Grief and Loss Counselling in Wallaceburg, ON.

Any loss can cause a person to feel grief; whether it is the loss of a job, a relationship, the death of a loved one, or the loss of a cherished dream etc. I find that my clients find it helpful to use Narrative techniques, such as writing personnel journals. However, the use of Somatic Experiencing which is a form of therapy aimed at relieving and resolving the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental and physical trauma-related health problems. Regardless, a person needs to re-connect and make sense to painful emotions and past events in order to effectively deal with a loss or a post traumatic event, such as a motor vehicle accident, rape, sexual attack, childhood trau....

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.

The experience of loss may result from many life experiences including the passing of a human loved one or a beloved pet, the ending of a relationship, job loss, or changes to our physical or mental capabilities. Grief is one of the most challenging of human emotions. Together, we will navigate your unique grieving process to enable you to experience growth and empower you to create a life you can accept and enjoy despite your loss.

Assisting people through the natural process of grief after a significant loss has been an important part of the work I do for over 15 years. Loss comes in many forms: death of a loved one, sickness and health challenges resulting in a deeply experienced loss of self, loss of relationships through divorce, familial conflict, retirement and even through loss of employment. Each of us will experience loss in our lives and each of us needs to know that we do not have to go through it alone. Therapy can help support you through this difficult time.

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

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.

Coping with grief is an inevitable and challenging aspect of life. At Atlas Therapy, our commitment is to assist you in navigating this journey, offering support and empathy as you confront various types of loss. We strive to aid clients in comprehending the grieving process, devising personalized coping strategies, addressing feelings of guilt or anger, fostering social connections, building resilience, and engaging in cognitive restructuring. The skilled therapists at Atlas recognize that grief elicits a spectrum of intense emotions, and we provide a secure, non-judgmental space for you to express and process these feelings. Take the first step towards healing by reaching out today.

Addressing grief and loss in therapy has profound benefits by providing a supportive environment to process emotions, express feelings, and find meaning after the loss. I can help you navigate the stages of grief, reduce feelings of isolation, and possibly preventing complicated grief or depression. Through therapy, I can help you develop coping strategies, build resilience, and ultimately find a path toward healing and acceptance.

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.

Unfortunately we all will encounter grief and loss at times during our lives. There is no set time frame for working through the waves of emotions. However, sometimes we may feel stuck in our grieving process and it is comforting to find support along this journey. I use various techniques dependent on a collaborative treatment design. Therapeutic modalities include Narrative Therapy, Expressive Art Therapy and EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing).