Grief is one of the most complex and emotionally challenging experiences that we as humans face in our lifetimes.
From the sudden loss of a partner to the passing of a beloved parent, and even the emotional journey through pet loss, coping with grief can take on many forms.
Whether the loss of your loved one was anticipated or sudden, whether it happened yesterday or years ago, the pain of loss can be overwhelming. Navigating through grief is a journey that requires patience, self-compassion, and support from others.
At On Your Mind Counselling, we understand the profound impact that loss can have on one’s life. We are here to meet you where you are today, providing you with a safe, nonjudgmental space and empathetic support to walk alongside you every step of the way.
Grief is the range of emotional, psychological, and physical responses that accompany loss.
While the definition is simple, the experience is nothing short of complicated.
One day you might feel overwhelmed by a tidal wave of emotions that makes it hard to get out of bed in the morning, while the next could bring a sense of numbness or detachment.
Grief is a heavy burden, pressing down on the heart with a relentless ache. Yet, grief is also a reminder of the depth of our ability to love and the beauty of our vulnerability for connection. Each moment in the grieving process is both valid and deserving of acknowledgment, kindness, and support.
Grieving is an incredibly unique experience. While every one of us may process our grief in our own way, certain symptoms are more common among most of these experiences.
Some of the most common emotional symptoms of grief include:
For many people, grief can manifest physically, impacting different parts of our bodies and causing heightened sensitivity or tension.
Some of the physical symptoms that may accompany grief include:
Though painful and often quite conflicting, understanding these symptoms empowers us to navigate the grieving process with greater compassion and self-awareness.
Navigating grief in solitude can feel isolating. It might stem from hesitance to share your emotions or fear of burdening others with these complex feelings.
On Your Mind Counselling is here to help bridge the gap and become your emotional support. Collaborating with a therapist provides you with a supportive environment where you don’t have to navigate through grief on your own.
Among the many incredible therapists that make up our team, our grief specialists possess a unique blend of expertise to help individuals, couples, and families navigate the complexities of loss with more clarity.
Therapeutic Modalities
Within grief therapy, there are a number of modalities that are beneficial for individuals looking to process their feelings, cope with their loss, and rediscover hope along the way.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
The intensity and overwhelming nature of grief can make it particularly difficult to navigate on our own. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a therapeutic approach that helps you understand and manage your thoughts, emotions, and behaviours associated with grief with greater clarity.
CBT helps you:
Emotion-Focused Therapy
For many, the intensity and complexity of emotions involved in grief can be overwhelming to navigate. Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT) is an evidence-based approach that is foundational to deepening your understanding and processing of these emotions.
EFT helps you:
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
Searching for a path forward can feel impossible while we are sitting in a fog of grief. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a strength-based approach used to guide you through your unique grieving journey with compassion and resilience.
ACT helps you:
Narrative Therapy
Amidst grief, experiencing a loss of our sense of self can be profoundly disorienting. Narrative therapy is an approach that serves as a foundational pillar to help you make sense of your grieving experience, offering a way to rewrite your narratives in a way that resonates with you.
Narrative Therapy helps you:
Recognizing the unpredictable nature of grief, we are here to support you in a way that adapts to your changing needs, circumstances, and goals along the way.
How we can help you process grief:
Whether it involves providing the space for shedding tears, expressing feelings of guilt, or simply being present in the silence you need to process difficult emotions, our goal is to accompany you on your journey toward healing and understanding.
Your journey through grief is sacred, and we are honoured to be a part of it, helping you find peace and healing as you navigate this delicate path.
“Where there is deep grief, there is heartfelt love. Together, we can recognize the intricacies of your grief while finding and building meaningful moments in your life after loss.”
“Grief is a very nuanced and individualistic experience; there’s no 'proper’ way to grieve.”
“The opposite of grief is not laughter or happiness or joy. It is love. It is love. It is love.” - Akif Kichlo
“Emotional pain from loss is something that unites us all. You don't need to suffer silently with sadness, regret, or even the anger that comes with grief. Together, we can transform these emotions into gratitude and acceptance, helping to complete your recovery from grief.”
