Grief and Loss Counselling in Ottawa, ON.

Clients experiencing grief and loss can often benefit from a supportive therapeutic process. It can allow a space to explore feelings without having to take care of anyone else-it is just for them. Clients can also explore blocks or complications to grieving that might be contributing to their struggle, for instance older traumas, difficulty with feeling or expressing their emotions.

Losing someone you love can be the most painful experience. While grieving, you may experience all kinds of emotions, from anger to sadness. The lost of your love one may seem like your world just fell apart and you cannot imagine having a normal life again; remind yourself that this is all about grieving. Grieving is a process and can be very different from one person to another. But for sure, it takes some time and patience. An important thing that can help you go through the pain, is to have support and an ear to listen. I will provide a safe place to let your heart speak and I will help you identify ways that will help to smoothen your pain.

Rather than drive our grief and loss underground or deep into our unconscious, therapy allows us to focus on the pain of our loss with all its multiple layers. Processing our thoughts with the spoken word rather than keeping them as mere mental reflections permits us to actively embrace our pain. We experience clarity and eventually direction to our grieving process. We can in time come to a place of sorrowful acceptance. Elizabeth Kubler-Ross gives us understanding of the grief and loss process in her Five Stages of Grief. However, it is important to note that these stages are not linear in their progression and are somewhat unique to each individual.

Grief and loss are parts of life, and yet, everyone grieves in their own way. Grief can be complicated by other conditions, most notably depression. The person’s level of dependency on the departed can also cause complications. The grieving process often involves many difficult and complicated emotions. Yet joy, contentment, and humour do not have to be a lost memory. I work with you to help you recover from grief and loss and find your way back to feeling joyful again.

Feelings of grief and loss are as unique as those experiencing them. Counselling support is similarly tailored to meet the unique needs and goals of the client. One may experience feelings of grief following the loss of a loved one, the loss of a relationship, the loss of a dream, or the loss of a career; while these situations can feel overwhelming, one does not have to move through this alone.

Grieving and Loss are life and living issues that are part of the normal challenges we face in our lifetime. The often irrational and overwhelming thoughts, feelings and behaviors associated with them can sometimes frighten and even paralyze us when they occur. In a supportive and empathic environment I help people demystify and understand these challenges and events so they can cope again.

I work extensively with clients dealing with grief and loss. Co-existing with loss in our lives can feel like an overwhelmingly difficult task. Losses can profoundly affect not only our daily functioning, but also our relationships, our work life, and our health. Therapeutic work with clients focuses on acknowledging the impact of loss, exploring choices around how to live through the experience of loss, developing healthy ways to cope, and honoring that journey. I work creatively with clients to help them find their own personal ways of living that process.

Grieving is a necessary part of recovering from deep loss and making the transition to the next phase of life. However, for some people the loss is so overwhelming that the natural process gets stuck and they are unable to move through it. In these cases compassionate support can help you regain a sense of peace an wholeness. I use real, proven therapeutic tools that can help your heart to heal.

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.

Grief and loss affect us differently; sometimes it seems never to end and one finds it difficult to continue living life as normal. I am able to support you during this period to help you understand the different stages of grief and to see to it that you are able to recover your strength and your coping mechanism. Grief is a part of living. However, it becomes overwhelming when there is no support in place while we are grieving. I am available to support you during this period and to identify areas that are not functioning well and help you regain normalcy, regain your problem-solving skills and your resiliency!

Finding our way through a painful loss and the associated grief can be a most difficult and excruciating journey for any of us to encounter. However, it is with the intention of gently guiding clients back on the road to recovery. Through gaining insight and courageously tackling the loss both willingly and openly has proven beneficial. Ultimately allowing themselves to profoundly heal.

The pain of grief can truly be lessened by working with a counsellor. Talking about the loss and how it has affected you will help you feel the emotions, which helps them to pass through you. It is also helpful to have a professional inform you on what to expect when grieving, what types of symptoms are related to the grief, and specific approaches to comfort yourself.

You are feeling lost and lonely, as the result of the death of a loved one, the loss of a relationship, or the loss of a part of yourself due to an accident or chronic illness. Grief robs us of what we had, leaving us to feel despair. While we cannot bring back what has been lost, we can work together to understand your grief, in order to help you feel more functional again.