Therapy Sessions in Port Coquitlam
Counselling for Grief & Loss
THERAPISTS SPECIALIZING IN THIS AREA:
Carrie
Symptoms of Grief and Loss?
Emotional
Sadness that comes in waves. Numbness. Anger you did not expect. Guilt, regret, or relief you do not know what to do with. A sense that you do not recognize yourself anymore.
Physical
Exhaustion that sleep does not fix. Trouble falling or staying asleep. Tightness in your chest or throat. Changes in appetite. A body that feels heavy or run down.
Cognitive
Replaying what happened or what you could have done differently. Trouble concentrating. Wondering who you are now, or what the point is. Struggling to picture the future.
Behavioural
Staying busy so you do not have to feel it. Avoiding reminders, or holding on to every one. Pulling away from things you used to enjoy. Putting off decisions because everything feels like too much.
Why Do I Still Feel This Heavy Long After Loss?
People expect grief to have a clear start and a clear end. A funeral, a few weeks of casseroles, and then back to normal. That is not how it works.
Grief is what happens when something that mattered is gone. It can be a person. It can also be a role you held, a career you built, a body that used to do what you asked of it, or the version of your life you thought you were headed toward. Some losses are easy for other people to see. Others are quiet, and nobody sends a card.
When the loss is not recognized, it is easy to talk yourself out of it. You tell yourself it was not that big a deal. Other people have it worse. You should be over it by now. So you keep going, and the weight stays.
Grief that lingers is not a sign that you are doing it wrong. It is a sign that what you lost mattered. And it does not have to be carried alone.
Read More: Healing Shame in Therapy: How to Reclaim Self-Worth and Belonging
Can I Grieve Something Other Than a Death?
Loss of Someone You Love
A parent, partner, child, friend, or pet. A death that was expected, or one that came without warning. A relationship that ended, or one that changed because of illness, estrangement, or distance.
Loss of Your Role or Identity
Becoming a parent, or no longer being one in the same way when kids leave home. The end of a marriage or partnership. Retiring, relocating, or coming out of a season of life that defined you. Many people say, "I do not know who I am anymore."
Loss of Your Career, Position, or Status
Being laid off, passed over, or pushed out. Leaving a job you loved, or one that was part of who you were. Stepping back from work because of burnout or injury. When work shapes how you see yourself, losing it can feel like losing yourself.
Loss of Your Health, Body, or Capacity
A diagnosis. A chronic condition. An injury or surgery. Not being able to do what you used to do, or do it the way you used to. Grieving what you can no longer do, and the future you pictured, is real grief.
Is This Grief, Depression, or Burnout?
Grief, depression, and burnout can look alike. All three can bring exhaustion, low mood, and pulling away from people. The difference is often in what sits underneath.
Grief tends to come in waves and stays tied to what you lost. You may feel okay for an hour and then be hit by a memory, a smell, or a date on the calendar. Depression is usually heavier and more constant, and it can make you feel worthless or hopeless about everything, not only about the loss. Burnout is tied to depletion from work or caregiving. They can also overlap, and one can lead to another.
You do not have to figure it out before you come in. In counselling, we look at what you have lost, how it is affecting your sleep, your body, and your relationships, and what you want to feel different. If you are having thoughts of ending your life, call or text 9-8-8 any time, day or night.
What Changes When People Get Counselling for Grief and Loss?
Here is what tends to change:
The waves of grief feel less overwhelming
You can think about what you lost without being flooded
Guilt and regret loosen their grip
You sleep and concentrate better
You stop feeling like you have to hide it or hurry up
You find a way to carry the loss and still make room for your life
You feel more like yourself, or begin to know who you are now
You can lean on the people around you, instead of pulling away
What Happens in Grief and Loss Counselling in Port Coquitlam?
Your first session is a conversation. We want to understand what you have lost, what you are noticing now, and what you want to feel different. You do not need to have the right words. You do not need to be "ready." We go at your pace.
There is no set timeline for grief and no stages you have to move through. Instead, we work on two things. First, we make room for what you are feeling, including the parts that feel confusing or unacceptable, like anger, relief, or guilt. Second, we look at what the loss has changed: your daily life, your sense of who you are, your relationships, and what comes next.
When a loss was sudden, frightening, or comes back in vivid images, your brain may be holding on to it as if it is still happening. For those situations, we use approaches like EMDR and Brainspotting to help your brain process the experience so it feels less raw.
The goal is not to move on or to forget. It is to find a way to carry the loss so it stops running your days.
We offer in-person sessions in Port Coquitlam and online therapy anywhere in British Columbia. We support adults from Coquitlam, Port Moody, Pitt Meadows, Maple Ridge, and across the Tri-Cities.
Read More: How EMDR Therapy Can Help Heal Trauma
Are You Ready to Move Past These Symptoms?
You do not have to carry this by yourself, and you do not have to wait until it feels "big enough." At Serenity Counselling, we offer a private, steady space to grieve what you have lost and find your footing again.
LOOKING FOR MORE ANSWERS?
Frequently Asked Questions
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Yes, we offer counselling for grief that is not about a death. Many people come to us grieving the loss of a career, a role, their health, a relationship, or who they used to be. These losses are real, even when the people around you do not see them as grief.
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Yes, it is normal to still be grieving months or years after a loss. Grief does not follow a schedule, and it can resurface around birthdays, anniversaries, or big life changes. It is worth reaching out if the weight is not easing, if it is affecting your sleep, work, or relationships, or if you feel stuck. You do not have to wait until it gets worse.
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You may need counselling for grief if it feels stuck, if it is getting in the way of daily life, or if you cannot imagine things getting better. Complicated or prolonged grief is when intense grief does not ease over time and keeps you from functioning. You do not need to meet a label to get support. If you are not sure, a free consultation is a good place to start.
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Yes, you can grieve the loss of your job or career. When work shapes your routine, your income, your friendships, and your sense of purpose, losing it can bring real grief. Counselling can help you make sense of what you lost, work through anger or shame, and figure out what comes next.
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Yes, you can grieve the loss of who you used to be. Identity loss often follows big changes like becoming a parent, a breakup or divorce, retirement, a move, or a health change. Counselling can help you name what is gone, make room for who you are now, and decide what you want to carry forward.
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Yes, counselling can help with grief after an illness, injury, or loss of capacity. Grieving what your body can no longer do, and the future you pictured, is common and often overlooked. We can help you process the loss, and the anger, fear, or sadness that comes with it, alongside whatever medical care you are receiving.
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Yes, it is normal to feel angry, guilty, or even relieved after a loss. Grief is rarely just sadness. Many people feel several things at once, and some of them feel hard to admit. In counselling, there is no wrong feeling to bring.
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No. You do not have to talk about the person or what you lost in every session. You choose what you share and when. Some approaches, like EMDR and Brainspotting, do not require you to go through every detail out loud. We move at a pace that feels manageable.
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EMDR can help with grief and loss, especially when the loss was sudden, frightening, or comes back as vivid images or strong reactions. It helps your brain process the experience so it feels less like it is happening now. Not every kind of grief needs EMDR, and we will talk about what fits you before we begin.