Grief and Loss Counselling in West Kelowna, BC.

Often people can become overwhelmed with grief where you might feel shut down low energy states or highly activated states. This is due to the fact that the grief is so large the nervous system does not have the capacity to process it so it either gets stuck on high or shuts down into low energy states. Robin first works to effectively help to build the capacity to process emotions in your body. Then she titrates into the grief allowing it to process slowly and release out of the body .

When you lose a part of your life it can impact every part of who you are. Whether what you lost was person, pet, job or ability, it is hard to say goodbye. If your loss was expected or unexpected, the pain and grief that you feel hits hard, sometimes more than we think we can bear. There is no set timeframe to "get over" a loss. Each person has their own journey with grief. I can help you to reflect on the significance of the loss in your life, how to cope with grief, and a future that honours what you had to leave behind.

There are several tasks of grieving that a person must go through. Sometime our grief is complex grief (being hurt by another person or being responsible for the loss ourselves.) It does not matter how early in the grieving process that you seek help, EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) will receive the excess emotional pain and speed up the process of 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.

Loss of relationship like any loss has significant emotional consequences and can have impacts across the life spectrum. The fact that relationships are one of our primary coping mechanisms multiplies the potential distress. Processing and Resolving relationship loss can lead to significant better quality of life as well as significantly improved quality of future relationships.

Navigating through the intense emotions of grief and loss can be overwhelming and often lonely. Grief and loss is something that every single human is going to navigate at some point in their life, the challenge is that it is experienced very differently for everyone. Through our connection, my primary goal is to support you in understanding how to navigate through the intensity of it and acquiring some tools to move through the journey.

My approach to grief & loss follow the five recognised steps by Kubler-Ross & Kessler. I will provide a comforting environment & not minimise or try to stop the emotions that are associated with loss of any kind (loss of a long time partner, child, close relationship or even a beloved pet). My Client will feel supported & a great deal of empathy will be shown on my part. I believe that taking time, however long, to get to the stage of saying a few words will benefit my Client. Being listened to, with very little explanation of the five stages of grief, on my part, will benefit my Client. Early on there maybe only emotions expressed & I will be there to provide a safe place for these.

Giving the client the chance to discuss the loss they have experienced is how I approach grief and loss therapy. I provide a safe, judgement-free environment for them to talk to me about their emotions and an opportunity to express what they have been holding inside. By offering coping mechanisms that could be useful during the mourning process, I hope to assist the client in managing their bereavement. My main objective would be to help the client get through the normal emotional phases that follow a loss.

Losing a friend or family member can be devastating no matter the circumstances. We can also experience pain from losing a pet, a job or the ending of a relationship. Regardless of what kind of grief or loss you are struggling with, I will support you in facing your pain and finding a way forward. I will help you to understand the process and stages of grief and make sense of it. When we come to make meaning out of our loss our pain is lessened. I will also help you find peace and acceptance.

When we experience loss, we can become stuck in a pattern of negative feelings and emotions. It can be hard to more forward in the healing process. EMDR can help by targeting and reprocessing the underlying memories and emotions associated with the loss, thus allowing us to move through the stages of grief in a more healing and adaptive way. By reprocessing the negative experiences, we reduce the negative symptoms and increase our sense of emotional resilience and well-being.

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.

Everybody has experienced loss; some events have more impact on our mind than others. There are circumstances in life that make almost impossible to process this loss. There are way and methods to help with the normal flow of that process in order to overcome the pain. I have over 20 years helping people to find their way and their new identity after the loss.

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.

Loss comes in many forms. Whether we are dealing with a death, loss of a job, divorce, or identity challenges, we still endure a sense of grief. Additionally, loss impacts children, adolescents and adults in similar but distinct ways. However, experiencing loss does not have to be debilitating. I offer gentle, compassionate support that is tailored specifically for you and your family. I also offer services in a group format whereby children and parents attend sessions simultaneously but with separate therapists.

