Grief and Loss Counselling in Port Moody, BC.

Losing a loved one, a job or changes to a closely held worldview and value structure alters the way you experience the world. The grieving process over this loss is natural as you come to terms with your new reality. This can be an uplifting time and growth opportunity. By embracing the change in your reality, identifying its meaning and effects on your value structure you will be able to celebrate a lost love one’s life and lessons learned to move forward with the greater purpose. Grief becomes overwhelming when we are trapped in mourning what we no long have. I will work with you to sooth this pain and help identify areas of positive growth; so you can come out the other side a greater str....

Do you wake up in the morning and have a wave of sadness wash over you as you remember the pain of your loss? Although bereavement is part of life there are times when the circumstances surrounding a loss of a loved one makes it very difficult to come to terms with. Together we will hold a space that will allow you the opportunity to be comforted and heal.

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!

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

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.

Grief and loss counseling offers compassionate support for individuals navigating the complex emotions and adjustments following the death of a loved one or other significant losses. Grief and loss can be applied to life transitions, acceptance, and acknowledgemen of less than ideal relationships. A safe space is provided for clients to express and process their feelings of sadness, anger, guilt, and confusion. Through techniques such as narrative therapy, mindfulness, and expressive arts, clients explore their unique grief experiences and develop coping strategies to navigate the grieving process.

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.

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.

Are you feeling sad, anxious, angry, lonely, guilty, relieved, isolated, confused, or numbed out? Loss and grief is most often associated with loss of life, but it can also be central to the presenting problems and underlying issues that are brought into my counselling office by most of my clients. Death, divorce, relocation, immigration, job loss, relationship breakdowns...these are all losses that we need to work through. Talking about your loss and processing your feelings is a good place to start.

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.

We have to learn to live with it, but losing someone close is so painful and we will all face this pain at many points in our lives. It can feel like we've lost a part of ourselves that we won't be able to live without. This pain can linger, and it can disappear only to reappear as if it had just happened. My hope is to help you feel comfortable to let it in as something that allows you to appreciate the relationship that once was in all its completeness.

Whether you are facing the passing of a loved one, significant life changes, a painful break-up, or any form of loss, it can feel very overwhelming. In these moments, I am here to offer compassionate support and healing. Grief is a deeply personal journey, and I am committed to guiding you through it. Together we will tap into your inner strength, find peace amidst the ache of loss and gently rebuild your life. No matter how painful life may feel right now, it is possible to live again. Reach out and take the first step towards healing today.

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.