Grief and Loss Counselling in West Point Grey, BC.

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.

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.

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 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!

Each of our lives is touched by grief and loss in personal ways –and- also globally, at times. The process of grieving can be naturally healing and cleansing. But sometimes loss is overwhelming or we simply need some good support for our grieving process. I believe in our natural ability to heal and recover from loss. Support I offer includes: • Understanding you and your unique story • Taking stock of a loss—what treasures remain and what is truly gone • Educating around healthy and unhealthy grief • Helping you discover the ways you already know how to grieve and cope with loss so you can amplify what helps and lessen what doesn’t

The death of a loved one can be the most challenging life event we go through. But death is a life stage we all will go through and the life we have led will impact the ones we leave behind. In my 16 years of counselling clients, I have been able to help clients discover the unique gifts and lessons of the one who has died. Learn how you can use these lessons and gifts to manage your grief in a more manageable way. The feelings and thoughts can be scary, uncertain and confusing to deal with, but you can get through the tough times. You have a unique way of grieving and that is okay. Let me help you find your way. Call me now to see what my services can offer you.

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.

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.

Grief is not only about losing a loved one . It’s about losing anything that is meaningful to us . Over time , we have developed an attachment with these important parts .Losing these parts leaves us with an insecurity. Through the therapy , we learn to see these parts , explore the needs that are left unmet and learn how to live while grieving.

My hope is that as clients work through the reality of the loss they have experienced, they will recover their clarity and inner direction, and will begin to create ways to move forward. Clients are encouraged to acknowledge the loss and to explore the gamut of emotions accompanying this loss. Clients are encouraged to express their gratitude for what was, and at their own pace, begin to move forward.

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.

Grief and loss leave us feeling distressed and destabilized. Whether your loss is through a break-up, death, or transition, grief can feel constant and heavy. I provide a supportive environment in which to reflect on the impact of your loss, and make sense of what this means for you - your sense of self, and your future. Whether it is the early days of your loss and you are looking for support to anchor you, or you have been struggling with this loss for months or years, we can work together to reconstruct meaning in your life.

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.

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.

Are you struggling to cope with the loss of a loved one? Do you need assistance to move forward through the grieving process? Counselling can provide you with the support and guidance needed during the grieving process. Charlene has assisted many clients over the years to find peace during this difficult time. Call Charlene to find out how she can help you.

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.

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.

If you have lost someone, I offer a compassionate and supportive space to explore your unique experience of loss. Listening carefully to your story, there's an opportunity to identify and honour your feelings, your memories and your relationship. Through gentle conversation and questions, there's a chance to rewrite your grief story, discover strengths, attend to resilience and find meaning amidst your pain. You can begin to acknowledge what you've been through while promoting healing, growth, a continued bond with the one who has passed and learning to live with loss

Grief can feel like an unbearable weight, making it hard to move forward. If you're struggling with loss, you're not alone. I provide a safe and compassionate space where you can express your pain without judgment. Together, we will work through overwhelming emotions, find meaning in your loss, and help you reconnect with life in a way that honors your loved one. Healing is possible, and I’m here to walk with you through it.

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 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.

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.

For each client I work with, I provide a personalized and tailored approach, drawing from a range of therapeutic modalities to support your mental health healing and functional recovery. Through a collaborative, client-centered process, I will walk alongside you as we explore meaningful ways to navigate grief and loss—empowering you to live a more fulfilling and balanced life.

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.

Through the use of a client centered approach, we help children and adults learn new ways to process and cope with the loss of a loved one. We use tools such as psycho-education to help clients better understand the grief cycle, as well as use different modalities and ideas for self-care and positive coping as they move through the grief process. We work together with the client towards healing and acceptance.