Grief and Loss Counselling in Pelham, ON.

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 someone close to us can be among the most painful of life experiences. An example of one of my approaches to working with grieving clients involves learning how to live with the pain and loss along with finding ways to honor the life and memory of the bereaved. However, grief is a largely personal process, with many different types of loss that each require their own unique approach and attentiveness depending on what feels best for clients during this most vulnerable time. Contact me to book a free consultation.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Your experiences of grief and loss are unique. Therapy can provide a safe space to learn about grief and what to expect during this process. It may be helpful to explore some of the emotions you are experiencing, while understanding how to stay connected to others and develop a new relationship to and understanding of the loss you have endured. Book a free consultation to explore if we are a good fit.

The people who have touched our lives, family members, and special friends (pets) we love are important to us. When anything risks those we love, we also feel distressed. Our deep connection to them means we experience this incredible emptiness when they die. Though we know that death is normal, natural, and inevitable, this knowledge does not eliminate the emotional pain of our loss. Through my losses and the losses of others, I have learned that life is over, but it is never finished. If you are experiencing a recent loss of a family member, friend, or special friend, I am available to journey with you through this loss. Schedule a free 15-minute consultation to see if we are a good fit.

I'll never forget the phone call. I was 23, driving home on a beautiful sunny day. I couldn't believe it when I heard my dad was gone. Grief floors you. If you haven't felt it, it's not something that you can fully understand. It can feel overwhelming, hopeless, never-ending. But there are ways forward. No matter how large your loss, you can do it. I've been there, and I've helped dozens of other people over the past seven years deal with the unthinkable. I provide compassionate, effective counselling for grief and loss based on what actually works in the real world. You're not alone - contact me today for a complimentary phone consultation. You can get through it. I can help.

Most people will go through a period of loss in their lives. A response to any kind of loss is grief. Grieving over the loss of a loved one is known as bereavement. There is no right or wrong way to grieve. Some people are highly emotional and delve deeply into their emotions, while others are resistant and could look for ways to divert their attention from an unchangeable aspect of life. Each person has unique needs when coping with loss. Grief and loss counselling can help you to manage your emotions and help you heal.

Grief and loss are universal experiences for all people and they are perhaps some of the most painful events experienced. So painful, in fact, that many people try to avoid the feelings at all costs. I believe that the only way to learn to live with grief is to be willing to experience the feelings and I provide a safe and supported relationship in which to work through these feelings.

Grief, loss, and bereavement, whether it is the passing of a loved one, the end of a career, or the falling-apart of a relationship are all similar: we are losing or have lost an important part of our lives. Understanding the emotions, feelings, and behaviours we have when we experience grief and bereavement is part of helping us accept what has occurred, why we feel the way that we are feeling, and what is next for us. In working with clients on grief, loss, and bereavement it is important to understand that the way we process these experiences is unique to each person, and the pillar of respect is paramount.

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.

Coping with loss and adjusting to life without a loved one is overwhelming. It is unsettling and painful to watch the world keep turning when it feels like yours has stopped. Adequate emotional support is critical during these times. Therapy will not only provide appropriate coping skills but also offer a safe space to feel and process your loss. Reach out for a free consultation; we can talk and see if I am the right fit to walk with you through this adjustment.