Grief Counselling in Edmonton

Grief is a process that most everyone will eventually experience. Often those experiencing grief and loss are hesitant about attending counselling as they cannot imagine finding comfort in anything. Grief and loss can be described as the world having been turned upside down. For many people, it is difficult that everyday life continues when you are grieving. When you have been impacted by life altering events you need time and space to process strong feelings. You may find that you are not ready to return to the tasks of everyday life. You will be faced with adapting to a new future after your loss.

Sometimes, people find that they struggle to talk about their grief for fear of worrying or upsetting others. After a loss, it is also common that people limit sharing with others to avoid cliché responses that feel invalidating. Evidence-based, high quality grief counselling can be extremely helpful in processing grief and loss and finding new sources of meaning in life. 

Understanding grief and how it shows up

Grief is more than just sadness. It can manifest as fatigue, irritability, numbness, confusion, anger, or even guilt. For many, daily life may feel like a struggle—like you’re treading water, unsure if you’ll be able to stay afloat. Some people find it difficult to return to work or social activities. Others may avoid discussing their grief altogether, afraid of being misunderstood or receiving well-meaning but dismissive responses. 

Types of grief we support

Grief doesn’t only arise from death. It can stem from many different forms of loss, including:

Death of a loved one

The pain of losing a parent, partner, child, sibling, or friend can be all-consuming. This emotionally challenging experience that can evoke a range of intense feelings. The grieving process is unique to each person as well as the individual dynamics of the relationship they have lost. Theses differences, understandably are part of the reason the grieving process and duration varies.

Separation, divorce, and break ups

Relationships, even those that end of the best terms, can be a source of grief and loss. Divorce, separation, and break ups can be life-altering events which may evoke a range of intense emotions, including sadness, anger, confusion, and a sense of loss. Individuals undergoing such transitions may grapple with the dismantling of expectations and dreams tied to the relationship, leading to a process of mourning.

Loss of a pet

For many people, dogs, cats, and other pets are considered a part of the family. Losing a pet can be a tremendous source of grief, especially if the pet and owner had a close bond. Typical pet lifespans vary and the loss of a pet before the expected lifespan or difficulty coming to terms with end of life choices for your pet can also impact the loss.

Ambiguous grief and loss

Ambiguous grief and loss represent a unique and often challenging aspect of the human experience. Unlike more clearly defined losses, such as death, ambiguous loss lacks a clear endpoint or resolution, leaving individuals grappling with uncertainty and conflicting emotions. This type of loss can manifest in various forms, such as when a loved one is experiencing dementia, addiction, or mental health concerns, losses and endings without closure; and reproductive concerns including infertility. 

Anticipatory grief

Anticipatory grief refers to the emotional response individuals experience when anticipating an impending loss. This could be the loss of a loved one, typically due to a terminal illness or a significant life change. Caregivers may experience anticipatory grief both for themselves and for the person they are caring for even outside of a terminal prognosis.

Grieving a loss that has not fully completed is often complicated by secondary emotions – that is, self-judgement of the initial emotional experience. For example, a feeling of frustration that the loss is occurring slowly or a feeling of relief after the loss are commonly met with a secondary emotion such as shame or guilt for feeling this way.

Professional loss

Professional grief and loss, is an often overlooked and significant aspect of the human experience, particularly within certain professions such as healthcare, emergency and social services, or counselling. Individuals working in these fields may encounter repeated exposure to death, trauma, and witnessing suffering of immediate family members.

Grief in professional settings can be hard to process when expectations around stoicism, professionalism, and a sense of distance from the loss exist. These experiences can lead to a unique form of grief related to the emotional toll of their work.

Complex or prolonged grief

Prolonged grief, also known as complicated grief or persistent complex bereavement disorder, is a mental health diagnosis marked by a prolonged and intense grieving period that extends beyond the typical duration expected for grief. While grief is a natural and individual process, prolonged grief appears to include qualities which follow a somewhat different trajectory than the majority of loss. 

The connection between grief and trauma

Grief and trauma often coexist, though they are distinct experiences with different clusters of reactions. Symptoms of trauma are changes to one’s response as the result of a highly distressing event. This can include being overly (or under) sensitized to environmental cues, having a negative view of the world and sense of safety, and strong efforts to avoid internal and external triggers. Trauma can result in heightened reactivity, avoidance, or a distorted sense of safety and trust. 

Grief, on the other hand, is more typically characterized by a sense of longing for the person, animal, or thing that has been lost. Those who are grieving may search for the person who is gone, have difficulty remembering they are no longer around, and expect to find their loved one in the locations where they previously existed.

How grief counselling in Edmonton can help

At Mendable Psychology, our therapists offer evidence-based grief counselling support to help you process your loss and begin to rebuild. Our approach is compassionate, non-judgmental, and customized to your unique story. Through grief counselling, you can:

• Share your story at your own pace

• Explore emotions such as anger, guilt, or relief without shame

• Learn tools to manage daily functioning

• Develop meaningful ways to remember and honour your loss

• Reconnect with a sense of hope and purpose

• Navigate others’ expectations and set healthy boundaries

Therapeutic approaches for grief counselling

Our therapists use a range of research-backed grief counselling modalities tailored to your needs:

• EMDR therapy (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) – Helpful for clients experiencing grief mixed with trauma or unresolved distress.

• Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) – Addresses thought patterns that may be intensifying your emotional pain.

• Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) – Focuses on making room for painful emotions while still engaging in meaningful life activities.

Whether you’re experiencing a recent loss or have been carrying unresolved grief for years, our team is here to help.

Online and in-person grief counselling options

We offer both in-person sessions in Edmonton and secure online therapy options for grief counselling. Whether you prefer to speak with a therapist face-to-face or from the comfort of your home, support is accessible.