Grief and Loss Counselling in Redwater, AB.

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!

As cliche as it sounds healing from grief takes time. In fact my philosophy is that you do not really heal from grief. You will always feel the hurt from the loss of the loved one, and it is that hurt that keeps you connected to them. We are not going to try and get rid of your heartache, but rather help you manage and appreciate the heartache that you have in a more optimistic positive manner.

Feelings of loss and grief come up for different reasons. You may have lost a loved one, a relationship or even a change in your physical functioning due to accidents or illness. Whatever the reason, therapy can help in the grieving process. It gives you the space to acknowledge your loss, what it meant to you as well as finding new ways to ascribe meaning in your life.

There are many situations when people go through a grieving process. Sometimes, you may find yourself feeling misunderstood, isolated, angry, resentful, burned out, or guilty and ashamed. There is no "right way" to grieve or mourn, but if you find yourself struggling or in distress I am here to listen and help you feel supported and validated while being mindful of what you need.

Losses can effect individuals in a variety of ways. Within a cleint-centered counselling approach I provide individuals with a safe and non-judgemental environment in which they can explore their feelings and process various types of losses and grief as well as complicated grief. I assist individuals in adjusting to life after loss and in coping with a variety of changes that can occur within oneself and in relationship with others around them.

Our fast paced world does not create the adequate time needed to process and move forward from loss toward healing. Therefore, the counselling process can create space and time for clients to grieve in the time and way each individual needs. Helping clients to slow down from the busyness of daily demands allows clients to identify the effect of the loss and build hope for the future.

The impact of human-animal bonds has gained radical acceptance in field of psychological research. Interactions with animals have been shown to lower blood pressure, reduce feelings of sadness and hopelessness, and decrease loneliness. For instance, children who have animals in their lives adjust more effectively with the presence of serious illness or death of a parent or loved one. Horse are sensitive and intuitive creatures. They not only provide physical and emotional comfort but also can act as a confidant and teacher as clients work through their grief.

It has been said that life is about loss, and how one deals with it. Grief is how we deal with loss. Uncomplicated grief is an adjustment process, not an illness. There is one, though...an illness, I mean. I'd say the "illness" is cultural: For one reason or another, people ordinarily lose patience with the grief process, and often well before a healthy mourner is through their active grieving process. Unexpressed grief from former losses can extend the time needed for healthy grieving. People's wounds and scars can close heart and mind toward the grieving process. In an imperfect world, psychotherapists hold space and make time for (and precious to) a balanced grief process.

Many people reach out for help to deal with grief or loss of a friend or family member. Its important to remember to be kind to your self during this time there is no right or wrong way to grieve. Its also important to remember a person can miss or grieve the loss of not only people but also jobs, events, trips, freedom, health and a number of other things As you process your memories of a person or an event you will be contained in a safe environment with acceptance and care.

Grief comes from many sources including the death of a loved one, divorce, job loss, financial loss and more. If you've experienced loss, then your world has changed. My work will support you in finding ways to move on with your life in a positive and fulfilling manner and relies on both honoring the past and defining the future. There are positive and negative aspects of how things were and how things will be. Exploring all aspects will allow you emotional freedom and the chance to determine your path.

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.

Our world is forever changed after experiencing a sudden and tragic loss. We may feel very vulnerable to the world around us. Everyday living can be an experience of heightened anxiety, loneliness and tears. We may even have strained relationships because the pain of loss is so overwhelming. Together, we can try to make sense of and to understand your loss. We can learn ways to control your emotions, find peace of mind and change your reactions of memories from sorrow to gratitude.

Grief is a natural process that's painful, personal, and normal. Grief allows a person to come to terms with a significant loss, and make sense of their new reality without a loved one. I can help those who are experiencing complicated grief. Typically, the goals of my therapy for complicated grief revolve around overcoming obstacles to the normal grieving process, and to coming to terms with the loss.

Most people experience multiple losses in their lifetime: loved ones, pets, jobs and possessions. I help clients process loss through grief counseling. I provide supportive listening, guide clients through stages of grieving and processing of emotional pain. When people experience sudden or traumatic loss, they may require specialized trauma therapy such as EMDR (eye movement desensitization reprocessing) which is proven to be very helpful.

Grief and loss is inevitable in life. All change, no matter how small or how large, involves moving through the grief process. Unfortunately, some people have not had secure attachment relationships to enable this natural process. When we haven't processed the normal developmental changes and losses in our lives, we find other means to overcome the loss such as numbing, obsessive behaviours, or anxiety and depression. Processing grief and loss requires a safe, skillful, dependable, reliable counsellor to help guide you through.

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.

While grief and transition are a natural part of life, we are still often overwhelmed by sadness, anger and all the confusing emotions that come with loss. There is no right or wrong way to grieve—just your body and mind doing what it can to process the pain of major life change and the loss of how things were. Working with me means compassionate care that helps you to approach and feel your feelings in a safe way, taking things one step at a time. I promise you that all grief can be transformed into a gentle honouring of who or what was lost. I would be happy to team up with you in your journey towards peace and acceptance.

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.

Experiencing the loss of a loved one can leave you with compounded and confusing emotions. In therapy I can help you make sense of these emotions, grieve in healthy ways, and work through the pain in a way that minimizes suffering. We can work together to ensure healthy coping and healing and to bring you towards a new future, in spite of the loss of some of your dreams.

The loss of a loved one, whether a spouse, friend, relative or pet, is a tough experience to deal with, and grief is expected and normal in such situations. I can work with you to process the grief that you are experiencing, and together we will work towards finding a stronger person within you, who is able to grieve and accept the loss, and also find ways to adjust to the changes that the loss had in your life.

I use an approach of sitting with you in your pain and difficult feelings, and work through the journey of processing through the muck of emotion. I like to normalize alot of what clients are going through and not try to push to fast, but learn how to just be and experience emotion while also using some tools to help facilitate the process

Grief is a natural and universal reaction to events that occur in our lives. Still, the grieving process can be hard to navigate alone. If you are experiencing grief for the loss of a loved one, or if you would like support in processing loss of a different kind, then you can benefit from supportive counselling with me. Psychotherapy for grief and loss provides you with the opportunity to honour the feelings you are experiencing. I will support and guide you to find peace and joy in your own life in a way that values and honours your loss. Grief is natural. We do not need to run from it. I offer you the support and guidance to grieve without being overwhelmed by your loss.

At Rivers Edge Counselling, our therapists can help you with your grief or bereavement by: helping you better identify and accept your loss, move through the various emotions associated with loss like anger, hopelessness, sadness, guilt and loneliness seek a new approach to remember and honour a loved one who has passed away, and finally accept the impact it has had on shaping your life.

[I OFFER VIDEO SESSIONS THROUGHOUT ALBERTA AND ONTARIO]. You are hurting now, and I understand that. I have been a psychologist since 1986 with plenty of hard-earned wisdom. I too have experienced grief and loss many times in my life. I can help. Let us chat about the pain you are feeling now. Book with me right now by going to https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=14249112

I would like to be your support system in your grief journey by giving you a safe and judgement free environment, where you will be able to experience emotional and physical support. Together, we will start your healing process through sharing your story, increasing your understanding of the situation, finding new coping skills, working on your hope...