Grief and Loss Counselling Services
Grief and loss services
Grief is a natural, human response to loss—but it can feel anything but “natural” when you are in the middle of it. Our grief and loss services offer a steady, compassionate space to talk about the person, relationship, or life change you’re grieving, and to honour the complexity of your feelings. We support you in making sense of your experience, without rushing you, minimizing your pain, or expecting you to “move on” before you’re ready.
Loss can come in many forms: the death of a loved one, miscarriage or pregnancy loss, the end of a relationship, changes in health or ability, job loss, or major life transitions that shift your sense of identity and future. Grief may show up as sadness, anger, guilt, numbness, relief, confusion, or all of these at once—and it often comes in waves rather than neat “stages.” Our clinicians understand that your grief is as individual as your relationship to what (or who) you’ve lost, and we work with you to find language, rituals, and coping strategies that fit you.
In therapy, we don’t try to erase your grief. Instead, we help you carry it differently. That can mean finding ways to stay connected to what you’ve lost, learning to navigate important dates and triggers, rebuilding daily routines, and slowly reconnecting with meaning, joy, and hope. Over time, many people find that their pain becomes more bearable, their memories feel more integrated, and they can live a full life while still honouring who or what they’ve lost.
Types of common disorders affiliated with grief
- Prolonged or complicated grief
- Depressive disorders
- Anxiety disorders
- Adjustment disorders
- Trauma-related responses (including PTSD)
- Substance use and other coping-related difficulties
Most common treatment modalities
- Grief-focused individual counselling
- Meaning-centered and narrative approaches
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
- Compassion-focused and emotion-focused therapies
- Mindfulness and acceptance-based approaches
- Relational and family or couple sessions
Suicide Helpline Information
Grief can sometimes feel overwhelmingly heavy, and it’s not uncommon for people to have thoughts about not wanting to be here or wondering if things will ever get better. If you are thinking about suicide, feeling like you might harm yourself, or are in immediate crisis, please seek help right away.
Call your local emergency number (such as 911 in Canada and the U.S.) or go to the nearest emergency department. In Canada, you can also call or text 9‑8‑8 (Suicide Crisis Helpline), available 24/7, to connect with a trained responder for immediate support and safety planning. If you are outside Canada, please contact your country’s suicide prevention hotline or local crisis line for urgent assistance.
Recommended Practitioner(s)
- Farhat Shabbir RSW, MSW | fcounsellor4@gmail.com | Book an appointment
