Grief and Loss Counselling in Courtenay, BC.

Grief and loss are a part of all of our lives. If you are experiencing grief and loss then often it is helpful to speak in confidence to a professional who is empathetic and understands the grieving process. There are many ways we can be affected by grief including loss due to death, marriages ending, relationships, jobs, or friends. Benefits of seeking counselling at these times can be to identify and better understand our feelings, to express our grief in a safe place with a compassionate listener who is free from judgement and to explore ideas of the best ways for you to move forwards.

When losing someone or something important to us, it can take lots time to adjust and learn to live our life without that person, thing or way of life. Either it is the death of a loved one, loss of a relationship, loss of a pet, loss of a job or important possessions, change to your way of life, grieving is a normal response to a life event and bottling it up can create damage or even harm to a person. It can take time to adjust and accept to learn to live life without that person, thing or way of life. When it gets too challenging or overwhelming, or if it gets in a way of living a healthy life, sometimes turning to professional support can help getting through this challenging event.

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.

Are you using alcohol, substances, or addictive behaviors to cope with grief and loss? Although they provide relief in the short term, their long-term effects on your relationships and health can make it even more difficult to cope. Through a compassionate non-judgmental approach, I help clients explore their relationship to grief and loss so that they can overcome addictive coping strategies. If you're looking for another way forward, feel free to reach out and we can set up a free consultation to discuss further.

I understand that the pain you're going through right now feels unbearable, like a heavy weight on your soul. In our work together, we'll create a safe space to explore your feelings and memories, using therapeutic approaches tailored to your unique experience of grief. While the journey ahead may be challenging, it's important to remember that healing is possible. You don't have to go through this alone; I'll be here to support you every step of the way, helping you find a path toward hope and renewal.

Inspired by the work of David Kessler, the industry leader in Grief work, we aim to help our clients find meaning through their grief. If nothing else we strive to bear witness to our clients' grief and hold space for them to move through their emotional experiences in pursuit of healing. We will never put a timeline on your healing process and will walk alongside you the whole way.