Grief and loss are unavoidable. We may think that time alone will enable us to heal, but this is rarely the case. Although time does help in the healing process, to truly heal, we need to work through our losses and the grief they bring. I can help you to do just that. I do not believe we were meant to shoulder our grief on our own. So if you find yourself somehow "stuck", and unable to truly move on, please contact me.

Grief and loss can be overwhelming, confusing and debilitating. There are often overpowering feelings of sadness,fear, anxiety, guilt and anger as well as thoughts and stories that we tell ourselves and others tell us. Sometimes there are other people to support and many responsibilities beyond the work of grieving that seem to preclude the possibility of meeting our own needs for personal support. I use reflection and empathy in a person centered approach to create a haven of safety that facilitates a sense of clarity and self connection in the journey of grief.

Grief is associated with many forms of loss. The most commonly accepted loss is the death of a loved one. Other losses include miscarriage, abortion; marriage, long term relationships; work; treasured possessions; hopes, dreams, wishes; personal integrity; privacy; safety/security; freedom; or trust. Grief is the inward experience of loss; mourning is the outward expression of it. It is a journey, a process, not an event, and needs time and social support to move beyond it. While on that grief journey, it is important to practice self-compassion and patience by reducing demands on ourselves. I can help you explore the depth of your grief, embrace it, then move on as you are ready.

The pain of loss comes in many forms. Everyone experiences grief differently and there is no "right" way to do it. Often there is not only the loss of a specific person or situation, but also the pain of the loss of hopes, dreams and future visions. Healing from loss and separation takes time. Therapy can provide a safe place to explore emotions, understand one's sense of loss/ grief and find ways to manage feelings. The human heart holds a great capacity for both sorrow and joy.

Everyone at some point in their lives will have to grieve. Dealing with grief and loss is different for everyone and dependent on our relationship with the deceased, our religious beliefs, and our previous experiences with death. The pain we experience can be overwhelming and some people need additional support. We understand the wide range of emotions and behaviours associated with grief and will be with you every step of the way.

Working through grief and loss takes time--I will go at your pace and accompany you on your journey. Perhaps you have read about the stages of grief--this does not mean you will go through these stages in any particular order, in fact, you may go through all the stages in the space of one hour and then go through them again. Together we will explore tools and ways to help you navigate your feelings around your loss, and find the meaning and purpose to continue. Sometimes this means talking about who you lost and what impact this had on you, finding connections to others who have had a similar experience, writing or drawing, or creating something to honour your loss.

Grief affects us all differently. Together we'll work through how you are affected. There is no timeline on grief, and no right or wrong way to move through it. Using tools from dialectical behaviour therapy, combined with humanism and Rogerian reflection, I can help provide some structure to the confusion of loss and mourning. Hurt is a natural part of loss and we'll approach it as such.

The experience of grief, whether through bereavement or another form of loss, is unique to each individual, as is my approach to working with you. Seeking help for grief does not mean prescribing to a set view of the way you 'should' go through this process, but rather involves working with you at the darkest depths, to help you discover your own path.

Grief & loss can seem debilitating and overwhelming and many people struggle in moving on. Counselling is a highly effective resource for healing after a loss. Through compassion and understanding we will work to heal the pain of the event and move into acceptance and peace. Whether you are grieving the loss of a loved one, the loss of health or mobility, divorce or mid life transition, we can help.

When we are facing grief and loss, there is often a complex web of emotions and many layers of meaning-making to encounter in our healing process. The path is never linear. The timeline requires sensitivity and nuance. Compassion, patience and the ability to hold seemingly contradictory feelings are paramount. With gentle presence, we can hold the magnitude and the subtleties of this experience moving step by step towards healing.

In my grief counselling practice, I specialize in guiding individuals through the intricate emotions that emerge following the loss of a loved one or a significant life change. I provide a secure and nurturing space where you can openly express your feelings, delve into memories, and address the challenges associated with grief. As your dedicated counsellor, I am committed to fostering a compassionate and understanding environment, supporting you on your journey to healing and finding a path forward.