Grief and Loss Counselling in Bowen Island, BC.

You've probably heard that grief and loss are inescapable. But no one could have prepared you for how hard your loss would be. At times, suffering can feel endless and you may think no one else could understand you. All of these thoughts are normal. But none of them mean you have no options. Together, we will put words to your loss. We will work through your difficult thoughts and emotions so you can transform loss into something life-giving, nurturing and meaningful. Loss is indeed part of life. Letting a therapist support you during these difficult times is a strong, life-affirming step forward. Call Joseph today for your free telephone consultation. Let’s begin the healing together.

While grieving is a normal part of human experience, it can be debilitating and frightening if we are going through it alone. I will help you share your feelings, understand the context of those feelings and help you proceed through the process of closure. Grieving includes not only lost loved ones, but also opportunities and dreams. We may feel the pressure to "put it behind" us and "get on with life" but if grief is weighing you down, listen to what your mind is trying to tell you. I can help you understand what is blocking your way.

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.

Are you experiencing challenges with dealing with a loss? Do you ever feel like you're stuck in a cycle of ruminating on painful memories, and don't know how to turn them off? Is this cycle keeping you up at night, or inhibiting you from living the life you've imagined for yourself? If so - please reach out. We'll work through your loss together so you can find freedom and live more fully and freely.

When looking at life through a lens grief and loss everything is intensified and there is no specific time line for recovery or "getting over it". Grief comes in waves. In working with me to process your new current reality with grief and loss we can look the triggers that are most affecting your ability to cope in your daily life. I create an environment where clients feel safe to express their thoughts, feelings, and emotions. In whatever stage of grief you are in (denial, anger, bargaining, depression or acceptance) we can find the tools to help you move forward at your pace.

Have you lost a loved one through death? Are you separating or divorcing a partner? Are your children grown and leaving the nest? Are you retiring from a career you loved? Did you experience a less than desired childhood? You may experience a roller coaster of different emotions during the grieving process. Grief is a natural reaction to any kind of loss. Phone 604-468-7300 and let me help you find meaning again after your loss.

Loss can leave one with a myriad of emotions (feeling overwhelmed, confused, depressed, deeply sad, angry, among others). If left to our own accord, most will eventually begin to feel generally better; however, some lasting emotionality is not uncommon. In other cases, individuals experience a persistent and long-lasting deep sense of loss. In either event, counselling can help individuals to honour the emotionality of grief and loss while reducing the overall effect on their daily living. Ego-State therapy, is particularly well designed for grief and loss interventions, helping individuals to understand the loss, as well as finding and bolstering their own personal coping resources.

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.

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.

I will guide you through the work of healing loss and grief in a safe and thoughtfully-paced process. I will bear witness to your pain and walk with you as you find a new way of being in life after loss. I will listen, suggest coping strategies, and help mobilize resources to help you cope during this time of great upheaval and sadness. You are not alone.

Grief is a response to the loss of someone to who we are attached to. Generally speaking the greater the attachment to someone, the greater the sense of loss experienced. Loosing someone close to you can be very difficult to deal with because grief has physical, cognitive, behavioral, social and spiritual dimensions. Choosing some one to walk along side of you that has the training to help you during the difficult task of recovery is very important and can often shorten the process of resolving grief significantly.

Loss is a normal yet profound event in everyone's life. It can be expected or sudden and devastating. Either way it often leaves us feeling as though our world has been forever changed and we find ourselves feeling lonely, lost, angry, sad, shocked or confused. Sometimes others, our fast paced society, or we ourselves expect us to move on quickly and deny or forget it. But grief has it's own story and it needs to be told. Therapy can help you sort out the many facets of your grief and offer resources and strategies to help you cope. Grief changes us and challenges us to find new meaning in our lives when we give it the honor and respect it is due.

Grief and loss does occur anytime we experience the loss of someone or something that we love and identify with. Although it can be normal to grieve, there can come a time when someone may feel stuck in this grief process and then they dicsover they need some help in looking at the situation differently. I can help a client identify their feelings and help them move forward through surrender and acceptance. If there is unfinished business with this person or situation, I would help my client resolve this problem though forgiveness. The ultimate purpose would be to be able to move forward in a constructive and loving manner, leaving behind all grievances and guilt.

