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Grief Counselling
Has A Significant Loss Shaken Your Sense Of Reality?
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Are you feeling emotionally overwhelmed or even numb, unable to fully engage with life, as if you’re moving through each day in a daze?
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Has it become difficult to keep track of time, like everything around you is out of sync and nothing quite feels right?
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Do you feel disconnected because those around you can’t fully understand the depth of your grief?
Maybe you’re feeling depressed or hopeless right now—or perhaps your anger is weighing on you as you fight to keep your emotions in check. It might even feel like getting through daily tasks or being productive at work is a struggle because you just can't find the motivation.
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The truth is, no one is ever truly ready for loss regardless of its nature. It’s a deeply personal experience that can flood you with powerful emotions when you least expect it. Maybe right now, you're struggling to make sense of the grief and loss in your life, and you're hoping counselling can provide you with much-needed support, a space to process your emotions, or just somewhere to grieve freely without feeling guilty or rushed.
Grief Goes Way Beyond Emotional Pain​
Grief and loss affect each person differently, often manifesting in ways that transcend sadness. For instance, maybe you:
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Feel tired and drained all the time.
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Are struggling to engage in relationships.
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Have difficulty concentrating or staying focused.
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Lack of interest in activities you once enjoyed.
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You might experience changes in appetite or sleep patterns. You may even experience a deep sense of loneliness, anxiety, or guilt—as if you're always carrying an invisible weight.
The truth is, that healing isn’t linear, and loss can feel like a messy, unpredictable ride. Wherever you are on this journey, a grief therapist can be there to walk alongside you—offering guidance and reassurance that you're not alone. It’s tough, but with time, you can heal and enjoy a fulfilling life again.
Grieving Is A Natural And Healthy Response To Loss.
Grieving is an inevitable part of the human experience.
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For some, the intensity of grief tends to lessen over time, but for others the sense of loss can remain for years, sometimes even decades. Coming to terms with this new reality can be an ongoing and often debilitating experience.
It’s common for people who are grieving to have trouble talking about their loss with family or friends—whether it's because they don’t want to burden others, or because they feel like no one can truly understand the depth of their pain. The therapists at Creating Connections Counselling Services want you to know that whatever emotions you're experiencing—sadness, anger, denial, guilt, or isolation— are all normal parts of grief and loss.
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Moreover, sometimes people feel guilty for starting to feel better, thinking that if their grief lessens, it means they’re forgetting their loved one. They’re afraid moving forward is the same thing as letting go of the person they’ve lost. But healing from grief doesn’t mean forgetting anyone.
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Grief therapy can help you learn ways to manage loss and honor and keep your loved one’s memory alive while learning how to adapt to a new way of life. Through growth, you can heal from the pain of loss and carry your loved one’s presence with you in meaningful ways while moving forward with newfound strength and acceptance.
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However, if you've been struggling with grief for too long without much relief, it may be time to seek support from an understanding therapist who can help you work through your pain in a healthy way.
The Many Faces Of Loss
There are all sorts of other significant losses in life that cause feelings of loss, emptiness, and despair. Grief is not just about losing someone to death.
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Complex loss happens when a current loss brings up unresolved feelings from past losses, making the experience much more complicated. It can be hard to process these layered emotions, especially when the losses aren't easily acknowledged or understood by others.
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Disenfranchised grief happens when a person’s loss isn’t acknowledged or supported by society, making their grief feel invalid. This is often the case when someone mourns a pet, a relationship, or a miscarriage, and their grief isn’t fully understood by others because society doesn’t always validate these types of losses.
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Complex loss leaves you with a persistent ache that never fades, while disenfranchised grief turns your world upside down, emptying it of all stability and certainty.
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One is a sorrow that lingers deeply, the other a searing pain in your chest so intense it feels like each breath might be your last.
Society doesn’t always have rituals to honour these kinds of losses, so people might feel like their grief doesn’t matter as much or may feel ashamed and obligated to hide their pain.
Grief Counselling Can Help You Heal And Find Purpose Again
Grief therapy offers clients a safe, non-judgmental space to openly and honestly talk about their loss, which is essential for healing.
