Grief and Loss Counselling in De Winton, AB.

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.

When we are facing grief and loss, there is often a complex web of emotions and many layers of meaning-making to encounter in our healing process. The path is never linear. The timeline requires sensitivity and nuance. Compassion, patience and the ability to hold seemingly contradictory feelings are paramount. With gentle presence, we can hold the magnitude and the subtleties of this experience moving step by step towards healing.

I have a certification in Death and Grief Studies which is based on Dr. Alan Wolfelt's companioning model for grief. This approach normalizes, validates, and honours the unique experience of those that are grieving a death or loss. Counselling will provide the bereaved a safe place to share their experience and honour their loss through the grieving process. The goal of counselling is to companion the client to be empowered by their innate strengths in coping and adapting to their significant life-changing loss in a way that is meaningful.

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.

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.

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.

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 can be complex - gut wrenching and life changing all at once. Sometimes it takes years to be ready to process grief and sometimes you are ready right away. My approach to grief has always been to meet you where you are at and get to know where you want to be. Acceptance? Understanding? Forgiveness? Letting go?

Grief and Loss is a process, while unique to the person there are milestones and supports that can make the process more natural and healthy. Loss and grief is part of the human experience however, we can become challenged in the process by specific events or circumstances while in the vulnerable state of adjustment and grief. Grief and Loss benefits from supports and compassion.

Grief is a normal response to loss. Together we can help you feel less alone as you make your way through the rivers of grief and forests of sadness. I believe no matter how much pain we are in, something inside us is stronger than pain. Accommodating the process of grief and its effects do not have to be processed alone. You can get through this pain, and there is a path back to feeling alive again. We will email back and forth, it's just like talking to a friend only you will receive professional help on your own schedule. Secure, and completely confidential, to assist you in the healing process around mourning , and provide comfort to the bereaved.

No matter what your loss, you may experience difficult, overwhelming and surprising emotions. As a counsellor and registered nurse, I have been a companion on many people’s journey through grief. I have been there through the final hours of life, with loved ones when death is traumatic and sudden, when death is through suicide and when parents have lost their precious child. I also understand what it is like to lose one’s health. If you have difficulty facing your grief or coping with the pain of loss, are blaming yourself for the loss, have unresolved issues or are depressed, I can help you.

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

If you have experienced the devastating loss of a loved one (pets included) and are seeking a safe environment to explore and release any pain, vulnerabilities, confusion, distressing or overwhelming feelings and emotions, I would be honoured to walk this transformative journey with you. Please contact me for further information on how I can be of assistance and support.

Grief is a process that is unique to the individual experiencing it. It has a cyclical cycle, rather than linear, and part of getting through it is working on the skills of accepting and releasing as well as identifying personal needs. Learning to identify emotions and knowing how to express them is extremely helpful in building self-awareness and empathy for yourself, as well as others which in turns increases resiliency.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Many associate grief with the death of a person or pet, but grief can be experienced after any loss that affects their life, such as the loss of a relationship or a job. Grief can take much longer than expected after a loss, and can also be far more challenging than expected. Pain, fear, loneliness, anger, anxiety, and denial are normal, and there may come a time when you need extra support to get through. I can walk beside you and provide space, as you experience the adjustments necessary to face the various stages of the painful grief process.

Struggling to find a space to release that grief and loss? With me, clients benefit from a safe and non-judgmental space to express and explore what they are feeling. Get it out with a supportive presence. You don't have to think positive, here. You don't have to Buck up, here. You can let it all go, get it all out. I can handle it and I'm here with you.

Loss is a naturally part of life. However, when things get in the way of the natural grieving process, grief can last longer or hurt more than is necessary. I work with clients to eliminate or cope with factors that might inhibit healthy processing as I walk them through they pain they are experiencing from grief. As well, grief is easier when shared and the catharsis of confiding in another.

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.

I empathize and listen to individuals facing loss and grief. Many clients would benefit from my Rogerian Approach (Client-Centered Therapy) because when clients have lost a relationship, boyfriend, girlfriend, marriage, or someone they love and care for, it is important that they have someone who can really listen to them and understand what they are going through. Each individual may be unique to how a person grieve a loss. Therefore, I make sure that I respect my clients' unique ways of handling their loss. At the same time, I offer feedback and professional opinions regarding various grieving processes out there--in current literature/research.

The experience of loss can leave us disorientated and overwhelmed. In the face of overwhelming or sudden loss, grief might even be temporarily arrested. When grief does come, it can look different for everyone. Whether you have experienced one big loss, or a series of small losses, healing is possible. While respecting the timing and rhythm of your healing, we will work on developing your capacity to shift toward acceptance, increased balance, and well-being.