Grief and Loss Counselling in Magrath, AB.

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.

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.

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.

Are you using alcohol, substances, or addictive behaviors to cope with grief and loss? Although they provide relief in the short term, their long-term effects on your relationships and health can make it even more difficult to cope. Through a compassionate non-judgmental approach, I help clients explore their relationship to grief and loss so that they can overcome addictive coping strategies. If you're looking for another way forward, feel free to reach out and we can set up a free consultation to discuss further.

Grief is something that no one can avoid but it can be one of the hardest things to acknowledge. Grief is a response to a loss and a form of emotional suffering. Everyone has a different grieving process that encompasses a variety of emotions such as anger, anxiety, guilt, and regret. Emotions can be confusing during the process and can be difficult to manage. What we feel when experiencing grief is one thing, but what we do with it, is another. It is my goal to support, acknowledge, and work with you in finding ways to heal. It is my hope to walk with you in this journey, to accept what is, feel, adjust, and eventually, find meaning.

My approach to grief and loss therapy is to increase my client's understanding of grief and loss and to help normalize and embrace their emotions during the grieving process. It is important to validate the past (because everyone grieves differently), adjust to the present (focusing on new skills and strategies while restructuring identity and roles), and redefine the future without their loved one while identifying hope and purpose.

Who can go through life without suffering grief and loss? It is part of the human journey. So rather than running away from it, medicating it, why not find a trusted companion to process it. This would mean acknowledging what the loss object has added to your life and its meaning, what you will miss, and how you will reconstitute your life now for growth and a different future. Working with a therapist, you can find symbols and design rituals to represent various pieces of your loss to help you integrate what you let go of and the new life that beckons you.

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.

Grieving is healthy and involves a person experiencing loss acknowledging the loss and allowing some form of emotional connection to be experienced. If the loss was dramatically, or even traumatically significant to the person, the grieving process will likely be cyclical throughout the rest of that person’s life. All losses experienced will be grieved at some level, at various points in life following the loss. Grieving, even decades after a loss, does not mean a person is “broken” and in need of “fixing”. Stages of Grieving is more about “Tasks” that may happen repeatedly and at random placements rather than lineal stages.

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.