Grief Therapy & Trauma Counseling Services
As a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying), I can offer therapy to residents of Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Newfoundland, and the territories. Psychotherapy is covered by many health insurance providers.
If you are outside of these areas, I can offer grief coaching.
Loss and major life transitions can shake the foundation of everything you know, leaving you feeling lost, uncertain, and emotionally drained.
Whether you are grieving the death of a loved one, navigating relationship changes due to illness or loss, or re-evaluating your career after experiencing profound grief, you don’t have to go through it alone.
I provide a compassionate, grief-informed space where you can process your emotions, rebuild a sense of purpose, and move forward in a way that feels authentic and meaningful to you.
My therapy services are designed to support individuals and couples through the complexities of grief, helping you strengthen relationships, rediscover who you are, and embrace life with confidence and self-compassion.
Everyone’s experience is unique, and I tailor my approach to meet your specific needs, ensuring that you feel heard, understood, and supported every step of the way.
Individual Sessions .. ……………… $175/session
Couples Therapy Sessions ………. $200/session
EMDR Intensives begin at $1000
Individual Grief Therapy
Whether you’re mourning the loss of a loved one, facing a life transition, or struggling with anticipatory grief, I provide a safe and compassionate space to process your emotions.
Together, we will work toward renewal, understanding, and finding a way forward that honors your loss while embracing life.
Who It’s For:
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Individuals grieving the death of a loved one or significant person (complicated relationships are welcome too)
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People navigating major life changes related to loss
What to Expect:
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A trauma-informed, personalized approach
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A supportive space to process emotions, sensations, and day to day challenges
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Strategies to cope with grief in daily life
Therapy for Traumatic Bereavement
Experiencing a sudden, unexpected, or traumatic loss can leave you feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or struggling with distressing memories.
I offer specialized support for traumatic bereavement using EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and EMDR Recent Traumatic Event Protocol to help you process your grief, reduce distress, and move toward a sense of peace and resilience.
Who It’s For:
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Individuals who have experienced a sudden or traumatic loss
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Those struggling with distressing memories or intrusive thoughts related to death, dying, and grief
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People seeking EMDR therapy to support their bereavement journey
What to Expect:
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EMDR therapy to help process grief-related trauma
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A structured, evidence-based approach to relieving the distress associated with traumatic expereinces
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Support in navigating complex emotions and finding stability
I also offer EMDR Intensives which are a focused, extended therapy session — up to 4 hours in one day — where we work together, one-on-one, to process the traumatic aspects of your grief. Learn more about them here.
Therapy for Caregivers
Providing care for someone with a serious or terminal illness can be emotionally and physically exhausting.
Whether you’re a partner, spouse, parent, child, close friend, or professional caregiver, the demands of caregiving can lead to burnout, anticipatory grief, and a loss of identity.
I offer therapy tailored to the unique needs of caregivers—helping you process your emotions, set healthy boundaries, and reconnect with your own needs and values.
Who It’s For:
- Partners, spouses, or family members caring for a loved one with a serious illness
- Parents and adult children providing long-term care
- Close friends or professionals navigating caregiver stress
What to Expect:
- Space to process anticipatory grief and emotional exhaustion
- Support in managing stress, guilt, and burnout
- Tools for maintaining connection to self while caring for others
Therapy for Dating After Loss
Navigating the world of dating after losing a significant other (a spouse, partner, boyfriend, girlfriend, situationship, etc) can feel overwhelming and complicated.
Whether you’re curious about dating again or actively seeking a new relationship, I provide a supportive space to explore your feelings, work through guilt or uncertainty, to help you approach dating with confidence and clarity.
Who It’s For:
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Individuals considering dating after the death of a partner
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Those experiencing complex emotions around repartnering
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People wanting to honor their past relationship while embracing new the possibilities of a relationship with someone new
What to Expect:
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A grief-informed, nonjudgmental approach to dating after loss
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Support in processing emotions such as guilt, fear, or excitement
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Tools for navigating new relationships in a way that feels right for you
Therapy for Career Transitions After Loss
Losing a loved one can shift your priorities, including your career path.
If you’re considering a new career direction, I offer guidance and support to help you explore career changes in a way that aligns with your values and personal growth.
Who It’s For:
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Individuals on bereavement leave rethinking their careers
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Those seeking meaningful work after loss
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Anyone feeling stuck or uncertain about next steps
What to Expect:
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Career exploration through a grief-informed lens
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Identifying new paths that align with your needs
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Support in making decisions and taking action
Grief-Informed Couples Therapy
Grief and loss can profoundly impact a relationship.
