Grief and Loss Counselling in Picture Butte, AB.

Grieving is healthy and involves a person experiencing loss acknowledging the loss and allowing some form of emotional connection to be experienced. If the loss was dramatically, or even traumatically significant to the person, the grieving process will likely be cyclical throughout the rest of that person’s life. All losses experienced will be grieved at some level, at various points in life following the loss. Grieving, even decades after a loss, does not mean a person is “broken” and in need of “fixing”. Stages of Grieving is more about “Tasks” that may happen repeatedly and at random placements rather than lineal stages.

Many people reach out for help to deal with grief or loss of a friend or family member. Its important to remember to be kind to your self during this time there is no right or wrong way to grieve. Its also important to remember a person can miss or grieve the loss of not only people but also jobs, events, trips, freedom, health and a number of other things As you process your memories of a person or an event you will be contained in a safe environment with acceptance and care.

Grief is a potential reaction to a loss of any kind whether through death, divorce, abandonment, separation, job loss, illness, disease diagnosis, kids leaving home, etc. Feelings of anger, resentment, shame, confusion, isolation or abandonment can result. Friends and family may not know what to say or how to provide support. A trained professional, who is profoundly sympathetic, respectful and empathetic, with the skills required to help one navigate through this difficult time, can be critical in helping one regain equilibrium.

Grief is something that no one can avoid but it can be one of the hardest things to acknowledge. Grief is a response to a loss and a form of emotional suffering. Everyone has a different grieving process that encompasses a variety of emotions such as anger, anxiety, guilt, and regret. Emotions can be confusing during the process and can be difficult to manage. What we feel when experiencing grief is one thing, but what we do with it, is another. It is my goal to support, acknowledge, and work with you in finding ways to heal. It is my hope to walk with you in this journey, to accept what is, feel, adjust, and eventually, find meaning.

Losing someone or something that is close to us, can leave us feeling as though we have a gaping hole in our hearts. Grief and Loss counselling will help you feel less alone during this time of struggle and provide the support needed to find new ways to flourish. It's incredible what kind of growth and new meaning can come from allowing ourselves to be transformed for the better by our loss.

My approach to grief and loss therapy is to increase my client's understanding of grief and loss and to help normalize and embrace their emotions during the grieving process. It is important to validate the past (because everyone grieves differently), adjust to the present (focusing on new skills and strategies while restructuring identity and roles), and redefine the future without their loved one while identifying hope and purpose.

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.

Who can go through life without suffering grief and loss? It is part of the human journey. So rather than running away from it, medicating it, why not find a trusted companion to process it. This would mean acknowledging what the loss object has added to your life and its meaning, what you will miss, and how you will reconstitute your life now for growth and a different future. Working with a therapist, you can find symbols and design rituals to represent various pieces of your loss to help you integrate what you let go of and the new life that beckons you.

Do you find yourself thinking about all of the ways that you could have or should have prevented that painful thing from happening? Sentences starting with "If only I", "If only they", "I should have", I shouldn't have" are all thoughts brought on by grief and loss and the desperation to change painful experiences and life events that result in loss. Do you revisit painful losses or feel trapped by grief that has a grip on you that will not let go? At Mindful Centre we understand grief and loss and we can help you to process the pain while honoring the ones you love and finding comfort and healing.

At Living Well we journey along side our clients suffering from a loss & offer respect as clients work through their grief. In addition to grief/loss you may be suffering with anxiety or depression, difficult decisions, family concerns & so forth. As such, we attempt to understand all that is going on and then recommend a therapist that's right for you.

Experiencing grief and loss can feel like navigating a stormy sea. In our therapy sessions, we'll sit together in the boat and find a way through the waves. I'm here to offer you a compassionate space to process those heavy feelings and memories. Through grief and loss therapy, you'll learn to honour your emotions and the one you've lost, while gently guiding you towards a place of peace and acceptance. You're not alone, and you don't have to carry the weight by yourself. Together, we'll find a path that lets you cherish the past while embracing the future - because even after loss, growth and hope can bloom.