Find comfort in your time of sorrow
Grief Counselling
Begin your healing journey with caring support from an experienced, culturally aware counsellor
WHAT IS GRIEF COUNSELLING?
Grief counselling is often sought to help process the loss of a loved one. Grief is the experience of emotion and sadness that can result after the death of someone we know, a pet, or the ending of a relationship or experience. Grief can show up in a variety of forms, including shock, anger, guilt, denial, profound sadness.
Or it can present in the physical, with issues in sleep, appetite, energy level, weight loss, mental clarity, etc.
There are many ways that people express grief, and despite the “stages of grief” being widely discussed, the experience is so different from one person to the next.
Our subconscious mind generates grief in order that we cause a connection with the person in a way that is no longer possible. Even though we consciously know this is not possible, part of the mind can sometimes lag behind, causing that difficulty in acceptance of the loss. This is where grief counselling can come in.
SIGNS THAT I MIGHT NEED GRIEF COUNSELLING
Grief can be painful, long-lasting and severe for some people, and can even get in the way of normal life functioning or the will to go on. This can be referred to as complicated grief or frozen grief. Here are some signs that you may be experiencing this or need some extra support or grief counselling to heal:
- You have pre-existing mental health issues that are being exacerbated by grief
- You have ruminating thoughts about the loss with little relief
Excess focus or avoidance of reminders - Intense sadness leading to prolonged loss of interest in activities
- Isolation as a result of the loss
- Prolonged struggle to enjoy activities or connect with others since the loss
- Difficulty with normal tasks and routines (like cooking, attending work, etc.)
- Ongoing feelings of guilt or regret related to the death or loved one
- Questioning the purpose of life or thoughts of ending your life
HOW TO HEAL FROM GRIEF AND LOSS
It is said that time heals all wounds, however, this isn’t actually the case.
When people heal from the loss of a loved one, they shift their perspective, process emotions & unfinished business, and clear themselves of pre-occupations that hinder full healing. This brings them to a place of peace, love and acceptance of the loss.
I am sure you are reading this thinking that this can take decades to accomplish for some people – but it doesn’t have to be that way.
The key is to get support – this can be through a wide variety of channels, but often times frozen or complicated grief can be the result of certain stuckness like the feeling that something should have been done/said before they died, or that they might still be suffering in some way, or even a sense of guilt for any reason.
In addition to grief counselling, there are many paths to healing grief, and it will look different for everyone, including:
- Talk about the loved one or the loss with others who knew the person
- Get support from friends and family
- Read a self-help book on grief
See your doctor for advice and support - Take care of your physical health and wellness
- Exercise – running, the gym, biking, hiking, etc.
- Hydration – drink enough water
- Balanced nutrition – required for optimal emotional processing
- Grief support group
Mindfulness activities – yoga, meditation, prayer - Faith-based activities – church/temple/mosque, care groups, etc.
- See a Counsellor to help you process the grief, and stuck emotions
- Traditional talk therapy
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
- EMDR
- Rapid Resolution Therapy (RRT)
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