Grief and Loss Counselling in Sault Ste Marie, ON.

Clients will have a safe place to share their feelings and explore ways to move through the pain of their loss in order to re-engage in life again. Joy is possible again after loss. It is difficult to conceive of this possibility after a significant loss. Many get caught in a depression and are unsure of how to move through the significant emotions of sadness, anger, frustration and the strong desire to disengage from life. Counselling can help people move through these emotions and to grab hold of life in a positive way again.

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

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.

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.

Grief and loss can feel overwhelming. It is often not just the loss of what has happened, but also the loss of an envisioned future that needs to be grieved. I have worked with many clients grieving the loss of family members, relationships or their own physical abilities. My experience has made me adept at being able to help you by sitting with you in your grief and slowly helping you process it, so you can reintegrate your loss into your life in a more manageable way. Call today and book a free consultation.

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.