Grief and Loss Counselling in Clarington, ON.

Grief looks different for everyone, and there's no timeline for healing after a significant loss. I provide a compassionate, non-judgmental space where you can process your grief—whether from the death of a loved one, the end of a relationship, or another major life change—without feeling rushed or told how you should feel. Using trauma-informed and somatic approaches alongside traditional talk therapy, I help clients honour their loss while gently finding ways to carry it forward. My goal is to support you in navigating grief in a way that feels authentic to you.

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

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.

You are hurting right now, and I understand that. Grief has a way of making even ordinary days feel heavy, and you do not have to carry it alone. I have lived through grief and loss many times myself, and in more than three decades of practice I have sat with many people in exactly this kind of pain. Let us talk about what you are feeling. I have been a psychologist since 1986, and I can help. I am based in Calgary and see clients across Alberta, Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick by secure video. Book a session now: https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=14249112

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 .

The experience of loss may result from many life experiences including the passing of a human loved one or a beloved pet, the ending of a relationship, job loss, or changes to our physical or mental capabilities. Grief is one of the most challenging of human emotions. Together, we will navigate your unique grieving process to enable you to experience growth and empower you to create a life you can accept and enjoy despite your loss.

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.

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 are deeply personal experiences, and everyone’s journey through them is unique. In our sessions, I provide a compassionate and non-judgmental space to explore your feelings and memories. Whether you're dealing with the loss of a loved one, a significant life change, or another form of loss, we'll work together at a pace that feels right for you. My approach is to support you in finding your own path to healing while validating your individual experiences and emotions. Reach out to schedule a free 15-minute consultation to begin the process of understanding and coping with your grief.

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.

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.

Grief and loss are parts of our human experience. When you experience grief and loss, I want to encourage you that you are not alone in this journey. I collaborate with clients to help in normalizing grief, encouraging healthy coping strategies, facilitating healing, and persistence to knock down the pain of loss. I use CBT and EMDR together with active listening, empathy, and culture-sensitive infusion treatment. Please, do not suffer alone. I am here to help.

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.

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.

In times of deep loss, finding a way forward can feel overwhelming. With rich experience supporting those living with terminal illnesses and families who have lost loved ones, I understand there are no "right" ways to grieve. I offer a compassionate, non-judgmental space where you can share your unique journey. I’ll be here with you, honoring your feelings and helping you heal at your own pace, with empathy and care. Please schedule a free consultation with me to see if we are a good fit.