Grief and Loss Counselling in Puslinch, ON.

When it comes to grief and loss, I choose to use a client-centered approach to therapy. During our sessions, I will work with you, with unconditional positive regard for your situation and emotions, to recognize personal strengths and discover answers within your personal values and beliefs. I believe we are all equipped to make it through various degrees of grief and loss. Using this approach builds upon the individual strength you possess and provides a safe place to explore the emotions and questions you may be encountering.

Hope Centered Counselling understands first hand the pain associated with losing someone, losing a fur baby, and the loss when something changes in your life. A relationship changing, a change in career, or moving somewhere new can come with significant losses. We get it, and we want to help you walk through the experience, and hold space for the hard parts.

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.

Your experiences of grief and loss are unique. Therapy can provide a safe space to learn about grief and what to expect during this process. It may be helpful to explore some of the emotions you are experiencing, while understanding how to stay connected to others and develop a new relationship to and understanding of the loss you have endured. Book a free consultation to explore if we are a good fit.

I help people process their grief and loss from death to the loss of relationships in other ways. I will assist you making meaning of your grief and loss, listening carefully to the narrative of your loss. We will talk about incorporating your loss into your life story and helping you to move forward at your own pace.

Grief is an intensely personal experience, and it is never the same for any two people; even two people grieving the same loss. Some abide by the commonly known Stages of Grief, while those stages are recognizable, I believe the process is not linear, and any stage can be experienced at any time. Completely accepting people wherever they are in the grieving process prevents the expectation of a grieving in a certain order. My approach is to show compassion, emphasize self-care, and to provide a safe place and plenty of opportunity for self-expression. The creation of memory/legacy pieces in the form of songs, poems, and/or visual arts is an option when appropriate.

Although therapy cannot help you replace who/what has been lost, it can help you come to accept the reality of the loss, to be able to look backwards and remember the good, and to be able to look forward with hope. Grief and loss therapy can be helpful for those who have lost a loved one, are going through a separation or divorce, lost a job, experienced an injury, received a medical diagnosis, or recently experienced a disappointment.

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.

Whether you're grieving a loved one, a role, or a version of yourself, grief changes you—but you don’t have to navigate it alone. Loss can leave us feeling torn between memories, guilt, relief, or even numbness. With empathy shaped by many years of accompanying individuals and families through change, I offer a nurturing, non-judgmental space to honour every part of your experience. My goal is to help you find meaning in the midst of sorrow, cultivate resilience, and rediscover moments of peace, gently untangling emotions with practical tools from CBT, ACT, and mindfulness. Together, we make space for what was, tend gently to what is, and build meaning for what comes next.

Grief and loss are significant life experiences that can be difficult to manage. I have heard from many that sometimes it seems like the extreme sadness will not leave them. I work with such clients to try and make space in their life to experience positive emotions along with the sadness. Grief is very individual and some clients desire help to "move past the grief", while others do not agree with this. I work to meet clients where they are, to optimize their day to day life experiences according to their own individual hopes. In addition, I help clients to find meaning in their experience of grief and loss, honour the life of their lost loved one, and manage the related difficult emotions.

We will all experience grief and loss at various times in our lives and with varying effects. While it is normal to experience sadness after a loss, some people benefit from some extra support at this difficult time. Whether this is the result of losing someone or something important to you, grief needs a witness. Fully exploring the loss that you have experienced and its impact on you is the first step in figuring out how to integrate the loss into your life as you move forward.

Loss of a loved one is often one of those most challenging hard ships that we face. Although many try to prepare for loss, we are often faced with more than sadness and emptiness, but with feelings of guilt, anger, disappointment. Therapy can help an individual come to terms with their loss and learn to rebuild life. Although we will not ever forget those who have been close to us, the memories associated with their lives will feel less painful with time.

We provide a safe place for grieving people to be heard and process the loss they are coping with. Whether that is the loss of a loved one, a job, or a life transition, having someone to grieve with is an crucial part of the grief journey. Our therapists listen with compassion and provide the supportive care needed. We also provide children and youth with creative approaches that help them communicate and process what may be difficult for them to fully verbalize.

With warmth, compassion and positive energy I will help you discover new hope and courage for the future. Change is difficult… I’m not much of a fan myself… but together you will soon see beyond the pain. With respect and dignity we will honor the loss and find a way to move forward and get you back to living the best life possible. Together, we will create a new normal; one that brings out the best in you.

I Guide my clients through therapeutic art-making combined with talking therapy to tackle grief & loss in their lives. I may or may not direct my clients on what pieces of art to make to help them through their grieving process. The benefits of an Art Therapy approach to grief & loss is that it gives my clients another outlet for expressing difficult feelings, helps them find healthy ways of coping, and allows them to create meaningful pieces of art to commemorate their memories of their loved ones. I allow my clients to be the experts on their feelings, and allow the art sessions to flow naturally based on where they are in their grieving process.

Grieving is not something to overcome, rather to be respected. It is the careful and essential process toward healing; toward finding acceptance and understanding. It can’t be rushed, but it can be directed. Through compassion and therapeutic guidance, grief can do its work effectively. Profound changes in our lives can be daunting. Despite years of experience, I am humbled by those in grief. Grieving is complicated. The boundaries of pain reach beyond sadness, loss, and adjustment, often to unfinished business, guilt, and anger. It seems unimaginable, but with guidance, fragmented emotions can find balance again. Life will find its way.

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 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.

Coping with loss and adjusting to life without a loved one is overwhelming. It is unsettling and painful to watch the world keep turning when it feels like yours has stopped. Adequate emotional support is critical during these times. Therapy will not only provide appropriate coping skills but also offer a safe space to feel and process your loss. Reach out for a free consultation; we can talk and see if I am the right fit to walk with you through this adjustment.

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 experienced in unique ways and are often influenced by family background, culture and personal experiences, values, and core beliefs. While grief is often thought of a response to death, grief may also be a reaction to significant life-altering events of loss, such as a divorced, loss of a job, loss of property or income, which can lead to social withdrawal, anger and confusion. Shauna can help you cope with your responses to loss and traumatic change.

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.

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.

Loses happen in our life. The most common response to the significant loss is grief. We all have been there and not just once. Unfortunately, many of us were not prepared for the stress and sadness of loss and did ‘not know how to go through grieving, and what to do to cope with it. At the same time, the science of Psychology developed coping methods and tools that can provide relief and help you get back on your feet. It is not necessary to experience this alone, take the opportunity to come and learn the arsenal of tools under my guidance and support to begin the journey of recovery. We cannot eliminate loses from our life, but we can reduce its negative impact and promote healing.

Everyone experiences loss at some time in their lives, but sometimes the loss of a loved one is too much to bear alone. Adapting to this profound change in our lives is very difficult. Talking with someone with whom you comfortable, can help you navigate this stage in your life. You will learn new skills as you deal with your feelings and adapt to the changes you are experiencing. Be confident that with time you will recover and feel hope again.