Grief Counselling In Toronto

How can Grief Counselling help me?

Grief Counselling is an effective way to engage with your grief. It provides a safe place for you to express and process your feelings, learn about your unique grief experience and to find ways of coping. Speaking with a grief counsellor can help to normalise and validate your grief and support you to create healthy personal boundaries. By attending sessions regularly, you begin to build your grief “muscles” and increase your ability to process intense emotions and care for yourself during difficult moments. Over time, you will be able to fully engage with life and find hope and meaning again.  

What is grief? 

Grief encompasses the thoughts, feelings, sensations and behaviours that arise when we have experienced a loss of any kind. It is a natural and universal response to losing something or someone significant to us. 

What causes grief?

Grief can emerge when we have experienced any kind of loss. The most common causes of grief are:

• Death of a family member or significant person

• Relationship breakup or divorce

• Pregnancy losses or termination

• Death of a pet

• Retirement

• Health issues or diagnoses

• Loss of a job

• Loss of a friendship

• Empty nesting

• Moving or losing a home/land

• Climate change and destruction

• Any major life transition 

What are the symptoms of grief?

Grief impacts us mentally, physically, spiritually, socially, and emotionally. We all grieve uniquely and there is no "right" or "wrong" way, however, common grief symptoms include:

• Intense emotions: anger, sadness, guilt, fear, etc.

• Yearning for who or what was lost

• Numbness or detachment from feelings

• Feeling hopeless and loss of meaning, aimless

• Inability to find joy or pleasure

• Distrust of others and the world around them

• Fatigue, lethargy, low motivation

• Physical aches and pains, nausea

• Problems with digestion and/or sleep

• Trouble focusing, brain fog, forgetfulness

• Difficulty being alone and/or desire to isolate from others

• Avoidance or preoccupation with reminders of the loss

Will my grief resolve on its own?

For most people, the pain of grief subsides over time and with the work of mourning. However, because we live in a grief-avoidant culture, many of us need support to figure out what our individual mourning looks like. We need guidance to understand and express our grief experience, to acknowledge what has changed, honour the past, and to embrace the future. We need help to “metabolize” our grief. For some, grief can persist and if left unsupported, can lead to significant mental, emotional and physical distress and dysfunction. Grief counselling can help you find a way through these challenging moments and a meaningful way forward.

How can I schedule a Grief Counselling session? 

If you are interested in accessing Grief Counselling in Toronto or virtually across Ontario, Andrea Kwan Counselling is here to support you. Follow these simple steps:

1. Book a free 20-mins phone consultation call.

2. Have a chat with Andrea to briefly discuss your situation and how she can support you.

3. Choose between in-person sessions in Toronto or virtual support across Ontario. Book your first session during your consultation call with Andrea, or on your own time through the booking portal.