Introduction
Grief is a deeply personal experience. It shows up in waves, often when we least expect it. Whether you’ve lost a loved one, gone through a divorce, experienced a miscarriage, or faced another kind of loss, it can leave you feeling unmoored and overwhelmed.
At Crossroads Collective, we understand that healing takes time, and that no two grief experiences are the same. Our grief and loss counselling services offer compassionate support as you navigate the emotional, mental, and even physical toll of loss. You don’t have to go through it alone.
What Is Grief Counselling?
Grief counselling is a type of therapy focused on helping individuals process and cope with the emotional responses that follow loss. It provides a space to speak openly, reflect honestly, and begin adjusting to a life that looks different than it once did.
While grief is a natural process, it can become complicated or feel unbearable. A trained therapist offers support, guidance, and tools to help you move through grief at your own pace.
Understanding Grief
Grief is not limited to the death of a loved one. People also grieve:
- The end of a relationship
- A major health diagnosis
- Loss of a job or home
- Loss of identity (e.g., through retirement or life transition)
- Pet loss
- Miscarriage or infertility
No matter the source, grief can affect your mood, thoughts, sleep, relationships, and physical health. It’s not about “getting over it”, it’s about learning how to carry it with you while continuing to live meaningfully.
Common Symptoms of Grief
Grief can look different from person to person. Some common emotional and physical symptoms include:
- Sadness or numbness
- Anger or irritability
- Fatigue or low energy
- Difficulty sleeping or eating
- Difficulty concentrating
- Feelings of guilt or regret
- Anxiety or fear about the future
- Avoidance or withdrawal from others
These reactions are normal, but when they persist or begin to affect daily life, counselling can help.
How Therapy Helps After a Loss
Grief counselling is not about fixing or rushing the process. It’s about offering tools and support as you move through it. Some ways therapy can help include:
1. Making Space for Your Emotions
Grief can bring up complex, even conflicting emotions. Therapy offers a safe space to express sadness, anger, guilt, or relief, without judgment.
2. Understanding Your Grief Process
Everyone grieves differently. Some move through it quickly; others take years. A therapist helps you understand your own grief timeline and find ways to cope that feel right for you.
3. Addressing Complicated Grief
When grief becomes stuck—leading to avoidance, deep depression, or lasting numbness—it may be a sign of complicated grief. Therapy helps address unresolved pain and create space for healing.
4. Rebuilding Daily Life
After loss, everyday routines can feel empty or overwhelming. Therapy can support you in slowly re-engaging with your life, relationships, and goals at a manageable pace.
5. Honouring What Was Lost
Grief counselling often includes rituals or exercises to help you honour your loss—whether through writing, reflection, or finding new ways to keep memories alive.
Therapy Approaches We Use
At Crossroads Collective, our therapists draw from various evidence-based approaches to meet you where you are:
- Narrative Therapy: Helps you explore your personal story and integrate your loss into it.
- Emotion-Focused Therapy: Offers a space to feel and understand emotional pain in a supportive environment.
- CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy): Assists in identifying and shifting painful thought patterns that may be complicating grief.
- Mindfulness and Somatic Practices: Encourages grounding techniques to manage physical symptoms of grief like anxiety or fatigue.
- Art or Play Therapy (for children and teens): Offers creative ways to express loss when words are hard to find.
Your therapist will always tailor sessions to your pace, preferences, and emotional needs.
Grief in Children and Teens
Grief affects children differently than adults. They may not have the language or maturity to express what they’re feeling. Some signs a child or teen may be struggling with grief include:
- Behavioural changes (acting out or withdrawing)
- Regressions (bedwetting, clinginess)
- Difficulty in school
- Increased anxiety or sleep disturbances
- Physical complaints like stomachaches
Therapy provides a developmentally appropriate space for kids and teens to express their grief, ask questions, and build emotional tools that will serve them for life.
Supporting a Loved One Who Is Grieving
If someone close to you is grieving, it can be hard to know how to help. Here are a few simple ways to offer support:
- Listen without trying to fix it
- Be patient with their timeline
- Offer practical help (meals, errands, etc.)
- Respect their way of grieving, even if it looks different than yours
- Encourage professional support when appropriate
Grief doesn’t come with a manual, but presence, consistency, and compassion go a long way.
When to Seek Counselling
You may benefit from grief counselling if:
- You feel stuck or overwhelmed in your grief
- Daily functioning is difficult or declining
- You’re withdrawing from relationships or responsibilities
- You’re experiencing intense guilt, anger, or fear
- You’ve experienced multiple or traumatic losses
- You just want a place to talk about what you’re feeling
There’s no “right” time to start therapy. You’re allowed to seek support whether your loss was recent or many years ago.
You Don’t Have to Go Through It Alone
Grief can feel isolating, but you don’t have to carry it by yourself. Our team at Crossroads Collective offers grief and loss counselling to help you feel supported, understood, and cared for during one of life’s hardest seasons.
We offer in-person sessions in Langley and Kelowna, as well as virtual sessions for those who prefer support from home.
To take the first step toward healing, contact us today or visit our counselling services page to learn more about grief and loss support.
