Grief and Loss Counselling in Waterloo, ON.

You may be grieving the loss of a loved one or of a special relationship. These kinds of losses can shake us to the core as we try to navigate our new reality amidst such a variety of changing feelings and circumstances. Everyone grieves differently. When we can turn to supportive friends and family we can be supported immensely. Sometimes, though there are issues that we may choose to share privately with an unbiased professional. I will help you to ground yourself to better cope and to ensure difficult decisions are well thought out. I will help you to do your best to preserve your relationships and self care in this process. Let's help you to cope through this major life change.

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.

Professionals now realize that that the process of coming to terms with one's grief is particularly hard when the grief threatens our basic beliefs about goodness or justice in the world, or when there is little social support. How we grieve is based on many factors in including our coping style. Rhonda feels called to understand each person's reaction in the context of his or her worldview and unique situation Facilitating adaptation rather than overcoming or recovering from major loss then becomes the goal. We can grieve our whole lives and it still be normal. Rhonda adds in the use of EMDR, a very effective technique, particularly useful for dealing with the traumatic aspects of loss.

We often don’t know what to say when we encounter someone who is in mourning, and in the process, sometimes unwittingly say things can be insensitive. We don’t really understand the grieving process, often misunderstanding why, either ourselves or others, haven’t ‘gotten over it’ in a suitable amount of time. These attitudes can leave people undergoing the grieving process experiencing such feelings as loneliness, being misunderstood and out of step—just to name a few. If our loss is due to incidents of suicide, miscarriage, or the death of a pet, our feelings of being outside of the norm can increase. Grieving is hard work. It takes as long as it takes. There is no standard time frame.

There is no love without loss. And we can't move on until we grieve. It is a healthy rite of passage. I will work with you through the 5 Stages of Grief and the terrible feelings of loss. Although the past can't die, and the future can't live, we will focus on a healthy present. I will help you learn how to manage grief rather than permit it to manage you.

Coping with the loss of a loved one, relationship, pet or job is a process that doesn't have to be undertaken alone. We can help you to honour your feelings and where you are at in your grieving, to take the time you need, to find ways of addressing the incidental responsibilities and worries that come with loss, to honour the importance of the loss through ritual, writing, art or other means, and to find ways of creating meaning and acceptance in order to move on. Complex grief, associated with trauma, can also be addressed, working through what's still being held in the body and exploring emotion regulation skills to help you face overwhelming pain with greater resiliency.

When I was 14 I experienced my first death. My grandpa was my favorite person in the world at the time. He used to sit beside me and play with my earlobe while we would talk about our day. I couldn't make sense of all the emotional issues that it brought. I have also experienced loss in my life that doesn't involve death, yet profoundly affected my life in negative and confusing ways. Grief & Loss can be pretty tricky and complex! The benefits to working with me is that I go above for all of my clients! One of my clients suffering with grief had not been to the burial site since the funeral. I drove them 2 hours so that we could journey together through something they were finally ready for.

Experiencing grief and loss is part of the human condition. The loss of a loved one, or a pet, or a painful life event are all some of the most difficult things we will go through. I have worked as a therapist and counsellor for close to 30 years, and not everyone goes through the 'five stages of grief' in the same way - or in the same order. You will find your own way through grief and loss, with empathetic guidance and therapy from me, as you learn to release the pain.

Loss and grief often feels like a wave that comes and goes. Feelings of loss and grief can hit us at the strangest of times such as standing in a checkout line, watching a movie or even driving. it may even feel like we are drowning or losing our footing. Learning when to go with the flow and feel the waves and learning how to stand in the shifting sand is th key. Let us help you thrive in the midst of the wave and learn to ride it out..

In my practice you will find a safe place to talk about and work through pain, and the feelings of sadness, confusion, guilt, shame and anger that often accompany the experience of grief and loss. Moving through grief and loss is your personal journey that takes time and is experienced uniquely from your own perspective. I provide therapy, counselling and and support for people who have lost a loved one such as a family member, friend or colleague whether through death or the ending of a relationship, those who have lost an important pet or animal companion or people who have experienced a loss that includes a loss of a job or personal identity.

As a holistic therapist, my goal is to help you uncover your true potential and discover greater confidence and self-awareness along your journey. By applying complementary therapy approaches and techniques, we will unearth long-standing behavior patterns or negative perceptions that may be holding you back from experiencing a more fulfilling and meaningful life.

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

Loss has many faces, coming from many different places. Even small losses can add up and sneak up on us, leaving us empty. While loss is a common part of life, we are not always given the tools or the opportunity to do the emotional work to complete the natural process of grief so we can be free to move on. In our work together, we will explore what is keeping you stuck, and identify the resources you need to move on, while honoring your loss. I can be your companion and share many tools with you on this often lonely journey. As a certified EMDR therapist, I can also help you more easily navigate the hardest parts of the journey using the resources of your own mind.

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.