Loss or Grief therapists in Toronto, Ontario ON, Canada CA
Loss or Grief
Dr. Evelyn McMullen
Psychologist, C. Psych.
Across the lifespan we all experience many smaller losses (e.g., leaving home; moving cities; choosing between career choices) and at times painful losses of people we love very much. Attending to your deep pain can help it ease.
40 Years Experience
Loss or Grief
New Moon Psychotherapy
Registered Psychotherapist, MA, MACP, MSW, RSW, RP, RP(Q)
Grief is arguably the most painful experience we will ever experience. Yet within it's shadows there is a transformative power that can lead us to a place of healing and growth.
In our darkest moments, we discover the strength we never knew existed. We can learn to embrace vulnerability, to lean on others for support, and to find solace in the beauty of human connection.
Grief invites us to reflect on the preciousness of life and the fragility of our existence. It reminds us to cherish the moments we have and to cultivate gratitude for the love and connections we share. It compels us to reevaluate our priorities, to let go of what no longer serves us, and to embrace the opportunities for growth and transformation that arise from loss.
There are different forms of grief including:
- Loss of a loved one
- Anticipatory grief Eg. Loved ones experiencing chronic illness, Alzheimer's, etc.
- Ambiguous grief Eg. Disappearance of loved one, strained relationships, someone is physically present but emotionally absent
- Complicated grief Eg. Severe grief that persists or worsens over time
- Trauma related grief Eg. Grieving loss of safety or life that could have been
- Disenfranchised grief Eg. Grieving the loss of a socially unaccepted relationship/cause of death such as extramarital affair, ex-spouse, colleague, suicide loss, abuser, abortion, etc.
- Ecological grief Eg. Grief related to witnessing the destruction of ecosystems, the loss of biodiversity, or the impact of natural disasters.
- Collective grief Eg. Large scale loss such as natural disaster, a terrorist attack, or a pandemic.
Therapy provides a supportive and structured environment for individuals to navigate the intricate journey of grief. Here are several ways in which therapy can help people cope with grief:
Emotional Expression: Grief often brings a whirlwind of emotions, from sadness and anger to guilt and confusion. Therapy offers a safe space for individuals to express and process these emotions without judgment, fostering a sense of relief and understanding.
Validation and Normalization: Grief can make individuals feel isolated or as though their reactions are abnormal. Therapists help validate the complexity of grief, reassuring individuals that their feelings are a natural part of the process. This normalization can alleviate the burden of guilt or self-doubt.
Coping Strategies: Therapists can teach practical coping strategies to manage the intense emotions associated with grief. This may include mindfulness techniques, breathing exercises, or cognitive-behavioral strategies tailored to the individual's needs.
Understanding the Grieving Process: Grief is a unique and individual experience. Therapists educate individuals about the different stages of grief, helping them understand that healing is a gradual and non-linear process. This knowledge can provide a roadmap for the journey ahead.
Exploring Meaning and Purpose: Grief often prompts individuals to question the meaning of life and their own purpose. Therapists assist in exploring these existential concerns, helping individuals find new meaning and direction in the midst of loss.
Building Resilience: Therapy supports the development of resilience by helping individuals identify and strengthen their coping mechanisms. This process empowers individuals to adapt to the challenges of grief and ultimately move towards a place of greater emotional stability.
Navigating Life Transitions: Grief can bring significant life changes, and therapy provides a space to navigate these transitions. Whether it's adjusting to a new identity, redefining relationships, or making major life decisions, therapy can offer guidance and support.
Connection and Support: The therapeutic relationship itself can be a vital source of support. Having a compassionate and understanding professional to share the journey can mitigate feelings of loneliness and provide a secure foundation for healing.
In essence, therapy for grief is a personalized and holistic approach that addresses the emotional, psychological, and existential dimensions of loss. Through this process, individuals can find the support and tools they need to cope, heal, and ultimately integrate their experience of loss into their lives.
You don't have to carry this on your own. Our skilled therapists are here to help.
14 Years Experience
Loss or Grief
Sehr Athar
Registered Social Worker, MSW, RSW
Our society does not provide us with a language or many rituals/practices to process grief or loss on an individual level or as a collective. Grief can occur in so many traditionally unmarked instances in our lives, from the loss of a job/career, relationship breakup, relocation of home, loss of a pet, family member, friend, colleague or loved one. Often we can feel very alone in our grief as a result. Grief and loss can bring up a whole range of emotions, and trigger losses we have experienced in the past. I will work with you to understand your experience of grief as it is a very individual process, normalize what you're feeling and going through, and provide a safe space for you to process and reconcile your grief. We'll work together to discover a new normal after loss. It will take time, but I want you to know that you're not alone in this.
