Grief and Loss Counselling in Calgary, AB.

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.

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.

Grey Matters International and the work of Kevin J. Fleming, Ph.D approaches issues of grief & loss through the lens of innovation----instead of growing the same neural networks responsible for the pain in weekly therapy sessions, we reset the brain to move forward quicker and efficiently by working on the stuck limbic system so as to empower the person with more success and traction. For no one wants to stay in a grief mode for too long; but when you don’t include the brain in your work with someone, you risk describing the water to them while they drown and calling it success. Contact Grey Matters International, Inc now at kevin@kevinflemingphd.com or 877-606-6161.

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.

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.

Loss, death, and dying bring up a lot of difficult emotions, thoughts, and sensations that sometimes need to be shared in a safe, compassionate space where there is no judgment or pressure to let go or move on. I can help you better understand your internal experience of grief and find ways of mourning that help you heal. I am here to listen and honor your story and reality; I will act as a companion on your grief journey as you find the meaning to continue living a new normal.

Do you feel intensely sad that someone you loved and cared about decided to leave? Do you miss having someone to cuddle with, go on adventures, and talk about your day? Does it feel impossible to stop thinking about that person, and everywhere you go just seems like another reminder? Are you angry that they left, and compare yourself with their new partner? With warmth, exploration and cutting-edge techniques, I help clients find themselves again after a major breakup, so they can finally heal for good the wound left by deep loss. If you want an end to grief, and re-engagement in a life of play, laughter, and new love, don't hesitate to reach out.

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.

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.

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.

This is often at the heart of most things we find ourselves struggling with that we just can't identify or seem to come to terms with. Whether it is a recent loss of a loved one or significant death affecting your life, SoulCare Counselling helps you walk through the pain, questions and complications of grief resolutely. We are especially adept at helping people deal with what the experts would call 'ambiguous grief' - or 'complicated grief' - grief that is not noticeable or recognizable by our circumstances.

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.

Experiences of grief and loss are natural responses to life transitions, traumatic experiences, changes in relationships, and shifts in your identity. The way you experience and make meaning of grief and loss are unique to each person. I can work with you to create a safe and supportive space where you can acknowledge and process your experiences in a way that honours the impact that these losses have had on your life.

The loss of a loved one can be one of the most challenging emotional experiences that people face in their lives. Loss and grief can also be experienced for other reasons such as when an individual or a loved one develops a serious disability or life-threatening illness. I support people through the symptoms of grief and the difficult life adjustments that follow. The goal of counselling is reached through the expression of emotions, memories and thoughts about the loss, while normalizing its effects. The hope is that eventually people work toward rebuilding and find their new sense of normal.

Loss of relationship like any loss has significant emotional consequences and can have impacts across the life spectrum. The fact that relationships are one of our primary coping mechanisms multiplies the potential distress. Processing and Resolving relationship loss can lead to significant better quality of life as well as significantly improved quality of future relationships.

Grief is the pain we feel over loss. Most of us associate this feeling with death, and this certainly causes intense grief. But all significant losses can cause grief-- intimate relationships, health, employment, a close pet, financial stability, friendships, or even dreams. Dealing with grief means constructively identifying and giving meaning to your feelings, learning to take care of yourself, and planning ahead for upcoming grief triggers. I can help you do this. Counselling can make a difference. I look forward to helping you get back to where you want to be.

Facing grief and loss can be a painful and difficult journey. Fortunately, you do not have to do it alone. Working through grief and loss is a process and our emotions surrounding it are messy and tangled like a ball of yarn. Together we can untangle all the emotions . When healing from grief and loss it is important to remember, celebrate and be thankful for what you have lost. The counselling theories I use to address grief and loss are; emotion focused therapy and attachment theory.

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.

Feelings of grief and loss can emerge from the loss of a loved one, a pet, a relationship, a job, a house, a community, and just about anything else. This journey can often feel too heavy to carry on one's own, and they need a safe space to let down the veil of "I'm fine", and truly feel the sadness in order to move through it and towards the other side of healing.

Have you experienced a loss and are worried about how your children are coping? Are they refusing to talk about it? Or maybe they are asking too many questions and you are worried about how to answer them? Children grieve differently to adults and are often not able to fully express their fears or emotions. Often, these feelings are internalized and result in disruptive behaviors as they get older. In my custom designed play therapy room, they are given a safe space to explore their feelings and process their experience. I can help you guide them through this experience and set them up for future success and happiness.

Grief comes about as a result of losing something that was important to one in life. It can result in intense feelings of sadness, anger, depression and can be expressed in different ways. It can be due to losing a loved one such as a parent, spouse, friend, sibling or child. It can also be due to losing a job, relationship, dream etc. I will help you explore your feelings around the loss and process your emotions so that with time, you can heal and come to terms with your loss.

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 loss is approached with grace, emotional validation and compassion in session. I am very client centred and believe that clients know what is best for them and their grieving and we will work together to find a healing path and journey that works for you in your own time. My goal is to provide compassion and validation throughout the grieving process while offering opportunities to heal and grow through the pain.

We all have grief and loss through the course of our lives. Each experience is unique and reflects the nature of our relationship with the person who has died or departed in other ways, or the loss of hopes and dreams which had yet to be realized. You do likely want the support of people in your life, but you may also have difficulty fully sharing your experience with them. I will be able to hear all that you are thinking and feeling, without judgement or expectations. My own experiences of grief have taught me, as has my work with grieving people, that there is no right or "normal" way of grieving, that it's complicated and isn't just "gotten over". I will be there for you.