Grief and Loss Counselling in Shawnigan Lake, BC.

Losing someone through a relationship break up, the loss of life, or a major change in life circumstances can be the most profoundly sad experiences we endure in this life. A loss may feel insurmountable or you may be numb, rejecting the loss, avoiding the suffering that comes with acknowledging a new reality. It is sad but true that suffering is a part of human existence. But so is joy, happiness and contentment. Counselling can help you understand what you need in order to grieve. Recognizing the importance of your loss, accepting it and making plans for moving forward can help you continue on your path and learn to cope and survive your grief.

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.

The death of a loved one, or the loss of a relationship, identity, role, possession, or job can be extremely difficult to live with. How do you endure and make sense of the unfathomable? Although grieving in relation to loss is a normal response, sometimes we become immobilized by it, and need help and support in order to deal with it effectively. Dr Sloat can support you by helping you to, 1) Process and work through your grief, 2) Find new meaning and purpose in the face of tragedy, and 3) Find the courage to eventually move on.

I use my own experience of loss and relevant therapeutic insights to guide you through the grieving process. When your grief hurts those closest to you or interferes with your day to day functioning, you need to give attention to your hurt. This is where a trained outsider can be of help. We all go through similar stages of grief when faced with a significant loss, but in our own unique way. We need to take the time and address what is possible at each moment. By making sense of where you are in the grieving process, clarifying your beliefs and expectations of how much time grieving should take and what the end result should be, you will be able to integrate your experience.

Going through grief and loss can leave your whole world frozen and meaningless. Through therapy with me, you will find a road back to meaning and recover your life energy. The process of grieving is one of acceptance and through acceptance and letting go, you can actually regain your wisdom with a profound sense of strength and new insights. There are many types of loss, from losing a close person or pet, to leaving your home city or house, or even losing a job or losing a relationship through separation and divorce, as well as through death. There is also the very real loss of hope and dreams, plans that may be lost through death, separation or illness. With gentle support, I will help you.

Grief is a deeply personal experience. I have found that grief can best be accompanied with compassion, gentleness, expression of loss, and the creation of a personalized ritual to assist in finding closure and peace. People greave in every culture, every religion, every walk of life. I am committed to meeting you wherever you may be in the grief process and joining you as you emerge through it to the other side. Contact me today for a free initial consultation.

Our natural response to any loss is to grieve. Maybe there is grief for a loved one, for a broken promise or betrayed trust, for lost opportunities, for the suffering of another, for the end of a relationship, or the loss of a job. It can be a complicated process involving a complex (and often confusing) array of painful feelings that often affect us on all levels - mind, body and spirit. In my practice, I help people to work through the mourning process, exploring ways to honor their loss, and begin to adapt to changes and new realities. Maybe together, we can find a way through.

Grief is a multilayered emotion that can come in waves, it can wax and wane, or it can completely throw you off your feet at different times in your life. I am here to help you gain footing by providing a compassionate and safe space to explore the difficult and complex terrain of grief. I will meet you wherever you are in your grieving experience and provide you with a safe and compassionate space to move within it in meaningful ways. I will offer information about the grieving process to help you understand some of the confusing, distressing and overwhelming feelings you may be experiencing and to help promote confidence in your ability to navigate through this challenging time.

We will all experience loss in our life. Loss can take so many forms, from the loss of a dear loved one, to the loss of a job, a pet, a dream, a role, or an identity. Grief is what we feel following a loss. No two person's grief looks the same, although culture sometimes judges right and wrong ways to grieve. Grief can encompass a complex range of sometimes conflicting feelings, from deep sadness, regret, and guilt, to relief, joy, and gratitude. All feelings in the grief experience are valid, and these feelings may come, go, and change dynamically over time. Counselling can help you to move forward with your grief and make meaning of your loss.

If you are reading this description because you have recently suffered a loss, please know that I am deeply sympathetic to your pain. In therapy, my intent is to bear witness to your suffering, to ensure that your emotions are sorted through and given open expression, and then to help find meaning in what often seems a meaningless situation. I believe that grief is complicated, highly personal, and not responsive to formulas or prescribed methods of treatment. There is only an untread path, and I would be honoured to walk it with you.

Through safety, support and compassion, Shelley helps her clients through the difficult process of grief and loss. Encouraging clients to be compassionate towards themselves, as well as promoting self care as they move through the different stages of grief. Shelley normalizes and teaches clients about the grief process as she holds out the possibilities of hope and recovery from this painful period of time. Shelley helps clients to find meaning and purpose as they embrace their grief with the underpinnings of growth and healing.

Experiencing a loss goes beyond the loss of the family, friend, pet, or child to be. Not only have you lost the loved one physically; you lose what your life was with them; and what your future with them would have been. Overcoming such loss can feel overwhelming and impossible to heal. Counselling can make a significant difference in getting through this difficult period. Family members who may mean well may not understand the loss and inadvertently cause us pain: by expecting us to ‘get over it’, and by impatient and unsympathetic. Counselling offers a compassionate sounding board that is sympathetic and non-judgemental. We are able to heal at our own pace in a supportive environment.