5 Years Experience
Loss or Grief
Magdalena Karakehayova
Registered Psychotherapist, RP
Losing someone close to us can be among the most painful of life experiences. An example of one of my approaches to working with grieving clients involves learning how to live with the pain and loss along with finding ways to honor the life and memory of the bereaved. However, grief is a largely personal process, with many different types of loss that each require their own unique approach and attentiveness depending on what feels best for clients during this most vulnerable time. Contact me to book a free consultation.
5 Years Experience
Loss or Grief
Colleen Fava
Registered Psychotherapist, RP, Reiki Practitioner, BA
I offer support before, during and after the death of a loved one. My hope is to help through a difficult time of grief where intense feelings emerge. Everyone’s journey is very personal and I want to help you honour that.
8 Years Experience
Loss or Grief
Shift Collab
Registered Social Worker
Compassionate support to navigate loss and grief, fostering healing and resilience.
8 Years Experience
Loss or Grief
MindfulWe Holistic Psychotherapy & Counselling Services
Registered Psychotherapist, MA, RP, IMD (candidate)
Loss and death is a natural part of our existence. All the emotions that usually come on board are also normal. Holding space for people to do this natural work and move through their emotions is a privilege.
12 Years Experience
Loss or Grief
Kaleidoscope Counselling Collective
Registered Social Worker, RSW
In today's society, we are expected to "suck it up and move on" in situations related to loss. However, grief has a mind of its own. It shows up when we least expect it and can linger a lot longer than we want. It comes back again and again, even when we thought we've dealt with it. .
Time does heal, and therapy can help.
Whether you have lost a loved one through death or a relationship ending, have gone through a difficult life transition or are grieving the loss of something else important to you, we'll help you heal grief in a supportive, non-judgmental & compassionate space.
We're here when you're ready! www.kaleidoscopecounsellingco.com
14 Years Experience
Loss or Grief
Sarah Elizabeth McMillan
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, MA, MSW, RSW
Mental health support for physical illness, pain and uncertainty. Loss comes in so many forms. Sometimes it shows up unexpectedly whereas other times we may anticipate and fear its arrival. We may even struggle to recognize our experiences of grief, particularly if our losses go unrecognized or invalidated by those around us. Or because grief, our response to loss, can look and feel different for everyone. Changes in our bodily functions, sense of self, social and family roles, independence, financial stability, career aspirations or hopes and plans for the future are just a few of the losses we may experience. In some cases, losses may pile up with more on the horizon leaving us to continually revisit and attend to our grief when we just wish it would settle for a short while.
6 Years Experience
Loss or Grief
Ps. I Love You Psychotherapy Inc.
Registered Psychotherapist, HBEd, MA (Hons.), Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
Grief is LOVE with nowhere to go. Dealing with grief and loss, anger management, abuse, pet loss support, trauma, and addictions are some of life's greatest and most painful challenges. No amount of education or degrees can provide the same connection to another person, than experience! Having been through my fair share of grief and trauma from an early age is the reason I went into the field of psychology. I am a human being before a psychotherapist. My greatest teacher was pain and my greatest lesson was that love eventually heals all things; and time finds a way to make scars bearable. You learn to see them as memories marked forever on your skin. You learn to live imperfectly- after all, a perfect life does not exist.
2 Years Experience
Loss or Grief
Maryam Moazzami
Pre-Licensed Professional, Bsc. MPH.
Experiencing loss or grief can feel like an overwhelming journey, but you don't have to walk it alone. I offer compassionate support to help you navigate the complex emotions and challenges that come with loss. Whether you're grieving the death of a loved one, coping with a major life change, or experiencing ambiguous loss, I provide a safe and non-judgmental space to honor your feelings and begin the healing process. Through personalized therapy tailored to your unique needs, we'll explore your emotions, memories, and coping mechanisms, and develop strategies to help you find meaning and hope amidst the pain. My goal is to accompany you on your journey through grief, offering support, validation, and guidance as you navigate the ups and downs of mourning. Together, we'll work towards healing and rebuilding a life filled with love, connection, and resilience.
