Grief and Loss Counselling in Guelph, ON.

Grief and loss is a normal part of life. Having space and time to process normal feelings of grief and loss can lead to a healthy integration of the loss and reduce complications such as depression and anxiety associated with an interrupted grieving process. Providing a therapeutic relationship that allows sharing of the impact helps normalize the loss, increase acceptance and generate feelings of well being.

As a therapist, I understand the profound impact that grief and bereavement can have on an individual's life. Through therapy, we embark on a journey of healing, offering a safe and compassionate space to explore the complex emotions associated with loss. Together, we navigate the stages of grief, acknowledging the pain, anger, sadness, and confusion that accompany it. Through this process, clients find solace in expressing their feelings openly and learn to integrate their loss into their lives in meaningful ways. Therapy provides a supportive framework for developing coping strategies, fostering resilience, and ultimately, finding a sense of peace and acceptance amidst the pain of loss.

Contemporary approaches to coping with grief and loss have shown that the path of acceptance and healing is not linear, but a winding road and unique process for every individual. Psychotherapy can help you along your path by providing an outlet for those challenging emotions and providing you with tools to help you cope. With personal experience, I will lend a hand in helping you to cope and integrate the challenges presented by the loss of a loved one or a significant relationship as you find your new normal. Those we lose remain in our hearts, and by remembering them with gratitude we can begin to heal.

Grieving the loss of a loved one or facing life's upheavals alone can be overwhelming. But you're not alone. I offer personalized support and guidance tailored to your unique journey toward healing. With a warm and accepting environment, we'll explore your grief, develop coping strategies, and find moments of hope amidst the pain. Ready to begin your healing journey? Let's walk this path together."

In my practice you will find a safe place to talk about and work through pain, and the feelings of sadness, confusion, guilt, shame and anger that often accompany the experience of grief and loss. Moving through grief and loss is your personal journey that takes time and is experienced uniquely from your own perspective. I provide therapy, counselling and and support for people who have lost a loved one such as a family member, friend or colleague whether through death or the ending of a relationship, those who have lost an important pet or animal companion or people who have experienced a loss that includes a loss of a job or personal identity.

When I was 14 I experienced my first death. My grandpa was my favorite person in the world at the time. He used to sit beside me and play with my earlobe while we would talk about our day. I couldn't make sense of all the emotional issues that it brought. I have also experienced loss in my life that doesn't involve death, yet profoundly affected my life in negative and confusing ways. Grief & Loss can be pretty tricky and complex! The benefits to working with me is that I go above for all of my clients! One of my clients suffering with grief had not been to the burial site since the funeral. I drove them 2 hours so that we could journey together through something they were finally ready for.

Disruption and change (personal or professional, expected or unexpected) can cause considerable psychological and emotional pain for many. Being able to successfully adapt to or handle change is a big part of life. Many us struggle with change because it creates a sense of loss. Many men going through life changes do not allow themselves the opportunity to feel emotions like sadness or grief - a natural part of processing change and loss. I help men to better cope with life's disruptions, increase their ability to process change and strengthen their resilience so they can successfully adapt to life's challenges and find happiness and joy again.

I believe there are many forms of grief and loss. We may be grieving the loss of a loved one, our dream of what home is, grief of the pain of the planet, ecosystems and species, loss of an inner sense of balance. One activity I love to share with people who are grieving is to be present with a river. I invite them to pay attention as the water flows downstream and to tune into what they are letting go of. Then I invite them to notice how there is water flowing toward them and ask what newness might be emerging within? Often people are surprised to discover that our loss is creating space for something new to arise.

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.

Grief and Loss is not only when you lose a loved one, it is true when you lose a job, a pet, a relationship, an identity and many more. Grief sometimes cripples us as it always comes in waves and there is no one way to deal with grief and loss. I work with clients to help them acknowledge loss and understand grief in their own terms and find ways to deal with the emotions that comes with grief and loss.

Life's journey can be quite challenging. Our close relationships are truly precious to us. When they come to an end, particularly on short notice or without any warning, it can be an incredibly painful experience. Grief can manifest in various forms, whether it be the loss of a loved one, a missed opportunity, or perhaps a significant change in our everyday life. Often in grief, there are things that are left unsaid. In our sessions I will create a non-judgmental and compassionate space for you to process your pain in a meaningful way. Remember, you don't have to face this alone.

In the wake of death, divorce, or tragedy, it is normal to feel lost, cut adrift, and out-of-control. Grief therapy is a safe place to become grounded, where you can process your emotions without fear of being judged or shut down. While your friends and family might want you to move on fast - there are no "shoulds" or "musts" here. In our sessions, we'll work on processing grief on your own terms, in a way that honours you and the relationship you had with the person you lost. We'll work to help you get your bearings and - in time - to return back to life after your loss.

Grief is the emotional suffering we feel when we lose something or someone important to us. This can include the loss of friend, partner, or family member, a change in life circumstances, death of a pet, getting fired, loss of health, safety, a dream... anything that we once had and now do not. The intensity and process can be unique for each person, but like all other emotions that impact the quality of our life, ignoring it or suppressing it does not work. Seeking support as we move through the various stages of grief is very helpful. Planning for our healing is crucial so that we do not become 'stuck' in the pain. A skilled therapist can assist us during this vulnerable time.

Individual therapy is focused on your unique needs and goals. Individual therapy includes learning about your history and life experiences then establishing goals to accomplish in counselling. Our histories are the roots that provide us with a foundation of strength and resilience. But, our histories can also hold the stories that cause pain, insecurity and doubt. It is our belief that the best therapy comes from helping to heal the roots that cause those stuck points. Through this we can create lasting change.

I open up space for clients accept and share their grief, since many people don't feel comfortable doing so, especially with others. I help clients to work toward resolving unresolved grief and express their unexpressed grief. I help clients to honour & give space to their grief. In today's rushed world, people often don't take adequate time to honour their grief & sense of loss. I help clients to try and honour what their lost loved one would have wanted for them, or, sometimes to take back their life back from a lost loved one who didn't value or validate them. I work to prepare clients for grief to be lifelong, though that doesn't mean that it will always have the same intensity.

We will review your history and gain a perspective on the loss you are experiencing. we will define realistic expectations of how you are experiencing your loss together. Loss is a natural experience that often we place a lot of guilt and expectations beyond ourselves to "get over". Your loss is individual and you deserve to work through it in a way that fits for your needs- no one else's.

An experienced professional psychologist provides not only support, but also challenges the person suffering from grief and loss to move forward in an adaptive way. Comprehensive clinical psychological assessment for greif often also addresses possible clinical depression, anxiety or bereavement. Elements of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy are often used in treatment.

There is a natural process of grieving but sometimes, for various reasons we become 'stuck' and lost in the midst of the grief and losses we have experienced. Grief and loss occur not just when we have lost someone through death. There are so many losses: the loss of a marriage, the loss of a deep friendship, the loss of a job or even the loss of a long held dream or hope among so many others. It is possible to find hope and way to move forward in the midst of these losses. I will walk alongside you and help you to find new ways to move forward.