Facing Loss

The path you walk through grief is unique to each loss you face. Many believe grief should follow a linear path marked by clear stages and timelines and so we expect to feel a certain way, and are confused when we don't. However, the reality of grief is far more complex than most of us can imagine before we experience it.

Grief doesn't conform to a neat trajectory; it's messy, unpredictable, and deeply personal. Grief affects every aspect of our being – body, mind, emotions, and spirit. Sometimes it manifests in fatigue, a change in appetite, sleep disturbances, clouded thinking and an inability to concentrate. Sometimes it looks more like a rollercoaster of sadness, anger, guilt, and numbness wrapped around an intense grappling with the meaning of it all.

Healing from grief isn't about forgetting or "getting over" your loss; it's about finding a way to integrate the loss into your own life story and sense of who you are. It's about carrying someone's legacy forward, while also building a solid path into your new reality.

How Can Psychotherapy Help?

To honour the uniqueness of your grieving process, it’s paramount that you have the time and space to navigate the complex emotions and challenges that come with loss. Whether you've lost a loved one, a job, a relationship, or a dream, allowing grief to do its work can lead you to a different and deeper experience of life and living.

My Background for this Work

-40-hour hospice training with Hospice Toronto, professional development workshops for hospice volunteers, plus two years as a home hospice volunteer

-Death Doula Training (in-progress) with Home Hospice Association

-42-hour course in comparative practices in death and dying across cultures and worldviews.

Bereaved Families of Ontario: Search “Affiliates” to find local peer support across Ontario. Virtual and in-person support groups, and one-to-one peer support. They also have an extensive collection of resources on all forms of grief and specific to different types of losses, along with links to specific support groups (e.g.: infant and pre-natal loss)

Canadian Virtual Hospice: Information and support for palliative and end-of-life issues for individuals and families. Extensive list of topics related to emotional, practical and informational end-of-life issues. Ask and get answers from experts about life-threatening illness and loss. Discussion forums. This website has three sub-sites targeting grief that are also worth checking out

Bridge C-14: A network of peer-to-peer supports and resources for individuals and families moving through all stages of the assisted dying process

MAID Family Support Society:  Provides resources and 1-1 peer support for those who have a loved one considering or applying for Medical Assistance in Dying