Grief and Loss Counselling in Kent, BC.

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.

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.

“So it’s true, when all is said and done, grief is the price we pay for love.” -E.A. Bucchianeri There are many griefs and losses that come with being a human being: death of a loved one, a break-up, children growing up, any move or major change. You also never lose just one thing; you may lose a sense of "home," or how you remember your past, or future hopes. Counselling can help you navigate grief and loss. It can create a space where the range of emotions - numbness, relief, sadness, anger - can be felt and worked through.

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.

When we are mourning a loved one, whether it be a family member, the end of a close relationship, or even an animal that was dear to heart, it is a very complex and painful process. There is no one right way to grieve. Some clients need to discuss a specific situation word-for-word in order to process a loss and others need to just sit in the pain and cry. As a counsellor, I would be there on that journey with you. I would discuss with you what you want to discuss about the loss and I would use a client-centred approach to help guide you through your bereavement.

I understand that the pain you're going through right now feels unbearable, like a heavy weight on your soul. In our work together, we'll create a safe space to explore your feelings and memories, using therapeutic approaches tailored to your unique experience of grief. While the journey ahead may be challenging, it's important to remember that healing is possible. You don't have to go through this alone; I'll be here to support you every step of the way, helping you find a path toward hope and renewal.

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 losing someone or something important to us, it can take lots time to adjust and learn to live our life without that person, thing or way of life. Either it is the death of a loved one, loss of a relationship, loss of a pet, loss of a job or important possessions, change to your way of life, grieving is a normal response to a life event and bottling it up can create damage or even harm to a person. It can take time to adjust and accept to learn to live life without that person, thing or way of life. When it gets too challenging or overwhelming, or if it gets in a way of living a healthy life, sometimes turning to professional support can help getting through this challenging event.

In grief and loss counseling, I create a flexible space that adapts to your needs. Whether you need patient listening or feel stuck and need guidance through open-ended questions, I meet you where you are. I'm genuinely curious about understanding you as a whole person and your unique loss—there's no shallow or rushed approach here, no platitudes or quick fixes. Something resourceful I offer is a therapeutic goodbye letter adapted from Elisabeth Kübler-Ross's work, helping you express complex, contradictory emotions—what you regret and don't regret, miss and don't miss. What makes this different is it honors the fullness of ambivalent feelings. Clients report feeling truly heard, not judged or rushed, as they move forward in their own time.

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.

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!