Counselling for Grief and Bereavement

While many associate grief and bereavement with loss of a loved one, many other life circumstances can trigger similar feelings of deep sorrow.

These can include loss of a relationship, change in health, falling out with a friend, or retirement, for example. 

With a loss of safety comes a variety of feelings that run the gamut from anger to numbness to guilt and fear.  

Loss can be accompanied by emotional overwhelm as well as a physical sensation.

Feelings of loss and grief are unique to the individual, with no right or wrong way and no specific timeline. 

Here are a few ideas to help manage some of your pain:

• Acknowledge that your suffering, longing and sadness are normal.

• Allow yourself to cry or not as you see fit, without judgement.

• Support yourself emotionally by taking care of yourself physically.

• Know that there isn’t something specific you can do to ‘get over it’. In time, the pain will lessen in intensity. If not, consider seeking professional support.

• Understand we all hold an emotional memory of a person’s passing which can be triggered on the anniversary of their death, or, for example, during holidays. The intensity of grief will often increase at these times. Rather than ignore this, expect it and do something to honour that person. Get creative! Prepare and eat a meal in their memory, get involved in a cause they care about, or create a photo album.

• As much as possible, refrain from isolating yourself from others. People want to help. Despite the discomfort you feel with not knowing exactly how or what to do or say, accept comfort.  

For more information and for counselling for grief or bereavement in Vancouver / Burnaby, please contact me by phone or email to make a booking. My office is very close to the Vancouver/Burnaby border and is open late one evening per week. I also offer registered clinical counselling for depression, anxiety, life transitions, anger management and more.