Grief and Loss Counselling in York, ON.

Every person's grief and loss is unique. I will work with you to process that unique experience through discussion in sessions, and exercises that I will give you to process your thoughts and feelings. These exercises wll be specific to your loss. We will also embrace the healing power of time, and the notion of radical acceptance of what cannot be changed.

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.

Wouldn’t it feel reassuring to have someone listen with compassion? Whether you've lost someone physically or psychologically, grief hits you when you least expect it. We can try everything to avoid those emotions that follow, but grief is patient, grief does not discriminate and will wait until you're done. Greif will wait until you finally have a moment to yourself or when you're in the middle of a conversation. Let's move through the grief and be waiting for it instead.

The experience of loss may result from many life experiences including the passing of a human loved one or a beloved pet, the ending of a relationship, job loss, or changes to our physical or mental capabilities. Grief is one of the most challenging of human emotions. Together, we will navigate your unique grieving process to enable you to experience growth and empower you to create a life you can accept and enjoy despite your loss.

What makes grief so painful? Perhaps it's because we experience a double loss. The first is losing a loved one, the second is losing a part of our ourselves. This is why the familiar saying, "you gotta let go," can sometimes make things worse. Instead of letting go, I'm interested in how we can bring people closer: closer to what we hold dear, closer to what we cherished most… In doing so, we can begin to develop a new relationship with our departed loved one, and simultaneously offer comfort and healing to parts of ourselves.

Grief can take many forms, and has several stages. Clients may understand that they are grieving a loss, or they may feel stuck in their lives, because they are not aware of the impact of this loss. Feelings about this loss might emerge easily or they may be hidden. Unresolved grief gets in the way of healthy living. It is hard to move on if a loss has not been grieved. We know that death of a loved one is a loss. However, separation and divorce, loss of health, job loss, loss of a friend, and life transitions can lead to feelings of loss. By discussing thoughts, expressing feelings, and exploring the impact of a loss, clients can move on more peacefully in life and find resolution.

Grief can feel overwhelming and confusing and it can be hard to know how to cope with these emotions and our sense of loss. In times like these it can be so helpful to have a person come alongside and walk this journey with you. In my work with individuals who have experienced grief, I support each person to discover their own unique path to healing from grief. Book a free consultation to explore if we are a good fit.