Grief and Loss Counselling in Toronto, ON.

My gentle, compassionate approach centres on offering practical and spiritual support to clients going through a grieving process, depending on the client’s particular needs and preferences. I find it is helpful and empowering for clients to understand the origins of the grief response so they’re better able to recognize and normalize it and support themselves as it arises, thus facilitating the healing process. In grief counselling, I draw from Nancy Reeves’ Energy Model as well as literature by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross.

In grief and loss therapy, I approach each client with compassion and empathy as they navigate through the difficult and often overwhelming emotions associated with losing a loved one. My goal is to create a safe and supportive space for clients to express their feelings, explore their grief, and develop coping strategies to move towards healing. I believe that grief is a unique and personal process that varies for each individual, and I tailor my approach to fit each client's needs. Through therapy, clients can expect to gain a deeper understanding of their emotions, develop healthy ways to cope with their grief, and work towards finding a new sense of meaning and purpose in their lives.

If you are dealing with grief and loss, I am here to support you. Whether you are struggling with overwhelming feelings or you do not know what to feel, the therapeutic space I am offering is one of validation, compassion, and curiosity. We will work together to process your experience in a way that is meaningful to you, changing our approach as your grief changes. Processing grief is rarely easy, but I will be with you every step of the way to witness and support your experience.

Grief can feel like carrying around a heavy suitcase that clouds every aspect of your life. Though we often think about grief as stemming from the death of a loved one, grief can come from all forms of losses. Changing jobs, ending a relationship, being diagnosed with an illness, losing a pet, or even moving to a new place can cause grief. You might experience shock, anger, confusion, sadness, despair, frustration, guilt, shame, and life might feel meaningless. I work support you in unpacking the complex feelings behind grief, so that you don't have to be alone. Together, we can work to honour what you have lost, while building a path forward.

We all grieve differently; there is no right or wrong way to grieve. It is a uniquely personal experience. My therapeutic approach is to meet my clients where they are and address their current needs. That may be sitting in a safe space and expressing your emotions, talking about how life will be different after the loss or focusing on self-care. I will provide guidance, validation, and support but this journey is yours so I will check in with you regularly to ensure that your needs are being met. Please contact me if you would like to book a free consultation.

In today's society, we are expected to "suck it up and move on" in situations related to loss. However, grief has a mind of its own. It shows up when we least expect it and can linger a lot longer than we want. It comes back again and again, even when we thought we've dealt with it. . Time does heal, and therapy can help. Whether you have lost a loved one through death or a relationship ending, have gone through a difficult life transition or are grieving the loss of something else important to you, we'll help you heal grief in a supportive, non-judgmental & compassionate space. We're here when you're ready! www.kaleidoscopecounsellingco.com

Grief, another powerful emotion we experience when dealing with loss, is a conditioning that affects all human beings. In our society there is often a notion that we should hurry up and get over our grief but maybe we should grieve as long as we need to. One way to see loss is to see loss as change and then to let change in. By developing a practice of loving kindness towards ourselves and others we can take a gentler approach toward loss and pain.

Loss can be experienced in many different ways, for example, the death of a loved one, the end of a relationship, the loss of a job, losing abilities that one would normally have, etc. Grief is a very personal journey, and there is no set time line for how long you are to grieve. You will experience a range of emotions, including: denial, anger, sadness, depression, hoplessness, and you may even try to bargain with yourself or God. If you are experiencing any of these feelings, I assure you, my office is a safe place to process your grief. I will walk beside you and help you process your journey.

Processing loss is painful, confusing and often isolating. This is not something that is as simple as progressing through "stages" in order and typically involves emotions that we have been taught to avoid or suppress. Working with a therapist to unpack and go through grief and loss can offer some space and perspective that is not there when we talk with friends and family. Here you can have a non-judgmental space to take the time to work this out in the way that you need. This is not always easy, but we can navigate this together.

At Hera Therapy, we approach grief and loss from a cognitive-behavioural therapy perspective. We will provide empathic support and reflection through this difficult time and help support you in getting back to baseline. We understand how difficult grief and loss can be, and want you to feel fully understood so you can heal.

Grief and loss are normal, universal emotional experiences, but there is a tendency to get stuck in depression or anxiety rather than feel the sadness involved with loss. That’s understandable, because suffering is painful and difficult to bear alone. A therapist can support an individual with strategies for finding hope that a broken heart will mend. The aim is to build trust that, by allowing the expression of these feelings, the energy spent on suffering can be freed and reinvested back into creating a fulfilling life. As you do with a broken shoulder, you pay attention to the pain and attend to it in healthy ways while nature takes its course, allowing broken bones or hearts to heal.

My approach to grief and loss is rooted in empathy and understanding. I provide a supportive space for you to process your feelings and navigate the complex journey of healing. If you're seeking support during this challenging time, I invite you to reach out and book a free consultation. Together, we'll honor your experiences and find ways to move forward. 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