Grief and Loss Counselling in Port Moody, BC.

Are you having a hard time coping with loss of loved one or with a major life change such divorce or loss of job? Both can leave deep feelings of sadness and eventually this sadness can leave the person with feelings of resentment and anger. Each person varies how they adapt to the significant loss. I help my clients create individualised copy techniques, and methods in treating their symptoms. I work at at the clients pace to help them adjust to the major change in their life.

Though every experience of loss is personal and unique, there are maps to help us navigate this painful process. Sometimes present grief is complicated by past losses that have re-surfaced and this can make dealing with it alone especially difficult. As an experienced and knowledgeable counsellor in the area of Loss and Grief, I can support you in not feeling overwhelmed. I am there as a compassionate listener and witness, as well as a guide, as your heart heals and you are able to celebrate life again.

Angela Herd understands the grief process is a normal response to loss and is unique to each person. Loss comes in many forms and significant losses can affect one's relationships, self-concept and perception of the world. Angela is an experienced counsellor who offers support and relief. Angela provides a safe space that invites clients to share their experiences of loss; as well as, gain insight and skills to cope with strong feelings that may at times feel overwhelming and uncontrollable. Angela offers a wide range of options for expression that include traditional verbal therapy, art & play therapy, phototherapy and other creative modalities.Call Angela today for your free consultation.

My approach to counselling for grief and loss is that everyone's experience of grief is unique and valid. There is no right way to respond to grief and it is not a linear path. With compassion and understanding I will come alongside you in your journey, wherever you are in your loss. Together we will process the loss as well as the effects it has on your life and relationships. When you are ready we can discuss strategies for your life that will support you as you move forward through the loss and pain, that include meaning and purpose.

Grief is common to us all, however, how we grieve, is a very individual experience. My focus is in familiarizing you with your process of grieving and helping you reorganize your emotional life with grief as a predominant character. Grief can be alienating, to our former self, as well as to our those closest to us. My role is helping you integrate your grief, as much as we can.

If you are human and have ever loved, you will inevitably experience grief in your life. Grief comes as a result of a loss, whether it be loss of a loved one, a job, a home. Sometimes, grief is so intense, it feels overwhelming and paralyzing. My approach in dealing with grief is to provide a safe space to work through and process all of the emotions surrounding the loss, ultimately leading to a place of acceptance and peace.

Experiencing the death of a loved one or any other significant loss can be one of the most difficult and painful experiences of your life. I am committed to helping my clients navigate these challenging emotions and find a path towards healing. I believe that everyone's journey through grief and loss is unique, and therefore I tailor my therapeutic approach to the specific needs and goals of each client. If you are ready to take the first step towards healing and growth, I invite you to reach out to me for a confidential consultation. Together, we can work towards finding peace and acceptance in the midst of your loss.

Grief and loss is a lonely, isolating and often surreal experience. You may experience stages of anger, negotiation, sadness, and acceptance. Sometimes you just need to cry while being witnessed. This space is here for me to witness all the sadness, emotions, crying, facilitate you holding yourself in compassion instead of criticism and judgment and help you move through the stages toward the other side.

GRIEF AND LOSS THERAPY Discovering how to live with and move through the pain of loss is a deeply personal process. There is no set amount of time or way to grieve. Only the time and manner that is right for you is right. Sadness, intense grief, anger and fear, a sense of lost identity, feelings of guilt, disorientation, a loss of purpose, a feeling of numbness may be part of your experience. As a counsellor who has worked with people of all ages and backgrounds, I bring a compassionate heart, a nonjudgmental approach and a warm environment where you can safely explore the feelings and thoughts that face you. Getting the support you need can make a huge difference.

The pain of grief is different from any pain we feel during our lives. Grief brings up different and sometimes conflicting emotions and unprocessed grief leads to other mental health issues. My approach to grief is creating a safe space in which the clients can share the many different emotions that grief brings up. I also help my clients get in touch with what they need to go through this difficult phase with more compassion. We talk about what the loss means for them and how they can build their life around all the changes that grief brings. Together we will sit with difficult emotions, with the questions that might not have any answers and with the overwhelming pain.

The loss of any relationship can be devastating. Grief for the death of a loved one can go through many phases before we come to accept the loss. In a family system, changes in relationships occur and we often see sides of our families that did not exist prior to the death. Often the end of a relationship can feel like a death and takes time to heal and move forward. Learning about the natural process of healing from Grif and Loss will be helpful in the weeks and months following a loss.

I offer grief counselling to help clients express complex emotions that can be a part of experiencing grief. I work with individuals to recognize symptoms related to grief and loss in its traditional and non-traditional forms. Grief can be a painful experience that leads to a sense of hopelessness, anger, guilt, sadness, and dysfunction. Together we can unpack the burden of grief and help you cope with your loss.

Grief and Loss are the primary factors in every area of challenge in our lives. It could be the loss of a key relationship or the loss of self esteem, the loss of direction or health or identity, that is the basis of why one needs counselling support. No matter what the loss is, the benefits of identifying that loss and working through the grief process will release you from pain and hopelessness and move you into a world of hope and possibility!

As we journey through life loss is inevitable. We experience loss whenever there is a transition in our lives; changing careers, moving, our children leave home, our relationships ends, and most deeply when someone we love dies. All of these losses require us to grieve. Each of us feels the depth of the loss or change in our own unique way so our grief is very individual and personal. In my work with grief and loss I offer, with deep compassion, a safe place to express the emotional pain around the loss you are experiencing and offer tools to help you navigate life with the loss and find a way to thrive again.

Here's what clients have said: "When I came to see you, I felt that I was talking to a friend who understood and was in no way judgmental. ....I always felt better after leaving your office...You seemed to know when to talk and when to let me talk - which was most of the time." "Thank you Kathryn for creating a safe place where I could be free to be in the very depths of my grief and yet always knew I wasnt alone. ...Unlike other people who wanted me to stop crying and "just get over it" you seem to understand how grief overrides reason and problem solving. Most people want me to move on so they wont feel uncomfortable Im sad. You always made it about me, my process and my needs."

Grief is such a personal thing and place of vulnerability for each individual. I can be a safe place to talk about the different feelings you may be having and also to go throught the very painful and challenging grieving process. In a time that very often feels quite alone, you will not be alone. I can help you discover coping tools and ways to get through the difficulties and emotions, all of which are to be expected.

I work directly with the emotional parts of the brain to take the edge of the pain of grief and loss. I accomplish this through the use of narrative therapy, logotherapy (meaning and purpose), EMDR and OEI (draw out specific areas of emotional pain), and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. Clients report that this process significantly decreases their level of stress and pain without the need to recall or relive painful events.

I work with compassion and insight helping clients face loss and grief. Whether the loss is a spouse, a child, a friend, a family member or a pet. I help my clients by explaining the stages of grief that they will most likely go through. I offer a safe place to move ahead from their loss and grief at their own speed. I also have a speciality of working with pet-loss.

I help clients navigate their loss whether it be from the death of a loved one, the end of a relationship, or the loss of something important such as a job, a pet, a friendship, or oneself. My approach to helping clients addresses regrets, change, acceptance, anger, and sadness. With people who have lost their loved one, I teach ways of keeping their loved one "alive" and honouring them rather than using traditional approaches of "letting go" and "moving on," which are being shown to be unhelpful and unreasonable for many clients. This fresh perspective helps my clients through a difficult time in their lives while teaching meaningful strategies to use throughout their lives.

Grief and loss are integral parts of life but the emotional devastation that we can experience as a result, can be extremely hard to manage. It's natural that we want to minimize the emotional fallout - it's so hard on our hearts! Medical research has shown that the physical effect on our hearts looks just like a heart attack! The good news is that it's possible to recover. With help to navigate such painful places, I've seen people experience new insights, develop new ways of understanding themselves and others and transform a broken heart into a functioning one again. It's not an easy road, but it leads to a lighter place.

The death of a loved one can be the most challenging life event we go through. But death is a life stage we all will go through and the life we have led will impact the ones we leave behind. In my 16 years of counselling clients, I have been able to help clients discover the unique gifts and lessons of the one who has died. Learn how you can use these lessons and gifts to manage your grief in a more manageable way. The feelings and thoughts can be scary, uncertain and confusing to deal with, but you can get through the tough times. You have a unique way of grieving and that is okay. Let me help you find your way. Call me now to see what my services can offer you.

Grief and loss can present itself in many different ways and show up in our lives in many different forms. Surviving a loss can be life-shattering, especially if we feel like we are experiencing it alone. My experience with grief is that it comes in waves and is not a linear process. There is no clear process or timeline that we should hold ourselves to when recovering from a loss. Each person's experience is unique and carries its own complexities with it. Together we can discuss what is weighing heavily on you and find a path forward towards healing.

It is beyond feeling down when you lose someone special or a loved one to death, addiction, divorce, immigration, or other life circumstances. You may find this a very lonely journey. We help you heal from your grief and loss using Narrative therapy, Gestalt therapy, and a person-centered approach while honouring the past about that loss and providing you with empathy in your grief journey.

ARE YOU STRUGGLING TO MOVE FORWARD AFTER A LOSS OR IS YOUR GRIEF TOO MUCH TO HANDLE ON YOUR OWN? Grief is heartbreaking, and can be overwhelming. The emotions following a significant loss can range from sadness, guilt, anger and fear – and sometimes all of these at once. At the same time, it is not uncommon to also experience numbness and detachment in the aftermath of loss. Overall, people who have experienced a major loss often describe feeling destabilized, unable to concentrate, and unmoored. Loss can change how we see ourselves and the world around us, which leaves us uncertain as to how to move forward. Let's work through the complexities of your grief together.

Death is a natural part of the life cycle but whether expected or sudden we are often left with many emotions. My counselling approach gives you the opportunity to express your feelings in a safe and confidential environment, and allows room for exploration of your feelings. By expressing feelings of loss/grief, clients often report feeling less overwhelmed, sad, and depressed.