Grief Counselling

Understanding Grief

Grief is the internal, emotional experience of loss—a natural response to the absence of something or someone that will not return. It can come in waves, sometimes overwhelming and other times allowing life to feel normal. While grief is often associated with death, it can also arise from the loss of relationships, health, identity, or life circumstances. There is no "right" way to grieve, and the experience is unique to each person.

Common symptoms of grief may include:

• Emotional: Sadness, guilt, anger, numbness, or longing.
• Physical: Fatigue, changes in appetite, difficulty sleeping, or tension.
• Cognitive: Difficulty concentrating, forgetfulness, or questioning beliefs.
• Behavioral: Withdrawal from others, restlessness, or seeking constant activity.

A Compassionate Approach to Grief

Grief is not something to "fix" or move past—it is a continued connection to what was lost. It holds all the love, hope, and desires with nowhere to go. Our work together is about learning to meet grief with grace, kindness, and love. 

Types of Grief and Loss

Grief can take many forms, including but not limited to:

• Death of a loved one (family, partner, friend, or pet).
• Anticipatory grief (knowing a loss is coming, such as terminal illness).
• Disenfranchised grief (grief that is unrecognized or unsupported, such as miscarriage or estrangement).
• Loss of identity (career change, aging, or shifts in self-understanding).
• Ambiguous loss (loss without closure, such as dementia or missing persons).

What to Expect in Grief Counseling

Therapy provides a safe and non-judgmental space to explore your grief at your own pace. Rooted in Wolfelt’s companioning approach, sessions are not about "moving on" but about finding meaning in loss and understanding how it shapes who you are now.

The process includes:

• Stabilization: Creating safety and support to navigate overwhelming emotions.
• Processing: Exploring the emotions and experiences tied to loss.
• Meaning-making: Understanding how loss informs your life and identity.
• Continued connection: Honoring and integrating the bond with what was lost.

Grief will always be part of you, but it does not have to define you. Instead, it can become something that informs and enriches your life in new ways. Together, we will find a way to carry your grief with compassion and resilience.