Grief and Loss Counselling in Oakville, ON.

Have you had a loss in your life? Are you feeling sad and angry at times, or just feeling that you need to talk further about this experience? Coming to counselling can help you work through your feelings. Often people feel that they are struggling with moving forward, and have difficulty picturing life with the loss they have experienced. I can help you work through the difficult and extreme emotions that often accompany grief. I am happy to support you.

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.

It is normal and natural to grieve when you feel shock, sadness, loneliness, desperation, guilt, emptiness or even anger about a loss of any kind. You might have lost a beloved person, a relationship, a pet, your job, financial stability or your safety after having experienced trauma. Grieving is deeply personal. Each one of us experiences the process differently, and it is important to be aware of your needs on your journey of healing. Please allow me to listen to your story, to offer you a safe space and to gently help you cope with overwhelming and often frightening emotions. Please call 905-842-3626

Life is a wonderful journey. Everyone has events that occur that can create waves of grief and loss. The pain may feel unbearable. These are times where we can learn profound life lessons about love, strength, and resilience. I approach Grief & Loss Therapy not as a time to "fix" or "cure" you of your pain, but as a partner to walk with you as you travel through your valleys of loss and sorrow.

Sudden loss is the most painful experience we face whether it is of a loved family member or something very dear and meaningful to us (including a job or the vision we have of ourself), it is uniquely personal and finding a quiet and empathetic forum to "just talk" so that pent-up and mixed feelings are let go, and in this and this alone is what is called "moving on". Unexpressed feelings of loss are the source of ongoing emotional distress. Often, "depression" can mask long-term loss that has not been "resolved". I will help you both understand the context of your loss and to move beyond it in order to be healthy and resilient again.

Grief and loss comes in many different forms from the death of a loved one or pet, to the loss of a relationship, job or something else that was important to you. Every person experiences grief and loss differently but one thing that is common to all of us is the benefit of having a safe place to work through your thoughts and feelings to arrive at a place of more peace and acceptance.

My goal in grief and loss counselling is to partner with you as a companion, not an expert. In my office, and in my approach, you will find a safe place of quiet, compassion and understanding. Grief and loss are experienced in unique ways by each individual, and each individual’s way is legitimate. It is also essential that each individual mourn their loss in order to find healing and renewed strength.

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.

When you lose someone or something you love, it may seem like the pain will never end. I will hold space for your grief, and any emotion that comes up, as you share your inner turmoil. Over time, the pain will lesson, and you will gain the energy, focus, and motivation that you have been missing. You do not have to walk this path alone. Reach out, and you will be met with a gentle voice full of compassion.

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 normal and natural reaction to significant emotional loss of any kind. It involves conflicting feelings caused by the end of, or change in, a familiar pattern of behaviour. It is the feeling of reaching out for someone who has always been there, they are no longer there. The grief journey is so individual and unique, so our work with people who need loss support is also specific to our clients' needs. We help people properly diagnose their difficulties and help them make sense of their conflicting emotions so that they can move through life with more peace and certainty.

Coping with Grief & Loss Losing someone or something you love is very painful. After a significant loss, you may experience all kinds of difficult and surprising emotions, such as shock, anger, and guilt. Sometimes it may feel like the sadness will never let up. While these feelings can be frightening and overwhelming, they are normal reactions to loss. Accepting them as part of the grieving process and allowing yourself to feel what you feel is necessary for healing. There is no right or wrong way to grieve — but there are healthy ways to cope with the pain. You can get through it!

At some point in our lifetimes, everybody is faced with grief and loss, children and youth included. When counseling my young clients, it is evident that children and youth have many questions and feelings surrounding this issue. They often feel scared, sad and alone. Talking to a therapist is a good way for clients to face their feelings and make sense of the situation. I help children normalize these feelings so that they know it is okay to feel sad, it is okay to have questions, and they are not alone. The pain may never go away but releasing the emotions and gaining some perspective and understanding, makes it easier to move forward a day at a time.

Our therapists at Whiteboard are seasoned individuals who have lived through the joys and sorrows of life. Using this lived experience, our therapists use empathy and evidence-based techniques to help clients process the trauma which comes from grief and loss. Yes, we will all lose someone at some point in life. But that doesn't mean that the pathway to healing is the same for all of us. Your healing journey should be as unique as you are, and this requires the kind of safe, caring therapeutic approach which we provide at Whiteboard.

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

My approach to assisting with loss and grieving is to normalize the experience...loss of someone or something we love creates grief. Helping people learn how to best withstand and manage the emotions, the way loss can stop you in your tracks, and how to begin moving again is vital work. The bottom line is that, as long as you love, you grieve. We CAN learn to manage.

In the depths of grief, finding solace can feel like an impossible journey. You're not alone, and your pain is valid. I'm here to provide a compassionate and understanding space where you can navigate your own path to healing. No judgment, no expectations—just support tailored to your needs. Together, we'll honor your journey and explore ways to find peace amidst the pain. Reach out today to start your healing process. Your first consultation is free, and I'm here to support you.

Grief is a normal process that each of us goes through when we have been separated from someone or something that we have felt connected to. There is no time limit to the experience. During this journey, you may find yourself grappling with a range of emotions, from anger and isolation to fear and many others. These emotions are all part of the normal process of grief, as we navigate our way through the loss. You can stay trapped in these feelings which will extend the time you grieve. Alternatively, you may consider new events from the perspective of how your loved one enjoyed or managed them in the past.

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.