Psychotherapy
For Grief And Loss
At Given to Fly, we offer a space where your grief is not rushed or minimized. Together, we gently explore your loss, make sense of the emotions that come with it, and find ways to carry your grief that feel more manageable and meaningful.
"Grief is the price we pay for love." — Elizabeth II
Grief Counselling
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“Why does it still hurt this much?”
The pain of loss can remain long after others expect it to fade. Grief often comes in waves, resurfacing through memories, milestones, or unexpected moments in everyday life. I believe that ongoing grief is not a sign of weakness or being "stuck"—it is often a reflection of the depth of your love, connection, and loss.
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"Grief doesn’t grow smaller; we grow larger around it."
Types Of Grief
Anticipatory Grief
The impending death of a loved one can profoundly change your world. Anticipatory grief is the emotional response that occurs before an expected loss, such as when a loved one is living with a serious illness or nearing the end of life. It can involve feelings of sadness, anxiety, anger, guilt, and fear about the future, as well as mourning the changes that have already occurred.
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Bereavement
Bereavement is the period of mourning and adjustment that follows the death of a loved one. It encompasses the emotional, psychological, social, and sometimes physical responses to loss. While each person's experience is unique, bereavement often involves grief, changes in daily life, and a process of adapting to life without the person who has died.
Children’s Grief and Bereavement
Unlike adults, children may express grief in ways that seem inconsistent, moving between sadness and normal play or daily activities. Their understanding of death and loss varies with age and development, and they may experience emotions such as confusion, fear, anger, guilt, or sadness.
Relationship Endings
The end of a relationship can bring a profound sense of loss, even when the decision to part ways was the right one. You may find yourself grieving not only the relationship itself, but also the future you imagined, the routines you shared, and the role that person played in your life. Therapy can provide a supportive space to process the loss, make sense of your emotions, and begin moving forward with greater clarity and self-compassion.
Changes In Health
Changes in health can bring a unique and often overlooked form of grief. Whether you are adjusting to a chronic illness, a new diagnosis, a disability, infertility, or changes in your physical or cognitive abilities, it is natural to mourn the loss of the life, independence, or future you once envisioned. Given to Fly can provide a compassionate space to process these losses, adapt to life's changes, and reconnect with a sense of meaning, identity, and hope.
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Job Loss Or Retirement
Losing a job can be more than a financial setback—it can feel like the loss of identity, purpose, routine, and future plans. Whether the change was unexpected or anticipated, job loss can bring feelings of grief, anxiety, disappointment, shame, or uncertainty about what comes next.
Family Estrangement
Estrangement from a family member or important relationship can bring a deep and complicated form of grief. Even when distance is chosen for safety or wellbeing, it is common to mourn the loss of connection, shared history, and the relationship you hoped it could be.
Life Transitions
Life transitions can bring a quieter, often unrecognized form of grief. Even positive or expected changes—such as becoming a parent, retiring, moving, or entering a new stage of life—can involve letting go of familiar roles, routines, and identities. You may find yourself missing the version of life you once knew or feeling uncertain about who you are in this new chapter.
Empty Nest
The transition to an empty nest can bring an unspoken but significant sense of grief. As children move out and establish their own lives, it is common to experience a mix of pride, sadness, loneliness, and uncertainty about this new stage of life. You may miss the daily routines of parenting and have to adjust to a changed sense of identity and purpose.
Loss Of Self
Some forms of grief come from the loss of your sense of self: who you once were. After trauma or a painful experience, you may feel disconnected from who you once were—your confidence, identity, boundaries, or sense of safety. It can feel like you’ve lost parts of yourself along the way, even if you are no longer in that situation.
Complicated Grief
Also known as prolonged grief, it is an intense and persistent form of grief that significantly interferes with your ability to function in daily life. You may experience complicated feelings of deep sadness, longing, or preoccupation with the deceased that do not lessen over time.
"What we have once enjoyed deeply we can never lose. All that we love deeply becomes a part of us." - Helen Keller
Getting Help for your Grief
As a grief and bereavement specialist, I offer a compassionate space where grief is not something to fix, but something to feel, process, and understand at your own pace.
Make Meaning
Navigate Emotions
Rebuild A Sense Of Identity
Therrapy For Grief Approach
As an individual, the treatment for grief will also be individual and tailored to your unique needs. Depending on the type of grief and the severity, the approach may incorporate Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), narrative therapy, and somatically-grounded interventions. For complicated grief, EMDR can reduce the intensity of painful memories.
