Grief and Loss Counselling in Lions Bay, BC.

I offer grief counselling to help clients express complex emotions that can be a part of experiencing grief. I work with individuals to recognize symptoms related to grief and loss in its traditional and non-traditional forms. Grief can be a painful experience that leads to a sense of hopelessness, anger, guilt, sadness, and dysfunction. Together we can unpack the burden of grief and help you cope with your loss.

Grief can change everything. It can leave you feeling lost, exhausted, angry, numb, or wondering how you're supposed to move forward when a part of your life has changed forever. You don't have to have the right words or know what you need before you reach out. Together, we can make sense of what you're carrying, find ways to cope with the moments that feel hardest, and help you move forward without feeling like you have to leave your memories, or the person you've lost, behind. My goal is to help you feel more grounded, supported, and able to find your footing again, one step at a time.

In my work with grief and loss, I utilize Dr. Alan Wolfelt’s “grief as a garden” approach which offers a gentle, nurturing framework for understanding the grieving process. By viewing grief as a garden that requires tending, individuals are encouraged to honor their emotions, embrace vulnerability, and allow healing to unfold naturally over time. In a therapeutic context, this metaphor fosters self-compassion and patience, reminding clients that growth often comes from intentional care—such as cultivating self-awareness, processing feelings, and seeking support. This perspective can empower individuals to see grief not as a problem to solve but as a journey toward renewal and transformation

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.

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.

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.

Grief is a part of life for which we can never truly prepare, and looks different for everyone. There are many reasons why people experience grief which may be due to the loss of a loved one, loss of a pet, loss of a job to name a few. I provide grief therapy in order to help you understand your grief. I will also help to educate you on the different stages of grief so that you can better understand the process of grieving. Grief and loss counselling assists you in processing grief, working with you to find your new normal in the face of loss.

Grief is a natural part of life, but it can also be one of the hardest things we experience. And we don't only grieve the passing of a loved one; we also grieve pets passing away, the loss of a job or a relationship, the loss of bodily function, the loss of a part of our identity, or the figurative loss of years of our lives due to extended trauma, illness, caregiving, or feeling lost. Talking about it can help. EMDR Therapy can help as well, when the loss was traumatic or unexpected, and when you feel unable to move on after a lengthy period of mourning. I have a deep understanding of this, which allows me to be offer you insights and help you to feel better.

Therapy with me offers a compassionate space to gently process your grief at your own pace. Together, we'll explore the pain of your loss while honouring the love and meaning behind it. I'll support you in making sense of overwhelming emotions, finding steady ground and reconnecting with hope. Grief is not something to 'get over' but with care and presence, it can be carried differently. You don't have to face it alone. Healing begins with being heard

Grief and loss are a natural part of life. People of all ages, cultures and belief systems experience the sadness that accompanies the loss of a loved one, relationship, career or dreams. Relationship is key. Listening with empathy and validation of feelings is essential. The client needs to be heard, understood and emotionally supported. It is import to help the client understand that the grieving process is unique to each person. There is no right or wrong way to experience loss. It is also important to note that bereavement is occasionally misdiagnosed as depression. When an individual is grieving connection with others is eminent. Depression tends to lean towards isolation.

Loss may comee in many forms. The most obvious is relationship loss. A partner, spouse, relative or friend whos is not lomger with us can be an incredibly intense experience. Even someone who has moved away can leavchments to their e a void that may be difficult to fill. Other types of loses include that of ones pet. Many individuals form strong to their pets and this loss can be devistating. Grief is a naturel process that promotes healing. If grief persists for too long then it may dominate a persons ability to return to normal functioning

I believe that having a safe and comfortable place to express your grief can help anyone who is grieving a loss. Allowing yourself to feel your emotions is very important. The most important part of supporting a bereaved person is to acknowledge your feeling and to be with you. As time passes, the pain of early bereavement begins to fade. The depression lessens and you can begin to look forward to the future. I help you envision and map out a positive future while keeping your loved one 's spirit in your life.

Grieving is a process and a journey, not a feeling. When we lose someone, the feelings that arise are often unexpected, sometimes even random. And whatever those feelings are, we owe it to ourselves to feel them. They will, in fact, demand to be felt. As a therapist, I try to be a vessel to receive the feelings that come. I do so without judgement.