HEALING THROUGH THE GRIEF PROCESS
COUNSELLING FOR GRIEF/LOSS IN OTTAWA
Grief is a natural response to loss, whether it’s a pet, friend, family member, or major life change. It can bring deep sadness, anger, guilt, and even physical struggles like difficulty eating or sleeping. Everyone experiences grief differently, and without support, it can feel overwhelming.
At Unique Peace Counselling, we provide compassionate therapy to help you process emotions, cope with loss, and find your path to healing. Talking about grief can be hard, but it’s a step toward growth. If you’re struggling, let us help.
ADDRESSING YOUR UNIQUE NEEDS
OTHER Focuses
GRIEF TAKES ON MANY FORMS
Different Kinds of Loss
For some neurodivergent-individuals, grief can take on many forms that neurotypicals may find it difficult to relate to. At times, a neurodivergent person may have an intense grief reaction to things that brough sensory comfort to them in a hostile world, such as a pet, a favourite object, a favourite hobby, etc. At times, these responses can even be more intense then when a neurodivergent-person was grieving friends and family, leading to confusion from family and support persons.
At Unique Peace Counselling, we understand just how important these comforting pets, objects and hobbies can be. Often, these things can provide more comfort in our lives then some people, leading to intense distress. By creating a safe space and by normalizing the loss, we hope to create an environment that can allow you to unmask and to share the depth of your loss.
Frequently Asked Questions
WHAT IS GRIEF?
Grief is a strong and often overwhelming emotion that we express when dealing with a loss. The grieving process has similarities between different people but each person’s experience will be unique to them.
HOW LONG DOES GRIEF LAST?
Unfortunately, there is no universal answer. Every grieving process is unique and is a reflection of one’s personality and the significance of the loss. Therapy may help in processing emotions associated with loss.
WHAT ARE THE STAGES OF GRIEF?
It’s important to note that not everybody has the same coping process, but there are similarities in the stages that people experience in response to a loss. The 5 stages of grief model summarize the grieving process in five main stages: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Individuals may experience some, or all of these, in different orders and intensities.
WHAT DOES GRIEF FEEL LIKE?
More often than not, grief is described as “an intense loss of connection and meaning”. Additional feelings may include: shock, numbness, sadness and disbelief.
HOW TO COPE WITH GRIEF?
- Every person’s grieving journey will look different from another’s, as we all interpret loss differently. Additionally, we all can experience different intensities with grief, leading to further differentiating experiences.
HOW DOES GRIEF AFFECT THE BODY?
Grief can bring on a variety of adverse physical symptoms. The feelings of stress can increase inflammation and can cause or accelerate headaches, stiffness, and joint pain. Prolonged grief can also diminish the effectiveness of your immune system and increase your blood pressure.
