THERAPY FOR GRIEF AND LOSS

Serving Kitchener-Waterloo, Milton, Oakville, London, and the surrounding areas, Anchoridge Counselling is here to be your shoulder during any grief or loss you may be experiencing.

We've all felt it; that rising, choking sense of despair, of crushing loss. We've all lived it; falling to the ground, tears streaming down our faces, our throats tightening, our bodies feeling heavy. Grief is a natural human experience, an emotional experience, and an unwelcome experience.

The grief we feel from loss can come from a variety of life situations, including relationship losses (breakups, divorce, and death), traumatic losses (suicide, accidents, illness, or homicide), and unacknowledged losses (abortions, miscarriages, loss of a job, an identity). One form of grief does not triumph over the other as they can all impact us deeply and in different ways. All the experiences and losses become part of our story and even though it may feel overwhelming, you will be able to work through these feelings and come out stronger on the other end with the help of the Counsellors at Anchoridge Counselling.

an individual looking out over the ocean representing the waves of emotions and grief one feels when going to therapy for grief in London Ontario

Grief comes in many forms and can look like many things. Just remember that almost anything you experience in the early stages of grief is normal. When we are grieving, there is a strong mind-body connection so the loss we are feeling is expressed both mentally and physically. Some common emotional signs of grief include shock, sadness, guilt and anger. While grief is an emotional process, it does often involve physical symptoms such as fatigue, insomnia, weight loss or gain, nausea, and aches and pains. Experiencing these symptoms together can be distressing and can bring about unhealthy or maladaptive coping strategies that can be harmful to the person who is grieving. Grief is different from any other problem you might have faced and it's something that cannot be solved or ignored.

Grief Comes in Many Forms

So what do I do with these feelings?

Grief is a healthy and logical response to losses so big that they shake our entire lives. The pain can't be fought, or buried, or left behind - the only way out is through. At Anchoridge Counselling, we recognize that you should not "just get over it” but instead, learn to work through it by utilizing healthy coping skills rather than unhealthy ones. Our team of therapists will offer gentle guidance and strong support through your grieving process. We work with you to find new ways to make sense of your loss, to learn to manage your feelings in new ways, and find your way back into life again.

an aerial view of a beach representing the waves of emotions and grief one feels when going to therapy for grief in London Ontario

Grief is an inevitable and universal experience. Everyone grieves in their own way and at their own pace, as grief is not linear. During your healing process, you may find some days harder than others but that does not take away from your progress. Instead, it shows how strong and resilient you are. There is no shame in reaching out - you are far from alone and are not meant to take the journey of grief and loss alone either. We are here to accompany you on this journey and commit to you to continue living your life after experiencing a loss.