Grief and Loss Counselling in Redwater, AB.

Loss and grief come in many forms. Grieving is a personal experience. I have worked with clients experiencing loss of a loved one including a pet companion, loss of functioning/mobility, employment loss including retirement, and relocation/joining a new country. My approach integrates compassion, hope, renewal, and ways to integrate the loss. In my work and research in this area, moving forward from loss combines honouring the past while actively finding new ways to engage in the present.

Grief is like having a broken rib. You may look fine on the outside, but there is massive pain on the inside. It hurts to move, sometimes it hurts to even breathe. Everyone experiences grief differently, but a commonality is that grieving alone makes it harder to heal. We are social beings and we feel intense grief when we loose someone we love. You are meant to be seen, heard and supported by others through grief. Sadness needs to be processed and there is no quick fix (I wish it was easier). If we can find meaning in the midst of loss it provides something to hold onto as you navigate your pain, and learn to move forward.

Grief and loss can bring overwhelming emotions and a sense of deep sadness, and navigating this pain can feel difficult and isolating. In our work together, I offer a caring, non-judgmental space where you can process your feelings at your own pace. I will support you in exploring the emotions tied to your grief and help you find healthy ways to cope. We will work to understand the impact of your loss and find ways to move forward, healing in your own time. My goal is to help you find peace, comfort, and a renewed sense of meaning and strength as you navigate this difficult time.

At Rivers Edge Counselling, our therapists can help you with your grief or bereavement by: helping you better identify and accept your loss, move through the various emotions associated with loss like anger, hopelessness, sadness, guilt and loneliness seek a new approach to remember and honour a loved one who has passed away, and finally accept the impact it has had on shaping your life.

When we are unable to emotionally move on from a significant loss, the grief recovery process can help. It is a 8 session process to identify the loss, in addition to others, and creates a structured format to move through the thoughts and feelings that remain. This process leaves clients feeling very differently at the end of the set of sessions, where they report that they have said what they needed to say, but never had a chance to and now feel very differently about accepting the loss and finding peace within the acceptance.

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 and bereavement are very normal responses to loss. However, the experience of grief and bereavement can be extremely difficult and feel paralyzing or overwhelming. Whether you have lost a loved one, a beloved pet, or have experienced a change in ability or circumstance, I can help you explore loss, learn tools to process grief, and build a plan for coping.

While grief is a natural part of life, it can be overwhelming to go through the multitude of feelings that accompany a loss. I believe that people grieve a number of events in life, from the death of a loved one, to the loss of important relationships, retirement, the "empty nest," or transitioning from one phase of life to another. I help those who are grieving to understand the process, and learn how to bear the feelings that rise up "like waves." I also work towards helping people to honour the positive aspects of what has been lost, and reach a place of acceptance, while adapting to a new way of living.

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.

Grief and Loss does not necessarily involve death, it can be present in any type of loss or change such as loss of job or relationship, life transitions.. Grief and loss can be layered and complicated. Feelings of loss is an individual experience and process. We all experience some form of grief and loss at some point in our life and having support during this time can be helpful.

Loosing a loved ones hurts especially if it's a spouse, child, parent, friend or family pet. Dealing with grief is a process and having a gentle, compassionate person to walk through this with you can be the difference between drowning, and moving through overwhelmingly painful feelings to feeling whole again. Art therapy offers another modality for expressing grief that may be hard to articulate. It is when we process our emotions that pain can be lifted and new maces of being in the world are found.

Grieving a loss can feel overwhelming and sometimes it feels like the pain will never end. Losses are experienced uniquely for each individual and reactions can greatly vary. Having a compassionate person to talk and share with makes a difference. Processing your feelings enables you to work through the stages of grief. As you deal with pain, guilt, anger and overwhelm you move from surviving to thriving again.

When we suffer a loss our tendency is to cling to the person or thing that was lost. Grief is the process of letting go. Through grief therapy you will be able to find the courage to embrace the inevitable pain and to transform the emptiness into a renewed affirmation of yourself. The pain needs to be fully experienced and expressed in a supportive environment. It is a normal reflection of our love for the one we have lost.

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.

I would like to be your support system in your grief journey by giving you a safe and judgement free environment, where you will be able to experience emotional and physical support. Together, we will start your healing process through sharing your story, increasing your understanding of the situation, finding new coping skills, working on your hope...

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 can take on a number of forms in pregnancy and parenthood. Grief regarding fertility struggles, miscarriage, infant loss, loss of identity and more can be common experiences for parents. At Nest, we provide a supportive and sensitive environment for those who are struggling with grief and loss and empower individuals to incorporate grief into their lives in a meaningful and sustainable way.