Grief and Loss Counselling in Stittsville, ON.

Helping clients go through the stages of grief and loss by validating their experience and educating them on what these stages consist of and strategies to help them cope with the variety of emotions that they will be processing through this difficult time. Also helping clients recognize that grief and loss are a part of any type of loss that we may encounter, whether it be the loss of a relationship, loss of a job, loss of a loved one, etc.

Grief is a natural part of life that can take many forms, such as the loss of a loved one, a relationship break-up, loss of a job or an unexpected change. While the experience of grief can be very painful, complex and sometimes debilitating, it isn’t a process you have to go through alone. Together, let’s explore its facets, draw upon your current inner resources and resilience, add to your skills, and learn to reengage with life in a meaningful way.

Grief and loss are inevitable and an inescapable part of life. Grief can of course include the loss of someone to death, but it can also be ambiguous. Ambiguous loss can include the loss of relationships, family connections, our identities, our careers, or even who we were pre-pandemic? Grief around post-traumatic events or grieving the loss of a childhood you never had are also types of losses and grief that I can help you with.

When you lose someone or something you love, it may seem like the pain will never end. I will hold space for your grief, and any emotion that comes up, as you share your inner turmoil. Over time, the pain will lesson, and you will gain the energy, focus, and motivation that you have been missing. You do not have to walk this path alone. Reach out, and you will be met with a gentle voice full of compassion.

The Grief and Loss Service (GLS) at the Centre for Interpersonal Relationships (CFIR) offers clients counselling and psychotherapy to support them to address past and present grief and loss. Unprocessed grief and loss can affect our emotional well-being, our functioning in everyday life and our interpersonal relationships. We help you to understand the meanings of your losses, and to process the unresolved or complicated emotional residue from these losses. We support you throughout your grieving process so that you may move forward with your life with a renewed sense of meaning, purpose and hope. CFIR psychologists and clinicians employ psychodynamic and experiential approaches to support

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.

Grief and loss are complex emotions that at times can feel as though one is on an emotional rollercoaster. It can result in being angry, sad, resentful, relieved, and tired. An important aspect of grief is social support and self-care. Through counselling, it becomes about not getting rid of the emotion of grief and loss but rather living with them and accepting what life now looks like with friend.

I approach grief and loss with a deep understanding that it manifests in various forms, each deserving recognition and validation. I emphasize that grieving is a natural response not only to the death of loved ones but also to the loss of pets, plants, and any significant changes in life. By normalizing these experiences, I help clients see that their feelings are valid and that grief can touch any aspect of our lives. It's important to acknowledge and process these feelings at your own pace, and I provide a supportive environment to explore these emotions. Whether it's a cherished pet, a favourite plant, or a life transition, I guide clients through their unique grieving process.

Grieving is the intense pining or yearning for the loss of anything; for example it could be a job, a particular time, your health, an object or a person. One can feel disbelief, shock, fear, anger, frustration, sadness, abandoned, hopeless, shame and/or humiliation. How is the loss affecting you? Any loss can be traumatic, life altering and difficult to cope with. The pain may never completely go away but it can be managed in a healthy way.

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.

Grief and loss is hard, it is difficult and we all experience it in many phases of our life span. There is no right or wrong in grieving or any length of time however, there is life and hope after! It is learning to accept the grief, feel it and then move on with either with professional help or your own path to moving forward with your life.

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, 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.