Grief and Loss Counselling in Selwyn, ON.

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.

Grief and loss are weaved into our lives in an intimate way. Grief is natural, normal, unique and universal. Grief touches us all at one point or another and is an inevitable part of being human. The experience of grief may be associated with a range of emotions, thoughts and behaviours. It’s important to remember that the journey of grief is not linear and there is no right way to feel. Therapy is a safe space where you can explore your grief. We will move at a pace that feels comfortable to you and I will check in to ensure that you feel safe and supported. Please contact me to schedule a free 15-minute consultation to see if we are a good fit.

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

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 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.

Are you using alcohol, substances, or addictive behaviors to cope with grief and loss? Although they provide relief in the short term, their long-term effects on your relationships and health can make it even more difficult to cope. Through a compassionate non-judgmental approach, I help clients explore their relationship to grief and loss so that they can overcome addictive coping strategies. If you're looking for another way forward, feel free to reach out and we can set up a free consultation to discuss further.

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.

After loosing someone close to you it is often hard to find emotional balance. Therapy can provide you with a safe space to process your loss and the difficult emotions that often follow. Feeling sad, lonely, angry, and confused are all normal and healthy emotions to experience during this time. Working with a therapist can help you through these tough emotions as well as how to feel normal and happy again.

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.

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.

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.