GRIEF AND LOSS THERAPY Discovering how to live with and move through the pain of loss is a deeply personal process. There is no set amount of time or way to grieve. Only the time and manner that is right for you is right. Sadness, intense grief, anger and fear, a sense of lost identity, feelings of guilt, disorientation, a loss of purpose, a feeling of numbness may be part of your experience. As a counsellor who has worked with people of all ages and backgrounds, I bring a compassionate heart, a nonjudgmental approach and a warm environment where you can safely explore the feelings and thoughts that face you. Getting the support you need can make a huge difference.

Everyone copes with loss differently. The death of a loved one, job loss, miscarriage, death of a pet and major life changes can all trigger feelings of grief or loss. It may feel like the grieving will never stop and the pain is insurmountable. in fact, if you or a loved one is experiencing grief as a debilitating emotion then seeking help is essential. Resolving these feelings of grief and loss, with healthy coping methods, ensures that you are able to function and avoid larger issues in the future.

It's hard to describe the devastation of losing someone you love and no two people experience grief the exact same way. Sometimes you can feel isolated even when surrounded by friends and family. Having a safe, private space away from your day to day life to express whatever you need to, however you need to, can be an incredibly helpful part of the grieving process.

Grieving the loss of family, friendship, or even freedom you once felt before the pandemic, before you transitioned, or before you came out is valid and worthy of thoughtful care. Likewise, bereavement for a loved one requires highly personalized therapy. I offer a creative, client-centred, and narrative therapy-inspired approach to grief counselling.

Grief and Loss are the primary factors in every area of challenge in our lives. It could be the loss of a key relationship or the loss of self esteem, the loss of direction or health or identity, that is the basis of why one needs counselling support. No matter what the loss is, the benefits of identifying that loss and working through the grief process will release you from pain and hopelessness and move you into a world of hope and possibility!

Grief is common to us all, however, how we grieve, is a very individual experience. My focus is in familiarizing you with your process of grieving and helping you reorganize your emotional life with grief as a predominant character. Grief can be alienating, to our former self, as well as to our those closest to us. My role is helping you integrate your grief, as much as we can.

There are times in our lives when we experience grief and loss. Each experience of grief and loss can look and feel different. If you wonder if your grief and loss is normal, whether you can move on with life, or find it hard to do daily tasks, I encourage you to contact me. Some of the benefits of connecting with me for support for grief and loss are: • Increased understanding of how your grief and loss impacts you • Tools for navigating grief and loss • Learning to forgive yourself and others • Increased self-compassion • A safe place to explore complicated feelings You don’t have to be alone in your grief and loss. A safe, non-judgmental space where you are heard and have permission to grieve can help you move and sort through the often...(view profile to read more)

We have all heard “there is no right or wrong way to grieve”. We believe that there are healthy ways to cope with the pain and that being given the opportunity to express your grief allows you to heal in ways that strengthen and enhance your life. In Counselling you will learn what to expect while you are grieving and be given an opportunity to express your thoughts and feelings. You will learn ways to develop a new and different relationship with the person you have lost and find a place for your past memories in your present life. Our goal for you is to accept your loss and create a new and meaningful mental picture of your life. Recovering from a loss does not mean that your life will return t....

Without a doubt, losing someone in your life is THE most painful experience we can have. I know. I've experienced loss myself. I also know how those around us want us to 'get over' the loss as soon as possible because they care about us, but also because people just don't know how to cope with loss in the lives of others. It feels awkward to them. We can feel it. But we just can't get back to 'normal' when our lives have been shattered. It takes time, and often lots of it. And, as you know, there's no 'getting over' loss; it simply becomes a part of the fabric of who we are. But, in time, we can move forward to re-engage fully in our lives. Let me help you do exactly that.

We all deal with loss in our lives, whether through injury, death, or life transitions. However, everyone’s grieving process is unique. I work with you to absorb what has happened, to make sense of the experience, and to explore what it means for you to move ahead. Because loss is a stressful experience, I help you take steps to stay as healthy as possible during the process, in the domains of family, work, and life.

The loss of any relationship can be devastating. Grief for the death of a loved one can go through many phases before we come to accept the loss. In a family system, changes in relationships occur and we often see sides of our families that did not exist prior to the death. Often the end of a relationship can feel like a death and takes time to heal and move forward. Learning about the natural process of healing from Grif and Loss will be helpful in the weeks and months following a loss.

Death is a natural part of the life cycle but whether expected or sudden we are often left with many emotions. My counselling approach gives you the opportunity to express your feelings in a safe and confidential environment, and allows room for exploration of your feelings. By expressing feelings of loss/grief, clients often report feeling less overwhelmed, sad, and depressed.