Grief and Loss Counselling in Chilliwack, BC.

Grief and loss can be devastating. Left untreated, grief has the power to knock you off your foundation causing instability in your life. I would help to assist with the grief process by providing a safe therapeutic environment allowing the client to have a voice to express or to feel what needs to be felt. Grief needs a witness and a way of expression, but for this to be possible safety and support are essential. No one should ever have to grieve alone; therefore, providing safety, compassion, empathy, understanding and a non-judgement environment is therapeutically useful and healing.

Losing a friend or family member can be devastating no matter the circumstances. We can also experience pain from losing a pet, a job or the ending of a relationship. Regardless of what kind of grief or loss you are struggling with, I will support you in facing your pain and finding a way forward. I will help you to understand the process and stages of grief and make sense of it. When we come to make meaning out of our loss our pain is lessened. I will also help you find peace and acceptance.

I previously provided consultations for the BC Coroner's Office for 14 years. I functioned as a behavioural investigator and my role was to investigate completed suicides of youths 18 years of age and under. Needless to say this provided me with an opportunity to provide initial grief support to the most some of the most vulnerable clients at a most difficult time! As difficult as this role was it was an honour to have this opportunity to be there at the darkest hour!

Everyone at some point in their lives will have to grieve. Dealing with grief and loss is different for everyone and dependent on our relationship with the deceased, our religious beliefs, and our previous experiences with death. The pain we experience can be overwhelming and some people need additional support. We understand the wide range of emotions and behaviours associated with grief and will be with you every step of the way.

Working from an empathetic stance, I support families as they progress through stages of grief and loss. I also help them to find meaning and comfort during difficult times. Having lost loved ones as well, I provide non-judgemental therapy that is irrespective of the way the loss occurred (I have helped families process death due to suicide) and is person-centred. I work with different kinds of losses, including romantic relationship, loss by death, divorce, miscarriages and abortion, infertility as well as complicated grief.

My passion for Clinical Counseling developed throughout my 15+ years of professional experience in the human services field. During this time and as a Clinical Counsellor I have supported individuals in healing from anxiety, depression, PTSD, childhood trauma, and grief and loss. It is humbling to support youth, adults, and families to overcome distressing and traumatic life events while helping them realize their strengths and resilient qualities. In a client-centered, caring, and compassionate environment, I will support you in your journey of exploring those issues that cause you distress. It is important that you realize your true potential by being supported and empowered to discover and utilize your strengths. I will support you through your healing...(view profile to read more)

Individuals, couples, and families experience grief in their own way and on their own time. Often the feeling of loss changes and it can be extremely helpful to have someone to support you along your journey without judgment or expectations. To walk alongside with empathy and understanding.

We all experience grief and loss in unique ways. There is no "normal" way of grieving, and every one has their own experience of grief. Despite popular belief, there is no set "cycle" of grief. It can come and go. It can sneak up on us when we least expect it and catch us off guard. It can seem to be absent when we most believe we should be feeling it. What's more, grief and loss are not only associated with the death of a love one. We can experience grief in any change situation - a change in our career, moving away from our home, a personal injury or physical impairment, or the loss of our hopes or dreams. Fortunately, talking it through is one of the best ways of overcoming it.

Grief is unique to each person. It can be in the form of a lost ideal or a physical loss of a loved one. Walking along side, accepting, validating and nurturing your feelings in a comfortable and safe environment is my goal. Throughout this process and with time my hope is that we can build a new norm and renew your sense of hope while honouring and cherishing your loss.

Are you feeling lost and overwhelmed after a loved one has passed away or a partner has left? Do you feel like you're carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders? Do you find it difficult to get out of bed in the morning, or focus on your daily tasks? Grief can be a heavy burden, but you don't have to carry it alone. As a specialist in grief counselling, I can help you find a way through. By combining both warmth and compassion, as well as evidenced-based techniques, I can help you make sense of your loss. Together, we can find relief from the pain, while still honouring the memory of the person you've lost. If you're ready to start feeling better, don't hesitate to call.

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.

Sometimes the passage of time is not enough to help us after the loss of someone we love. Perhaps you want to speak of past experiences or to find closure to unfinished business. You may need to find ways to carry on in life, discovering new ways to participate emotionally or with life style changes. Carey will help you find what you need, encouraging you to find your path with self kindness and greater patience.

We cope with the loss of a loved ones in different ways. The way we grieve depends on our personality and the relationship with the loss one. Our cultural and religious background, coping skills, support systems, our social and financial status, affects how we cope with grief… There is no right or wrong way of coping with death. Sometimes when you do something to relieve your feelings and to give yourself a sense of achievement, you are accomplishing your journey through mourning. I work with you to plan specific activities and behaviours that are therapeutic for you during your grief.