Grief and Loss Counselling in Kingston, ON.

Loosing some one to death, the loss of relationships, or being separated from people, places or things that are important to you are all things that people experience grief over. I use a compassionate and narrative approach to addressing these issues. Clients can expect to examine the stories they have been told or are telling themselves about these experiences and be encourage to re-author those stories so that they support a preferred way of living and healing from these experiences.

Anytime we lose someone significant we experience grief and loss. But what about when something in our life changes? What about when our hopes or dreams get shattered? This too is loss and it too causes grief. If either of these experiences get in the way of your daily life functioning, then it might be time to talk someone. Let's connect and help you navigate these deep emotions.

Grief is like a gut-punch that seems to never subside. With a compassionate approach and gentle style, I help individuals navigate the complexities of grief, providing tools to cope with the pain of loss while honoring their unique experiences. Through empathetic listening and tailored therapeutic techniques, clients will learn to understand their grief, develop healthy coping strategies, and find a renewed sense of hope and meaning in life.

Everyone experiences grief and loss differently. And everyone, at some point or another experiences the loss of an important person, animal, place or thing in their life. If you have come to a decision where you feel you are ready to express the feelings and thoughts that you have been going through, I am here to listen. My goal is to guide you through your unique process so that the pain is no longer unbearable. I wish to help you understand your relationship to the person, animal, job, etc. that you lost and work through any feelings that may be inhibiting your overall health and well-being.

My training with the complex facets of bereavement counselling is from McGill's School of Social Work. There, I learned the importance of validating a person's feelings and varying reactions in a non-judgemental way. My focus is to provide a caring, empathic response to encourage emotional healing. My theoretical framework is largely based on the work of Therese A. Rando's 6 stages: 1- Recognize loss, 2- React to loss, 3-Recollect and Re-Experience the lost relationship, 4-Relinquish and start a process of accomodation to the loss (not necessarily of accepting it) by working on 5- Readjust and 6- Reinvesting in life. I also use the Grief Recovery Handbook by James & Friedman.

When we lose someone we love, our relationship with them doesn’t need to end. Your loved one is still very much a part of life. Grief counselling can give you a safe place to talk about your loved one, any regrets you are holding on to and resolve any guilt you may be feeling. Grief counseling can help you with “stuck points” and help you oscillate between sorrow and function.

There are many forms and causes of grief and loss: death, miscarriage, loss of employment, loss of a dream or goal. Every loss is validated . We explore how you think about the loss, what you do to feel better. I can help you process loss and begin the grieving process. There are a myriad of emotions one can feel while grieving (pain, sadness, anger, guilt, frustration, relief). There is no right way to mourn a loss.

After loosing someone close to you it is often hard to find emotional balance. Therapy can provide you with a safe space to process your loss and the difficult emotions that often follow. Feeling sad, lonely, angry, and confused are all normal and healthy emotions to experience during this time. Working with a therapist can help you through these tough emotions as well as how to feel normal and happy again.

Grief and loss are parts of life, and yet, everyone grieves in their own way. Grief can be complicated by other conditions, most notably depression. The person’s level of dependency on the departed can also cause complications. The grieving process often involves many difficult and complicated emotions. Yet joy, contentment, and humour do not have to be a lost memory. I work with you to help you recover from grief and loss and find your way back to feeling joyful again.

We live in a world that does not create much space to explore and understand our grief, making it difficult to process and heal from our loss. Grief can be complex; bringing many layers of difficult emotions that need to felt and witnessed. Often, the grief we experience represent much more than what we lost, whether it be how it impacts our day-to-day living or our vision for the future. I provide a supportive space where you can explore all of this at your own pace. You don't have to go through this alone!

Grief is a complex emotion requiring a safe space in which to express the aspects of it that may feel uncomfortable and that often shift and change over time. The difficult thing about grief is often there are things left unexpressed. No one imagines that the conversation they have with a loved one will be the last time they talk. Loss can mean grieving the absence of a relationship that is different from what we had hoped. It can be the death or departure of someone, human or pet, who held an important place in our lives. It can also be the loss of an opportunity or the potential for happiness. As with all deep emotional responses, I provide a safe space to explore feelings and to mourn.

Are you struggling with the weight of grief and loss? You don’t have to navigate this journey alone. I’m Simona Ilieva, a Registered Psychotherapist, specializing in grief and loss therapy. Whether you’re mourning the loss of a loved one or experiencing another profound life change, I’m here to help you process your emotions, find meaning, and begin the healing process. Together, we’ll work through the pain and guide you toward a place of peace and acceptance. Grief is deeply personal, but with the right support, healing is possible. Let’s take this step toward healing together. Book a free consultation today.

Grief and loss are inevitable and an inescapable part of life. Grief can of course include the loss of someone to death, but it can also be ambiguous. Ambiguous loss can include the loss of relationships, family connections, our identities, our careers, or even who we were pre-pandemic? Grief around post-traumatic events or grieving the loss of a childhood you never had are also types of losses and grief that I can help you with.