Grief and Loss Counselling in Forest Lawn, AB.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.