Grief and Loss Counselling in Stittsville, ON.

When every day becomes a struggle, and when you cannot help but be utterly preoccupied with your loss much of the day, it’s time to seek help from a professional grief. Our grief counsellors will teach you methods of coping that help you move through your grief. Through grief counselling, you are encouraged to explore emotions surrounding your personal loss. Guided by our counsellors, you will uncover your feelings and thoughts about your bereavement, learning to deal with them more effectively as they appear. Our grief counselling is also helpful for people who are anticipating a loss.

I can support you as you journey through the waves/ fog of grief and loss, including through divorce, health issues or life transitions. I will help you: to have hope and confidence that you can resolve these issues; and to make choices that will lead you to your physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being. I offer relaxation exercises and cognitive therapy. I am trained in EMDR which greatly helps overcome anxiety, stress and trauma. I offer EFT which also positively shifts our thinking and modifies our anxiety response. I serve adults, & young adults 16 and over and seniors. This is your opportunity. I am here to help you.

Grief can be a clinical issue as: 1) Immediate and profound loss-death of a loved one – including either a sudden and unexpected or drawn-out and exhausting loss or 2) Unresolved grief – often unacknowledged as well - to whatever degree- of losses as described in (1) or can reflect more nuanced emotional losses – loss of safety, hope, joy, etc. Human life is full of loss and in the face of this undeniable fact, the challenge for the therapist lies in assisting and challenging the grieving client, to find, from within themselves, meaning, as related to such a profound and overwhelming loss.

Clients who are faced with grief and loss go through a number of stages in the grieving process. Counselling at Elim help clients go through these stages in a normal and healthy way without spiralling into complicated grief or chronic depression. In addition counsellors at Elim are trained in understanding the spiritual crisis that people of faith often go through when dealing with grief and loss.

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.

Many of my clients have a very difficult time assimilating a deep loss in their lives especially when they have lost a dearly beloved family member. At the time of their loss they require immense support and a "listening" ear". They often fear that they will never recover. What I offer them is some hope for their future and I suggest some techniques to them of how to "take the long view." I also assist them in finding relevant resources in their local community that can support them through the following months and years. I remind them that the last thing that their departed loved one would want is for them to lose their motivation and zest. I empower them to go on fully living.

To be separated from a loved one is one of the deepest tragedies of life, and many people resort to therapy to help them with their grief and mourn. As a therapist my role is not only to listen to someone's life story, but it is also to help clients come to terms with the loss, and to gently guide them into the direction of life, and what is worth living and struggling for.

Losing someone that you love can be totally life altering. It is a uniquely painful experience that brings so many emotions, and yet at times, can leave you feeling totally empty and numb on the inside. I understand that grief can be very messy and that it looks different for every person. My desire is to support you and help you journey through your loss in a way that fits for you. I will also seek to gently guide you through the necessary steps of grief in order for you to experience relief, peace and emotional well being. There's a quote, I'm not sure who said it but it applies well, "I will help you keep on living until you feel alive again!"

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.

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.

Left alone grief and loss does not go away. It stay dormant and can affect your health. I help clients safely process their grief and loss using CBT and EFT. Many fear that if they start crying or talking about their loss that they will not stop. It takes more time and physical, mental & emotional energy to avoid dealing with your grief and loss than actually processing it. After processing the grief and loss, you may feel physically lighter, focus better and be less irritable. When you avoid processing grief and loss your focus is on the past and are less able to enjoy the present. Take back your life by going to counselling.

People grieve for many reasons: the death of a loved one, a family member being diagnosed with a life changing illness, the loss of a relationship or job, children growing up and leaving home, and many other changes that happen in life. Whatever your loss may be, we can walk the journey together as you explore the stages of grief, the meaning you attach to your loss, and how you can redefine yourself despite your profound loss. There are many approaches to use for grief and loss, including spirituality, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Mindfulness, and Interpersonal Therapy. Together, we will define what will work for your unique situation.

Grief and loss are experienced not only through the death of a loved one. All major life changes (i.e. end of a relationship, job change, illness, etc.) can be experienced as a loss. Counselling can help to cope with major losses by learning what you can expect as you grieve and developing healthy strategies to take care of yourself through the stages of adjustment to loss.