Grief and Loss Counselling in Nisku, AB.

When working with grief and loss, I believe it is important to be patient and present. I primarily focus on the emotions and experiences of the grief and loss and make sure that they are being felt. Although this can be a painful process, it is important that we are allowing ourselves to move into the pain versus avoiding it so that all emotions, thoughts, and sensations are dealt with.

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.

Saying good-bye is one of the hardest things we are all asked to do in life, whether is it good-bye to a person, a phase of life, a place, or some other intangible. Having a compassionate professional to walk with you through your grief can make all the difference. Dr. Hook has helped many of her clients work through their losses and find meaning again.

Grief counselling is a form of counselling that aims to help people cope with grief, & mourning following the death of a loved one, or with major life changes that trigger feelings of grief such as loss of a job, relationship or even a family pet. Everyone experiences and expresses grief in thier own way, which is often shaped by how their family or their own culture honors the process. The grief process has many faces and stages where one can experience a wide range of emotions and behavior associated with grief. A grief counsellor will facilitate expression of emotion and thought about the loss including sadness, anxiety, disbelief, loneliness, guilt, anger, confusion, or lack of feeling.

The death of a loved one is one of the hardest losses to experience. There are many other losses that people struggle to process as well. Which losses have you experienced lately? Loss of a relationship, loss of a job, loss of financial security, loss of physical ability, loss of health, loss of independence, loss of possessions, etc. Any loss can lead one to feel like they can't move forward. When a person is able to find meaning to their experience of loss they tend to feel liberated and fulfilled, ready to move forward with their life. I am exited at the opportunity to join you in this journey!

My approach to grief and loss is extensive, starting with healing and mindfulness practices. Each individual may experience something different while suffering the loss of a loved one. Treatment must be sensitive to the needs and goals of the individual seeking treatment. Many times during grief and loss sessions I use Emotional Freedom Technique (also known as Meridian Tapping) to help alleviate stress on the neuro feedback loop.

Grief can feel as if we’ve had the wind knocked out of us, and that the world keeps going while the clock has stopped for us. Society, however, asks us to get on with our lives rather quickly. Sometimes it feels like our friends and family members don’t know what to do or say, which can leave us feeling isolated with our grief. It is important to take time to work through feelings of grief and loss otherwise we end up feeling disconnected from ourselves and others. I provide a supportive space in which to express the thoughts and feelings you have in a safe, compassionate and non-judgmental environment.

The process of coping with any deep emotional loss takes time. Men and women deal with the tragedy of loss in very different ways - our elderly population also experience loss in a way that is very unique to their age and life experiences. Grief and loss will be an aspect of every person’s life at some point. We all cope with these challenges in unique ways. Understanding the stages of grief and how they impact us individually is the first step in managing any loss. And learning effective ways of coping with that pain is critical when we are trying to make our lives functional again.

Grief and loss of any kind can be painful and overwhelming. Whether it's death, separation, divorce, medical diagnosis or terminal illness, Emma offers supportive counselling to help people through difficult times. Her approach is client-centered and allows time to talk about the loss and all of the circumstances leading up to it, along with exploring any lingering feelings like anger, guilt, and loneliness. Emma works alongside her clients as they go through the stages of loss, and facilitates their accepting the loss, letting go, learning to move forward and finding peace within. Emma also supports people as they seek meaning in the loss, and enhance social supports, including family.

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.

I have a vast amount of experience in this area due to the many years I worked with cancer patients and their families. I help individuals and families move from grief and sadness to a resolution of their loss. Resolution may mean learning how to cope and deal with loss that may never be resolved such as losing a child. The ultimate goal is a healthy perspective on their loss and being able to move beyond their grief.

Grief and loss are experiences that we all experience at some point in our lives. However, we all experience the grieving process in our own way. I understand that grief is a very personal process, and I respect that there are many healthy views about what loss means in our lives. If you are finding grief is making it difficult for you to function day to day, I can help. Together we will explore how loss has impacted your life and process this experience in a way that brings insight and understanding that will allow you to move forward. Our goal is not to make a loss a happy memory, nor a memory we forget about, but an experience we are truly at peace with.

Losing a loved one important in our life often leaves us reeling but having someone to support us through these times can make all the difference. I realize everyone faces and experiences grief in different ways and I tailor my approach to work best with the client. If you have lost someone and fee like you need extra support, I invite you to contact me to help you through this difficult time.