dealing with grief is a process and having a gentle, compassionate person to walk through this with you can be the difference between drowning, and moving through overwhelmingly painful feelings to feeling whole again. Art therapy offers another modality for expressing grief that may be hard to articulate. It is when we process our emotions that pain can be lifted and new maces of being in the world are found.

There are many situations when people go through a grieving process. Sometimes, you may find yourself feeling misunderstood, isolated, angry, resentful, burned out, or guilty and ashamed, among many other emotional experiences. There is no "right way" to grieve or mourn, but if you find yourself struggling or in distress, I am here to listen and help you feel supported and validated.