Grief and Loss Counselling in Oakville, ON.

Sudden loss is the most painful experience we face whether it is of a loved family member or something very dear and meaningful to us (including a job or the vision we have of ourself), it is uniquely personal and finding a quiet and empathetic forum to "just talk" so that pent-up and mixed feelings are let go, and in this and this alone is what is called "moving on". Unexpressed feelings of loss are the source of ongoing emotional distress. Often, "depression" can mask long-term loss that has not been "resolved". I will help you both understand the context of your loss and to move beyond it in order to be healthy and resilient again.

Grief and loss can feel overwhelming. It is often not just the loss of what has happened, but also the loss of an envisioned future that needs to be grieved. I have worked with many clients grieving the loss of family members, relationships or their own physical abilities. My experience has made me adept at being able to help you by sitting with you in your grief and slowly helping you process it, so you can reintegrate your loss into your life in a more manageable way. Call today and book a free consultation.

My approach to assisting with loss and grieving is to normalize the experience...loss of someone or something we love creates grief. Helping people learn how to best withstand and manage the emotions, the way loss can stop you in your tracks, and how to begin moving again is vital work. The bottom line is that, as long as you love, you grieve. We CAN learn to manage.

Grief is a highly individual process and is often experienced differently by different people. You may be seeking counselling as you are struggling with a recent loss or because your sense of grief has become overwhelming to you. Grief involves adaption to the loss and this takes time and compassion and self compassion. Whether loss is gradual, sudden, anticipated, imposed, death or non death related, psychotherapy provides the opportunity to explore ones emotional, cognitive or physical reactions to loss and gain perspective and/or meaning.

Are you struggling with the weight of grief and loss? You don’t have to navigate this journey alone. I’m Simona Ilieva, a Registered Psychotherapist, specializing in grief and loss therapy. Whether you’re mourning the loss of a loved one or experiencing another profound life change, I’m here to help you process your emotions, find meaning, and begin the healing process. Together, we’ll work through the pain and guide you toward a place of peace and acceptance. Grief is deeply personal, but with the right support, healing is possible. Let’s take this step toward healing together. Book a free consultation today.

Grief is a complex experience that may be accompanied by a diversity of difficult emotions that are challenging to work around. However, you are not alone. Each of us have a unique relationship with grief, and I am here to support you in discovering what that relationship looks like for you. You don’t have to know where to start or where you are going in your pathway to healing. There is no correct way to grieve. Contact me to book a free consultation to see if we would be a good fit.

Our therapists at Whiteboard are seasoned individuals who have lived through the joys and sorrows of life. Using this lived experience, our therapists use empathy and evidence-based techniques to help clients process the trauma which comes from grief and loss. Yes, we will all lose someone at some point in life. But that doesn't mean that the pathway to healing is the same for all of us. Your healing journey should be as unique as you are, and this requires the kind of safe, caring therapeutic approach which we provide at Whiteboard.

Therapy with me offers a compassionate space to feel and express your grief fully, without judgment or expectation. Here, you can say out loud the things that feel too heavy to share elsewhere and receive emotional support as you navigate the depth of your loss. Together, we create room for your unique way of grieving—whether through silence, tears, reflection, or story. You’ll be supported in learning to both honour and live alongside your grief, finding ways to carry it with gentleness and meaning. In this space, you can feel seen, heard, and accompanied as you heal at your own pace.

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.

Grief and loss comes in many different forms from the death of a loved one or pet, to the loss of a relationship, job or something else that was important to you. Every person experiences grief and loss differently but one thing that is common to all of us is the benefit of having a safe place to work through your thoughts and feelings to arrive at a place of more peace and acceptance.

At some point in our lifetimes, everybody is faced with grief and loss, children and youth included. When counseling my young clients, it is evident that children and youth have many questions and feelings surrounding this issue. They often feel scared, sad and alone. Talking to a therapist is a good way for clients to face their feelings and make sense of the situation. I help children normalize these feelings so that they know it is okay to feel sad, it is okay to have questions, and they are not alone. The pain may never go away but releasing the emotions and gaining some perspective and understanding, makes it easier to move forward a day at a time.

Have you had a loss in your life? Are you feeling sad and angry at times, or just feeling that you need to talk further about this experience? Coming to counselling can help you work through your feelings. Often people feel that they are struggling with moving forward, and have difficulty picturing life with the loss they have experienced. I can help you work through the difficult and extreme emotions that often accompany grief. I am happy to support you.

It is normal and natural to grieve when you feel shock, sadness, loneliness, desperation, guilt, emptiness or even anger about a loss of any kind. You might have lost a beloved person, a relationship, a pet, your job, financial stability or your safety after having experienced trauma. Grieving is deeply personal. Each one of us experiences the process differently, and it is important to be aware of your needs on your journey of healing. Please allow me to listen to your story, to offer you a safe space and to gently help you cope with overwhelming and often frightening emotions. Please call 905-842-3626

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.

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.

Life is a wonderful journey. Everyone has events that occur that can create waves of grief and loss. The pain may feel unbearable. These are times where we can learn profound life lessons about love, strength, and resilience. I approach Grief & Loss Therapy not as a time to "fix" or "cure" you of your pain, but as a partner to walk with you as you travel through your valleys of loss and sorrow.

Grief is the normal and natural reaction to significant emotional loss of any kind. It involves conflicting feelings caused by the end of, or change in, a familiar pattern of behaviour. It is the feeling of reaching out for someone who has always been there, they are no longer there. The grief journey is so individual and unique, so our work with people who need loss support is also specific to our clients' needs. We help people properly diagnose their difficulties and help them make sense of their conflicting emotions so that they can move through life with more peace and certainty.

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