Grief Counselling
in Ontario
Types of Grief
Here are some common types of grief.
-
Normal Grief – A natural response to loss, with emotions ranging from sadness to acceptance.
-
Anticipatory Grief – Felt before a loss, often due to terminal illness.
-
Complicated Grief – Intense, prolonged grief that disrupts daily life.
-
Disenfranchised Grief – Unrecognized by society.
-
Cumulative Grief – Multiple losses in a short time, leading to overwhelm.
-
Secondary Grief – Felt by those indirectly affected, like friends or family.
-
Collective Grief – Experienced by a community after a widespread tragedy.
-
Ambiguous Grief – Loss without closure.
-
Traumatic Grief – Sudden or violent loss, often linked to PTSD.
Types of Loss
Here are some common types of loss.
-
Death of a Loved One
-
Loss of Safety, Home, or Financial Security
-
Divorce or Relationship Loss
-
Loss of Health, Independence, or Ability
-
Loss of Identity, Childhood, or Innocence
-
Loss of a Dream, Goal, or Career
-
Loss of Community, Culture, or Traditions
-
Loss of Trust, Time, or a Pet

Common Symptoms of Grief
Grief can affect the body, mind, and emotions in different ways:
-
Physical: Fatigue, headaches, muscle aches, digestive issues, weakened immunity.
-
Sleep & Appetite: Insomnia, nightmares, excessive sleep, loss or increase in appetite.
-
Emotional: Intense sadness, despair, guilt, regret, anger, or emotional numbness.
-
Cognitive: Confusion, difficulty concentrating, intrusive thoughts, existential questioning.
-
Behavioral: Social withdrawal, communication changes, increased irritability, crying spells.
-
Spiritual: Feeling abandoned by a higher power, loss of faith or meaning.

Benefits of Grief Counselling
-
Having a Supportive Guide – Grieving alone can feel isolating and overwhelming. Having someone accompany you in your pain can make the process feel safer.
-
Expand Your Capacity – Make space for the natural process of grief—without needing to fix or resolve it.
-
Regulate for Stability – Find ways to steady yourself as grief moves through, creating enough safety to stay with what needs attention.
-
Reimagine Your Relationship to Loss – Grief reshapes your connection to who or what is no longer here. Therapy helps you explore how to carry that forward in a meaningful way.
-
Uncover Hidden Griefs – Some griefs are clear, others live beneath the surface—secondary losses, unresolved grief, and what was never mourned. These, too, deserve space.
-
Listen to Your Mind-Body – Grief changes your body, mind, and emotions. Noticing these shifts deepens your connection to your experience.
-
Explore Meaning & Evolving Values – Meaning-making is optional and ever-changing. Therapy provides space to reflect on how your reality is shifting and what now feels important.
Use the form below to book a free 15-minute consultation call.
If you don't see a reply, check your spam or junk folder.