Grief and Loss Counselling in White Rock, BC.

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.

Unfortunately, grief is an unavoidable part of life. Everyone will lose someone they love at some point in their life. Managing a loss can be difficult and the world can feel like it's flipper over. Grief is a powerful emotional response to a loss that we have had and is not limited to the loss of losing someone. I help guide my clients in a non-judgemental way in helping to process their emotions attached to the grief that they are experiencing along with processing the event of the grief. I will listen to my clients in a supportive manner, sensitively and caringly help individuals to grieve their losses in their own unique ways and go over rituals which may help despite their grief.

Grey Matters International and the work of Kevin J. Fleming, Ph.D approaches issues of grief & loss through the lens of innovation----instead of growing the same neural networks responsible for the pain in weekly therapy sessions, we reset the brain to move forward quicker and efficiently by working on the stuck limbic system so as to empower the person with more success and traction. For no one wants to stay in a grief mode for too long; but when you don’t include the brain in your work with someone, you risk describing the water to them while they drown and calling it success. Contact Grey Matters International, Inc now at kevin@kevinflemingphd.com or 877-606-6161.

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.

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.

When people come for grief counselling, often there is a memory or image that is haunting them, or coming as a "flashback", and which is hard for them to let go. The work I do, using EMDR therapy helps to put such memories to rest. This does not mean that you will forget what has happened, or stop loving the person who is gone, only that it will not longer have that constant sharp-edge, ever present feel. Some clients need a few counselling sessions to ease the pain, though I've had clients who healed decades-old grief from loss of a parent in childhood, in one or two sessions. They were then able to live their lives more fully.

My hope is that as clients work through the reality of the loss they have experienced, they will recover their clarity and inner direction, and will begin to create ways to move forward. Clients are encouraged to acknowledge the loss and to explore the gamut of emotions accompanying this loss. Clients are encouraged to express their gratitude for what was, and at their own pace, begin to move forward.

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.

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.

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 & 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.

Dealing with grief & loss is not easy. When we are grieving, it is often multi-faceted and non-linear, it can bring up many different emotions, some unexpected. Working with a therapist through grief & loss can help process the many emotions that may arise. I view the grieving process of each client as unique and support you by allowing space and guiding you to process whatever is coming up in a way that feels comfortable and towards healing.