Grief and Loss Counselling in Rocky View County, AB.

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.

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.

Gerard has diverse experience as a psychologist and leader in social services, schools, university, workplaces, and his private practice. Using a theoretical foundation of social learning and cognitive-behavioural training, he is well-versed in various kinds of formal and informal assessment and solution-focussed approaches. He listens carefully to understand your needs and relies on his extensive experience to help you find solutions.

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.

I specialize in helping individuals process grief and loss through compassionate virtual sessions. In this safe space, we face the full spectrum of emotions together, embracing every aspect of your experience. By creating a narrative that honors your loved one’s life and legacy, we transform grief into understanding and connection. My approach supports healing, acceptance, and personal growth, empowering you to integrate loss while preserving meaningful memories and sustaining emotional resilience.

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.

Grief and loss are one of the most difficult situations in the human condition. I've worked with many clients who struggle to move on after loss, or who are currently grieving and need someone to help them confront their emotions. In my experience there is no one size fits all therapy for dealing with grief and loss so understanding the meaning and emotions attached to your loss help us both to process what has happened so that you can begin to breath again and become hopeful for your future.

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.

Grief counselling 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 emotional pain.

[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

Grief and loss therapy offers numerous benefits for individuals navigating the complex emotions associated with death and loss experiences. By providing a safe and supportive space, I can help individuals process their grief, understand the stages of mourning, and develop coping strategies. I strive to create space for emotional healing, enhance self-awareness and foster resilience throughout the grieving process. I will work with you to gently and holistically move through the pain, find meaning in your loss and rebuild a fulfilling life.

Grief is a natural process that can hurt like your heart's literally being ripped out or like there's a huge hole inside - however you experience it, it's a pain that can defy description. I can guide you through the healing process, which can look different for everyone depending on the situation. It's not about forcing you to move on - it's about helping you grow around the loss until you personally feel comfortable living a full life again.

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.