Grief and Loss Counselling in De Winton, 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.

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.

Everyone experiences loss throughout their lifetime. Loss can include loved ones, friends, family, relationships, work and career, health and pets. Feeling of grief and loss can be overwhelming and distressing. These feelings can cause you to feel stuck on unable to move on with your life. Elizabeth can assist you with processing feelings of grief and loss so that you can acknowledge the loss and move forward with your life.

Grief is a natural response to losing something or someone that you value. Sometimes we grieve the physical loss of someone important to us when they die and sometimes grief can be experienced for symbolic losses such as a loss of a job, loss of identity, and grief can be experienced during life transitions. I use a narrative and person-centered approach to address grief and loss issues. For issues that involve traumatic loss, I can use trauma-informed grief recovery approaches to address complicated grief.

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.

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.

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.

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 an inevitable part of life, although this makes them no less difficult. You may be experiencing the loss of a person, a pet, a job, a relationship, health status, or something else entirely. Grieving, mourning, bereavement, and coping with loss are often linked with life transitions that present opportunities for us to experience the depth of our emotional experience, and to reconnect with what matters in our lives.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Losing a loved one, a relationship, a dream...it's hard for all of us. It hurts, there's no getting away from it. It's the avoidance of those normal painful feelings that make things worse. Healthy grieving requires that we allow ourselves to go through, not around, the process. Learning to experience and deal with our feelings is the key to moving forward after a loss.

Dealing with grief and loss can be overwhelming and leave you feeling like there is no way forward. My job is to stand beside you with a view to the future and the tools to help you find your way forward with a safe place to resolve the sense of loss and adaptive coping skills. It is humbling and inspiring to witness clients move from fear and uncertainty toward knowing and strength.

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.

Everyone experiences loss in many different forms in relationships, work, death, infertility, personal belongings, and trust to name a few. Grief becomes a very personal journey that at times can feel overwhelming. Utilizing support can help process the thoughts and feelings you are experiencing, accept the new reality due to your loss, re-evaluate your own goals and aspirations, and gain hope for your life after loss.

Losses are often the most difficult of life transitions. One can feel like the sadness will never lift or that life no longer has meaning. Grief is a soul journey that will change you physically, emotionally, cognitively, socially, and spiritually. The word "bereavement" literally means to be torn apart. No wonder you feel so tired! Let me companion you as you journey through this dark time in your life. You won't "get over" grief any more than you "get over" love, but you can reconcile this loss in your life and experience a life of hope and joy once more. Learn more about the Companioning Model at centerforloss.com

At Living Well we journey along side our clients suffering from a loss & offer respect as clients work through their grief. In addition to grief/loss you may be suffering with anxiety or depression, difficult decisions, family concerns & so forth. As such, we attempt to understand all that is going on and then recommend a therapist that's right for you.

Losses can be very difficult to cope with. They often disrupt our routines including positive and rejuvenating activities and connecting with others who are supportive. My approach involved helping clients discuss, process, and grieve their loss in a supportive, safe, and caring place; helping clients re-connect with supportive friends and family and re-initiate positive activities as well as developing new activities and finding new support. Also, cognitive therapy can be a helpful addition which can be used to help clients develop acceptance and realistic thinking and emotions related to their recent loss.

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.

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.

A supportive environment is offered to talk about and resolve difficult loss situations and feelings. Eventually you will be able to remember the positive times anf feel little pain of the loss. You will find new motivation to carry on with your life. You will have new motivation and see the world in a more positive light. Being socially involved and being involved with new relationships that previously felt impossible can happen once more.

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.

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.