Grief and Loss Counselling in Niagara on the Lake, ON.

Grief is something we carry with us for the rest of our lives, although it transforms how it manifests within us with time, healing, and support from both professionals and loved ones. The greatest understanding I have about the five stages of grief is that there is no timeline for when the stages will be experienced, nor are they always experienced one after the other. In working with me to process grief, you will find you leave our sessions better equipped to face each new day, despite the tremendous loss you have experienced.

I, like many of us, am no stranger to the feelings of grief and loss and I am aware of how deeply unique and personal these experiences can be. The way that I imagine being part of your journey through these moments is by holding your hand and walking through this unknown path together, while discovering new aspects and meanings of the self along the way. I will check in with you to ensure that we are walking this path on a pace that is most suitable for you, for there is no need to rush during this time. Contact me to schedule a free consultation to ensure we are a good fit.

Grief is the emotional suffering we feel when we lose something or someone important to us. This can include the loss of friend, partner, or family member, a change in life circumstances, death of a pet, getting fired, loss of health, safety, a dream... anything that we once had and now do not. The intensity and process can be unique for each person, but like all other emotions that impact the quality of our life, ignoring it or suppressing it does not work. Seeking support as we move through the various stages of grief is very helpful. Planning for our healing is crucial so that we do not become 'stuck' in the pain. A skilled therapist can assist us during this vulnerable time.

Grief is the experience of coping with loss. People experience grief in many ways regarding many different situations. I use a holistic, grief informed approach in exploring your emotions, thoughts and understanding your responses to the situation. During our time together, we will explore grief responses and how to process your emotions while managing daily living.

Clients experiencing grief and loss will receive compassionate, specialized support from our skilled therapists. Through our personalized approach, we help clients process their emotions, find meaning in their experiences, and develop coping strategies. Our therapists provide nonjudgmental and safe environment where clients can explore their grief at their own pace, fostering healing and resilience.

In my approach to grief and loss therapy, I provide a compassionate and empathetic space where clients can explore and process their feelings of loss in a supportive environment. By utilizing a combination of narrative therapy, mindfulness techniques, and grief-specific interventions, I work collaboratively with clients to navigate the complex emotions and challenges associated with their grief journey. Through this process, clients gain insight into their grief reactions, develop coping strategies, and find meaning and healing amidst their loss. By honoring their unique experiences and fostering a sense of connection, clients can gradually integrate their loss into their lives, find hope for the future, and ultimately experience a renewed sense of purpose and resilience.

Loss and grief are devastating. Sudden loss is a shock. Long, drawn-out loss is exhausting. Loss changes our expectations of daily life. It brings disbelief, despair, anger. Divorce, a wayward child, a job layoff, poor health – all disrupt our expectations of how our life should be. Then there is the pain of death's finality. To stop hurting can feel like a betrayal of the one we lost. The grief is terrible, but it is all we have of the loved one. We finally need to realize that we cannot go on living in constant pain. We need other ways to fill the emptiness, new routines, new roles, and new interactions. We need to redirect our energy. Counselling helps you to find the road ahead.

Losing a loved one can be one of life's most personally challening events. It can lead you to re-evaluate you won position in life. I will work with you to understand how to continue caring for yourself as you move through the process of grieving. When you are ready to, we can discuss any changes you might want to make in your lifestyle in response to your loss.

[I OFFER VIDEO SESSIONS THROUGHOUT ALBERTA AND ONTARIO]. You are hurting now, and I understand that. I have been a psychologist since 1986 with plenty of hard-earned wisdom. I too have experienced grief and loss many times in my life. I can help. Let us chat about the pain you are feeling now. Book with me right now by going to https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=14249112

In my practice you will find a safe place to talk about and work through pain, and the feelings of sadness, confusion, guilt, shame and anger that often accompany the experience of grief and loss. Moving through grief and loss is your personal journey that takes time and is experienced uniquely from your own perspective. I provide therapy, counselling and and support for people who have lost a loved one such as a family member, friend or colleague whether through death or the ending of a relationship, those who have lost an important pet or animal companion or people who have experienced a loss that includes a loss of a job or personal identity.

With Gestalt therapy the five tasks of mourning, are supported: (1) To accept the reality of the loss, (2) To experience the pain of grief, (3) To adjust to the environment in which the deceased is missing, (4) To withdraw (some) emotional energy and reinvest it in another relationship, and (5) To find a place for and maintain a continuing bond with what we lose, however not in any specific order. A gestalt therapist supports the bereaved with an emphasis on a "loving authentic presence and communication that allows expression of EACH other’s personhood" so that feelings are honored and explored at the clients own pace. The here and now is emphasized and that is what leads to support/change

Grief affects individuals at all levels, physically, emotionally, psychologically and spiritually. The circumstances behind grief can profoundly affect one’s life. Everyone has unique ways of coping with grief and loss. Mastora recognizes this and tailors specific strategies and techniques to suit a person’s unique circumstances. She aides the individual through normal grief to healthy resolutions and helps them move forward in their journey.

Many people have ideas about how grief should look or feel based on expectations from family, society, or the media. There are so many experiences and events that deserve be mourned, whether society recognizes them or not, and your feelings about the loss are valid. Your experience of grief is unique to you and there is no correct way to process your loss, which is why I work collaboratively with clients to explore meaning in the thoughts and feelings that emerge as you begin your healing journey. Book a free consultation to learn more about my approach and explore if we are a good fit.