Grief and Loss Counselling in Lanark County, ON.

Feelings of grief and loss are a normal part of life! People often feel self-conscious about expressing there feelings to the people in their lives who may had either 'moved on' or who don't know how best to help. I provide a safe place for people to verbalize the feelings of grief and/or disorientation they may be experiencing following the loss of either of loved one or the loss of stability through changes in employment , moving, or other major life transitions.

Many people have ideas about how grief should look or feel based on expectations from family, society, or the media. There are so many experiences and events that deserve be mourned, whether society recognizes them or not, and your feelings about the loss are valid. Your experience of grief is unique to you and there is no correct way to process your loss, which is why I work collaboratively with clients to explore meaning in the thoughts and feelings that emerge as you begin your healing journey. Book a free consultation to learn more about my approach and explore if we are a good fit.

My approach to grief and loss is rooted in empathy and understanding. I provide a supportive space for you to process your feelings and navigate the complex journey of healing. If you're seeking support during this challenging time, I invite you to reach out and book a free consultation. Together, we'll honor your experiences and find ways to move forward. Schedule a free 15-minute consultation to see if we are a good fit.

In work with grief and loss, I offer a compassionate and steady space where clients can process emotions at their own pace without pressure to “move on” quickly. Grief can feel complex, layered, and sometimes isolating, and therapy provides room to explore both the pain of loss and the meaning held within it. Clients often benefit from increased emotional expression, reduced isolation, and a gradual integration of loss into their ongoing life story. Together, we focus on honouring what has been lost while supporting continued connection to life and identity.

Grief, loss, and bereavement, whether it is the passing of a loved one, the end of a career, or the falling-apart of a relationship are all similar: we are losing or have lost an important part of our lives. Understanding the emotions, feelings, and behaviours we have when we experience grief and bereavement is part of helping us accept what has occurred, why we feel the way that we are feeling, and what is next for us. In working with clients on grief, loss, and bereavement it is important to understand that the way we process these experiences is unique to each person, and the pillar of respect is paramount.

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