Grief and Loss Counselling in Norwood, ON.

Grief can be experienced through loss of a loved one from death, the ending of a relationship or even loss of a job. It is important to understand that grief isn't linear but we experience it in waves that ebb and flow and can feel, at times, exhausting and overwhelming. As a counsellor trained in art therapy and psychodrama techniques, I use these modalities to help you accept and experience your grief without letting it overwhelm your life.

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 & Loss is difficult to manage, and looks different for different people. What we do know, is processing our grief and loss is important in order to move forward and heal from our losses. We will move through your grief and loss in a client centered approach and at your pace. Our sessions are designed with your needs implementing a variety of modalities (CBT, ACT, trauma informed, art therapy, or play therapy). We may also used education to help with processing as we remember and find hope in our future. Look forward to walk with you through this life journey.

As someone who has experienced loss and studied loss, I understand how unique and different everyone's experience with it is. Grief can be one of the most complex and complicated of human experiences and can occur with or without a tangible loss. Using a person centered and strengths based foundation, I will hold space with you and aid you in navigating these complex feelings at your own pace.

I believe that grief has no timeline. It is an incredibly painful and complex human experience, that is unfortunately universal, yet a completely individual and unique for everyone. I will work with you exactly where you are at to hold space for your complicated feelings. I find that rituals are often helpful to create connection with loved ones who have passed on or to mourn relationships that have ended. Grief and loss impact couples and families immensely. Often the way one person grieves can be experienced like an insult to another's grieving process. This can create conflict and feelings of betrayal, anger or abandonment. I can help you sort through all of these complexities.

Contemporary approaches to coping with grief and loss have shown that the path of acceptance and healing is not linear, but a winding road and unique process for every individual. Psychotherapy can help you along your path by providing an outlet for those challenging emotions and providing you with tools to help you cope. With personal experience, I will lend a hand in helping you to cope and integrate the challenges presented by the loss of a loved one or a significant relationship as you find your new normal. Those we lose remain in our hearts, and by remembering them with gratitude we can begin to heal.

Being alive means experiencing inevitable loss, which is normally followed by grief and recovery. The loss can be the loss of a person, image, ideal, or even a hope. However, the grief and recovery can sometimes be complicated. Every person follows a unique pattern of grief processing. The key for a healthy recovery lies in understanding this pattern in a supported environment. The therapy is about helping the client to get to this insight. Schedule a free 15-minute consultation to see if we are a good fit.

Over the course of our lives, we experience various losses and we grieve in many different ways. It can be difficult to know how to begin working through grief and you do not have to be alone in this process. I believe that grieving is a journey and I welcome the opportunity to support you in your path to healing. Within therapy, we can explore some of the emotions you are experiencing, unpack expectations about what grieving looks like, discuss possibilities for connection with what’s most important within your life, and consider possible ways to honour the loss(es) you have experienced. Contact me or book a free consultation if you wish to learn more.

Grief and loss can be overwhelming for people. Having someone to share their story with can help make the journey a little easier. Therapy can help lower feelings of isolation for clients. I help clients come to understand that grief doesn't just go away once the funeral is over, or the situation is over ( such as separation of spouses). Grief takes time. I provide a listening ear, compassion, and respect for how each person grieves. Art making can often be very helpful for clients moving through grief. It can provide them with an outlet for their emotions, and a way to express feelings that are sometimes hard to put into words.

I know this is a difficult time for you. Everyone reacts differently about losing someone significant in their life. It can be hard when other people do not understand why you feel or react as you do. I honor your courage in reaching out for support and would like to assist by offering a compassionate ear. It may be that your grief is complicated by a traumatic loss. I want you to know that you are not alone and that I have supported many others through this difficult and painful time.

What makes grief so painful? Perhaps it's because we experience a double loss. The first is losing a loved one, the second is losing a part of our ourselves. This is why the familiar saying, "you gotta let go," can sometimes make things worse. Instead of letting go, I'm interested in how we can bring people closer: closer to what we hold dear, closer to what we cherished most… In doing so, we can begin to develop a new relationship with our departed loved one, and simultaneously offer comfort and healing to parts of ourselves.