1 Years Experience
Loss or Grief
Jennifer Ritchie Psychotherapy Services
Registered Psychotherapist, MA, RP, CYW
*Welcoming new clients for immediate booking* Are you struggling to adjust to a "new normal"? Whether it be from the loss of a loved one or from the end of a relationship or a significant life transition, these feelings of grief are real and they can be intense. Though I will never know exactly what you're feeling, I can help you process the many emotions that will surface as you move through the grieving process. Allow me to support you in finding acceptance and a way forward following your loss. I will support you with learning new skills to help you cope and will provide you the space to just 'be' if that's what you need... nothing will be asked of you, no demands will be made of you, you can just use the time to process things at a pace that feels comfortable. Little by little, you'll find that pain and love will find new ways to coexist. Allow me to support you.
19 Years Experience
Loss or Grief
Florence MacGregor
Registered Psychotherapist, Registered Psychotherapist (qualifying), MFA, MPS, Embodiment Coach
Grieving is a natural process in life. Complicated grief however can disrupt your sleep, work and relationships in ways that are profoundly challenging to identity. Be not dismayed. The path has been travelled many times. If you are suffering a tragic loss or life transition like a job loss or a marriage, grieving can support the process in developing a new life moving forward.
14 Years Experience
Loss or Grief
Andrea Rowell
Registered Social Worker, MSW, RSW
Disenfranchised grief or complicated grief are some of my specialities with grief. Disenfranchised grief is: "not openly acknowledged or publicly supported through mourning practices or rituals because the experience is not valued or counted [by others] as a loss". This grief can be very isolating, and complicated grief can also be isolating. I am glad to meet for a consultation to hear your story - you do not need to do this alone.
5 Years Experience
Loss or Grief
Monika Georgieva
Registered Psychotherapist, RP
Over the course of our lives, we experience various losses and we grieve in many different ways. It can be difficult to know how to begin working through grief and you do not have to be alone in this process. I believe that grieving is a journey and I welcome the opportunity to support you in your path to healing. Within therapy, we can explore some of the emotions you are experiencing, unpack expectations about what grieving looks like, discuss possibilities for connection with what’s most important within your life, and consider possible ways to honour the loss(es) you have experienced. Contact me or book a free consultation if you wish to learn more.
5 Years Experience
Loss or Grief
Lori Ralko
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, M.A., RSW
Loss comes in many forms. Whether you're grieving the loss of a loved one, trying to navigate a painful break-up, or still feeling the effects of losses earlier in life, it can be helpful to have a space to talk about your feelings and not feel so alone with them.
15 Years Experience
Loss or Grief
Mihaela Iacob
Therapist, Registered Psychotherapist Qualifying
Dealing with loss and grief is a traumatic experience in itself and it may take time to heal these wounds. I am here to help and work through interventions are the best fit for you. You do not have to go through this alone.
1 Years Experience
Loss or Grief
Jaime Brand
Registered Psychotherapist, Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying), Associate Certified Coach (ACC)
As humans, we are all likely to experience loss or grief over the course of our lifetime. While inevitable, it is not something we are often prepared to experience and/or process when it happens. When experiencing a sense of loss or grief it is important to find support in a safe space to share your feelings, thoughts, and fears, as you navigate your life post-loss, of any kind. I am honoured to provide that space for you.
1 Years Experience
Loss or Grief
Clare Karasik
Registered Social Worker, MSW, BSW, RSW
Grief can be one of the most gut-wrenching feelings we may experience as humans. Grief can affect how we see ourselves, how we see the world, what we value, and what we want. Whether you are grieving loss of a life, a relationship, a job, our physical health, ideas of how our life would look, or anything else, I provide support to process difficult feelings, engage in self-care, establish new parts of your identity, and determine boundaries that feel right for you. I recognize that there is no "right" way to grieve and hold space for whatever it looks like for you.
8 Years Experience
Loss or Grief
Zanna Seipp-Katz
Registered Social Worker, BSW, MSW, RSW
Whether it's a loved one, a pet or the ending of a relationship, we all experience loss and grief in this life. Grief is the transactional exchange for love and it is one of life's toughest challenges. I will provide a safe space to share your grief and when it is time to start taking steps forward, we will do so, one step at a time.
I offer a free 15-minute phone consultation. Please do not hesitate to reach out.
7 Years Experience