Whether you and your partner are grieving together, navigating a terminal diagnosis, or repartnering after a loss, I help couples foster open communication, deepen connection, and create space for grief within the relationship.
Who It’s For:
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Couples grieving a shared loss
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Partners coping with a terminal diagnosis or palliative care
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Couples where one partner has lost a previous spouse or partner
What to Expect:
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Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) techniques
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Strengthening communication and support
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Navigating grief while maintaining connection
Therapy for Body Image and Disordered Eating After Loss
Grief can deeply impact your relationship with your body and food. If you are at war with your body, struggling with self-image, or have a history of disordered eating, I offer compassionate, grief-informed support to help you navigate these challenges. Together, we will explore how loss has influenced your relationship with your body and create a path toward self-kindness and a more balanced approach to nourishment and self-care.
Who It’s For:
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Individuals who feel disconnected from their bodies after loss
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Those with a history of disordered eating navigating grief
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People struggling with body image in the wake of bereavement
What to Expect:
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A compassionate, nonjudgmental approach to your body image concerns
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Support in understanding the intersection of grief and disordered eating
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Tools to foster self-acceptance and a healthier relationship with your body
Frequently Asked Questions about Therapy
What is the difference between grief therapy and regular therapy?
Grief therapy is a specialized form of therapy that focuses specifically on the unique challenges of loss, bereavement, and life transitions. While general therapy addresses a broad range of mental health concerns, grief-informed therapy understands that grief isn’t a mental health disorder to be “fixed” – it’s a natural response to loss that requires specialized support.
In grief therapy, I use approaches specifically designed for loss, such as continuing bonds theory and meaning-making frameworks. We focus on processing the complex emotions of grief, navigating practical challenges like anniversaries and triggers, and helping you integrate your loss into your life story. Regular therapy might address grief as one of many issues, but grief therapy makes your loss experience the central focus, recognizing that grief affects every aspect of your life differently than other concerns.
How does EMDR help with traumatic grief?
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is particularly effective for traumatic grief because it helps your brain process distressing memories and reduce their emotional intensity. When someone dies suddenly, unexpectedly, or traumatically, these memories can become “stuck” in your nervous system, causing intrusive thoughts, nightmares, or overwhelming emotions when triggered.
During EMDR sessions, we use bilateral stimulation (typically eye movements) while you recall specific grief-related memories. This helps your brain reprocess these memories so they become less distressing and more integrated. For example, if you’re haunted by the image of finding your loved one or receiving the phone call about their death, EMDR can help reduce the emotional charge of these memories while preserving the important aspects of your relationship.
I also use the EMDR Recent Traumatic Event Protocol (RTEP) specifically designed for losses that are very recent, and I offer EMDR Intensives – extended sessions up to 4 hours – for more focused trauma processing.
Is grief therapy covered by insurance in Canada?
Psychotherapy is covered by many health insurance providers across Canada, including grief therapy. Most extended health benefit plans include coverage for registered psychotherapists, though the amount and number of sessions covered varies by plan.
Since I’m a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying), my services are eligible for reimbursement through most insurance plans. I recommend checking with your insurance provider about:
- Your annual psychotherapy benefit amount
- What documentation you need for reimbursement
I provide detailed receipts that include all necessary information for insurance claims. Some clients also use their Health Spending Accounts (HSA) or Flexible Spending Accounts to cover therapy costs.
If you don’t have insurance coverage, I offer a free 15-minute consultation to discuss options and ensure my services are a good fit before you invest financially.
How long does grief therapy typically take?
Grief therapy is highly individual, and there’s no standard timeline for grieving or healing. Some clients find significant relief in a few months, while others benefit from longer-term support spanning a year or more. The duration depends on several factors:
Your unique circumstances:
- The nature of your loss (sudden vs. expected)
- Your relationship with the person who died
- Whether you’re dealing with complicated or traumatic grief
- Your support system and life stressors
Your therapy goals:
- Processing immediate crisis and stabilization: 3-6 months
- Working through complex grief emotions: 6-12 months
- Integrating loss and rebuilding life meaning: 12+ months
- EMDR for traumatic memories: Often effective in shorter, intensive periods
Many clients attend weekly sessions initially, then transition to bi-weekly or monthly sessions as they stabilize. Others prefer intensive periods followed by maintenance sessions around difficult anniversaries or life transitions.
During our free consultation, we’ll discuss your specific situation and I can give you a better sense of what might be most helpful for your particular grief journey. Remember, seeking support is a sign of strength, and you can always adjust the frequency and duration of therapy based on your needs and progress.