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Counselling for Grief and Bereavement

Have you experienced a loss? We’re here to help you work through it.

Grief is a natural response to losing someone or something that was important to you. The emotional suffering we feel when facing loss can feel overwhelming. The more significant your loss, the more intense your grief can be. 

 

Grief is a lot more than just “sadness”. It can significantly disrupt your physical health and sleep. You may even find yourself experiencing difficult emotions like regret and guilt. The pain and loss associated with grieving can feel unbearable. 

 

Dealing with grief on your own can feel overwhelming. You may find yourself thinking “when will I ever feel ok again?” You aren’t alone. Book a consultation with one of our mental health specialists today who can help you better manage and overcome your symptoms of grief and bereavement. 

 

What does grief feel like?

There is no “right” way to grieve. Grieving is a very individual process which can vary from person to person. There is also no particular timeline. Some people may feel better after a few weeks, for others the grieving process may take years. 

 

Common signs and symptoms of grief may include:

  • Intense sorrow, pain and rumination over your loss

  • Avoiding reminders of your loved one or extreme focus on reminders

  • Intense and persistent longing for lost person or situation

  • Problems accepting the loss

  • Anger or denial

  • Numbness or detachment

  • Bitterness about loss

  • Feeling that life is meaningless

  • Lack of trust in others

  • Loss of pleasure or joy in life

  • Fatigue, aches, and pains

 

While normal grief wanes over time, complicated grief may linger or get worse. In some cases, it may turn into situational depression. If your grief is disrupting your daily life, interfering with your relationships, or causing you to isolate yourself from others, it may be time to seek help. You don’t have to carry this burden alone.

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Will My Grief Go Away if I Don’t Seek Help?

For many people, grief will subside as time passes. However, for some people grief lingers and continues to disrupt relationships, work, or well-being. Grief can even take a toll on physical health due to its impact on appetite, stress levels, and disruptions to sleep. When grief lingers it can lead to depressive episodes, substance abuse, and physical illness. There is no exact cut-off for when you should start to feel better after a difficult loss. Seeking support can help you better manage difficult symptoms at any stage.

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What Causes Grief?

The most commonly associated loss that causes grief is the death of a loved one. However, any loss can cause grief. 

Common causes of grief include:

  • Divorce or breakup

  • Health problems or difficult diagnoses

  • Job or financial loss

  • A miscarriage or abortion

  • Retirement

  • Death of a pet

  • Loss of a dream or hobby

  • A loved one’s serious illness

  • Loss of a friendship

  • Loss of safety after a trauma

  • Moving or leaving home

 

Grief can leave you feeling exhausted and like you have nowhere to turn. Many people try to ignore reminders and memories and “get on with life”. While this may feel temporarily effective, ignoring the grief will not make it go away. Seeking counselling or therapy can help you deal with the difficult emotions surrounding your loss and finally find peace of mind. 

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How is Grief Treated?

Counselling is one of the most effective ways to deal with grief. Counselling can also help prevent complications from grief and ease the grieving process. There are also lifestyle changes that can be made to support your recovery.

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Counselling & Therapy for Grief

Therapy provides a solid support system for you when you are experiencing grief. Your therapist will tailor a program for your specific needs and teach you tools to help you manage your symptoms. 

 

Therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) are very effective for the treatment of grief. Many of the ways we interpret events and deal with our problems can be unhelpful or even harmful to our well-being. For instance, it is common for people who are grieving to push down their thoughts or feelings which can make things worse. In CBT, your therapist will teach you tools and coping mechanisms that will allow you to sit with your pain and release it. This is vital for healing from loss. 

 

The team at Life in Harmony is committed to providing you with the absolute best treatment and support to help you work through your grieving. Our team is experienced, diverse, and offers an array of treatment approaches that can be specifically tailored to your needs. 

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Counselling for Grief in Vaughan, Woodbridge & Greater Toronto Area

We are the largest counselling service provider in the Vaughan and Woodbridge area. Our team of therapists are here to help you better understand your current challenges and learn effective ways to overcome them. We offer cutting edge counselling and coaching to individuals, families, and couples.

 

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