Grief and Loss Counselling in Bowmanville, ON.

Feeling grief and loss is unique to each person, but it is felt more or less as a form of depression. Grief and loss is felt not just from the death of a loved one, but also from divorce and relationship losses. I find that clients often begin to feel isolated in their grief, relationships become affected, and moving through daily activities can feel overwhelming. As a Specialist in Depression, I help my clients move through the stages of loss, and I help them to feel pleasure and hope in their daily lives, rebuilding self-esteem and self-worth. I offer kindness and support, and my clients often comment that they "feel lighter" and "hopeful" after each session.

In the depths of grief, finding solace can feel like an impossible journey. You're not alone, and your pain is valid. I'm here to provide a compassionate and understanding space where you can navigate your own path to healing. No judgment, no expectations—just support tailored to your needs. Together, we'll honor your journey and explore ways to find peace amidst the pain. Reach out today to start your healing process. Your first consultation is free, and I'm here to support you.

Whether it's the loss of an individual or a life change, grief comes with many emotions whether it be sadness, relief, anger, anxiety, etc. During therapy, we will discuss ways to cope with these feelings so they are not so overwhelming in your day-to-day living. We will also explore what the value of the loss is to you, and discuss ways of honoring this so you can move forward with a fulfilling life.

Processing loss is painful, confusing and often isolating. This is not something that is as simple as progressing through "stages" in order and typically involves emotions that we have been taught to avoid or suppress. Working with a therapist to unpack and go through grief and loss can offer some space and perspective that is not there when we talk with friends and family. Here you can have a non-judgmental space to take the time to work this out in the way that you need. This is not always easy, but we can navigate this together.

Drawing upon the work of Elizabeth Kubler-Ross ("On Death & Dying" and "On Grief and Grieving"), I support people in their grieving journey, assessing the challenges and also the strengths each person has to most effectively adjust to loss and develop effective coping strategies. Ultimately, finding ways to carry this loss and grief in the most graceful way possible is the goal to be attained. Courage and faith along with a growing spiritual understanding and openness contribute greatly to the success of this work.

Have you found yourself in deep sadness from a recent loss or that may be many years old and perhaps you are only recently recognizing? People were designed to reach out to someone when they are grieving and have had a loss. Unfortunately in our modern world, we are expected to be brief about our losses, to shrug them off and move on. You don't have to suffer alone. I will support you to more fully allow yourself to experience this loss and sadness in safety so that you can truly process the pain. Please contact me for help.

After a loss, it is not uncommon to feel helpless, sad, anxious, fearful, or depressed. We understand that the emotional pain you may be feeling makes it hard to live life as it was before the loss. We are here to help you to navigate through the pain, we are here to help you to understand the loss and its impact on you, and we are here to ultimately help you to develop better strategies to cope with the loss and adjust to this new reality. Our approach to therapy means that we are committed to collaborating with you throughout this process in a compassionate and accepting atmosphere.

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.

With Gestalt therapy the five tasks of mourning, are supported: (1) To accept the reality of the loss, (2) To experience the pain of grief, (3) To adjust to the environment in which the deceased is missing, (4) To withdraw (some) emotional energy and reinvest it in another relationship, and (5) To find a place for and maintain a continuing bond with what we lose, however not in any specific order. A gestalt therapist supports the bereaved with an emphasis on a "loving authentic presence and communication that allows expression of EACH other’s personhood" so that feelings are honored and explored at the clients own pace. The here and now is emphasized and that is what leads to support/change

When life falls apart, the pillars you hold onto are no longer there. There is a groundlessness to it. Therapy can help you move through the depth of feelings and thoughts that may feel too uncomfortable to share with friends. Acknowledging the pain and loss and finding ways to rebuild slowly and gently are the ways therapy can help in these painful and human life experiences. Therapy helps you move through the almost surreal pain of loss and grief. Together, you work on grieving the loss, learning how to find pleasure in life again without guilt and moving through the experience without suppressing how you feel and move forward in supported and healthy ways.

Navigate the journey of grief and loss with supportive, compassionate guidance through each stage. Grief therapy combined with an Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) approach offers clients a safe space to process complex emotions, find meaning, and rebuild connections. EFT helps clients access and understand their deepest feelings, leading to profound healing and resilience. Embrace a therapeutic path that respects your unique experience, empowering you to honor your loss while gradually rediscovering hope and balance.

Whether through a death or a break up, loss and the grieving process is extremely difficult. I’m sure you’ve heard of the stages of grieving (denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance). But, they don’t always go in that order, and they often jump around in your time line. Your grieving process has no time limits, and every journey is unique. I will walk with you through that, at your pace. No matter which stage of grieving you’re in, reach out to schedule a free 15-minute consultation to see if we are a good fit.

Are you experiencing a loss of sense of self, job loss, separation/divorce, unexpected transitions, death/loss of a loved one (pets included), challenging life transitions, retirement, or unexpected change. Grief comes in all forms. Together we can improve quality of life by learning how to cope with change and bring back joy & humour in difficult times.

If you are looking at this page chances are you have lost somebody or something you hold dear to your heart. If so, I am glad you are reaching out; it will be my pleasure support you, hold you, and guide you though this process until you can overcome it. Loss is a part of life. We can grieve for a variety of reasons; we may lose a job, a loved one, we may fail to achieve a goal, we may face infertility, or lose the health we used to have. Even though the grieving process is never fun when it debilitates your ability carry a normal life Grief Therapy becomes necessary. We'll work according to your personality including approaches such as psychoeducation, CBT, mindfulness and spirituality .