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It gives you the opportunity to process your emotions in a setting where you don’t feel rushed or dismissed. The time in therapy also allows you to grieve at your own pace, giving you permission to feel and reflect without the pressures of everyday life.
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In grief counselling, the approach is customized to your unique needs, the type of loss you’re experiencing, stage of grief you’re in, and your specific goals. Together, we will explore what different aspects of your loss, how they may be affecting you, and ways in which you can process your grief to alleviate some of your challenging symptoms.
We Specialize In Grief Counselling So You Can Focus On Healing
Grief counseling approaches can differ depending on the type of loss someone has experienced, the unique needs of the individual, and the therapist's approach to healing. Each person’s grief is different, so counselors tailor their methods to support the grieving person in a way that feels most helpful.
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We utilize Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in grief therapy to encourage clients to be present with their grief and align their actions with their values, even in the face of intense emotions.
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In grief, especially disenfranchised grief, there may be a strong urge to avoid or suppress emotional pain. ACT helps you learn how to stop struggling against your emotions whether it be sadness, anger or guilt—and instead learn to make space for them.
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Grief isn’t something to eliminate; it's something to feel, experience, and allow to unfold. By learning to sit with your grief rather than fighting it, you can reduce the intensity and control it has over you. It’s not about rushing through grief but finding ways to integrate it into your life and find meaningful ways to continue to live, day by day.
We can also incorporate Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) into sessions. With grief, it’s common to struggle with inaccurate thinking, excessive self-blame, and a loss of hope, which can hinder your ability to heal. CBT targets all these patterns and encourages healthier, positive ways of thinking and coping with loss.
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Additionally, we use mindfulness techniques, such as breathwork, visualization, and grounding techniques, to help you manage intense emotions more effectively and regain emotional balance. These practices can be used both during and outside of sessions, offering you the tools to stay centered when thoughts and emotions feel overwhelming.
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We also explore memories and emotions tied to "sticking points"—areas in the grieving process where clients feel stuck or where unhelpful thought patterns may be holding up their healing.​
Grief therapy can be incredibly supportive when you're struggling, helping you make sense of the complex emotions you're experiencing. By working through these feelings, you can better understand your grief, honor the love and connection you’ve lost, and gradually open yourself up to new experiences.
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It’s not about forgetting the pain, but rather finding a way to live alongside it, while still giving yourself room for growth, deep healing, and new beginnings.
Maybe You Still Have Concerns About Grief Counselling…
How is grief counselling different from talking to a friend or family member?
Grief counselling offers a safe, nurturing space where you can unpack your grief without fear of judgment. Unlike conversations with friends or family, who may carry their own emotional burdens or biases, a counsellor is trained to guide you through the complexities of grief while focusing on you and your experience with loss without the interference of personal emotions or judgments.
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Your counsellor will explore and help you manage your intense emotions, uncover patterns in how you grieve, and develop practical tools to cope. In therapy, the focus is entirely on your well-being, allowing you to process your grief at your own pace with professional support.
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I'm worried counselling will make me forget about my loved one.
Grief counselling isn't about rushing you through your grief or encouraging you to "move on." Instead, it’s about helping you live with your loss in a healthy, positive way. The goal is to integrate the loss into your life, so you can continue to honor the memory of your loved one while learning how to live with their absence.
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It’s not about forgetting; it's about finding peace and a path forward that acknowledges your grief without letting it define you.
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How can I tell if I need grief counselling or if I can handle this on my own?
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or like your grief is starting to interfere with daily life—whether it's work, relationships, or your self-care—grief counselling can be a powerful source of support.
It's admirable that you want to do this on your own, but many people find that talking to a counsellor provides clarity and support that they might not get elsewhere. If your grief feels too heavy to carry alone, seeking guidance can help you process it more effectively and heal in ways you might not have expected.
You Can Still Enjoy Life After Loss
Whether you're just beginning to process your loss, or you've been carrying it for some time, you don't have to navigate grief alone.
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At Creating Connections Counselling Services, we understand that everyone's journey with grief is unique, and we're here to support you every step of the way. Our grief counsellors are ready to help you find comfort, healing, and hope, no matter where you are in your grief journey. Click below to book a free 20-minute consultation where we can discuss how grief counselling can make this weight a little easier to bear.