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Healing Together: The Difference Grief Counselling Can Make
Losing someone you love changes everything. The world suddenly feels different, and the pain can seem overwhelming. If you're reading this, you might be searching for a way forward through your grief. You're not alone in this journey, and I'm here to provide the professional support and guidance you need to navigate this difficult time.
My name is Corinna, and I'm a grief and mental health counsellor specializing in helping adults across British Columbia process loss and find their path toward healing. Through convenient online sessions, I offer compassionate, evidence-based support that meets you wherever you are.
Understanding Grief
Grief is as unique as the relationship you had with the person you've lost. It's a natural response to loss, but that doesn't make it any easier to bear. Every person experiences grief differently, influenced by their personality, life experiences, support system, and the nature of their loss.
In my practice, I recognize these individual differences and tailor my approach to meet your specific needs. Whether you're grieving the loss of a parent, sibling, or spouse, or navigating other significant life losses, I provide specialized support that honors your unique journey.
What is Grief Counselling?
Grief counselling is a specialized form of therapy designed to help people cope with loss and navigate the complex emotions that follow. As a grief counsellor, I create a safe, confidential online space where you can express your feelings, share memories, and work through the pain at your own pace.
This isn't about "getting over" your grief – it's about learning to carry it in a way that allows you to continue living while honoring your loved one's memory. Through grief bereavement counseling, I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) techniques specifically adapted for grief work, helping you understand and manage the thoughts and behaviors that may be intensifying your suffering.
My online grief counselling sessions provide the same level of professional support as traditional in-person therapy, with added benefits of convenience and privacy. You can engage in meaningful therapeutic work from the comfort of your own home, eliminating travel time and allowing you to process emotions in your personal space.
Types of Grief I Support
In my practice at Corinna Killeen Counselling, I specialize in several types of grief and loss:
Parent Loss
Losing a parent at any age brings unique challenges. Whether you're dealing with the loss of your primary attachment figure, navigating family dynamics, or processing a complicated relationship, I provide specialized support for adult children grieving their parents.
Sibling Loss
The death of a sibling is often called "disenfranchised grief" because society doesn't always recognize its profound impact. I understand the unique pain of losing someone who shared your history and was meant to be there for your future.
Spousal Loss
Losing your life partner changes everything about your daily existence. I help widows and widowers navigate the practical and emotional challenges of rebuilding life after such a fundamental loss.
Complex Grief
Sometimes grief becomes complicated by factors like trauma, difficult relationships, or multiple losses. My training in complex trauma helps me support you through these layered experiences.
Life Transitions and Breakups
Not all grief follows death. Divorce, relationship endings, job loss, or health changes can trigger genuine grief responses that deserve professional support.
The Impact of Loss
Loss touches every aspect of your life. Understanding these impacts helps normalize your experience and shows why comprehensive support through professional grief counselling is so valuable.
Understanding Emotional Responses
The emotional landscape of grief is vast and varied. In our online sessions, we'll explore and process emotions such as:
Sadness and Yearning: The deep ache of missing your loved one is often the most recognized aspect of grief. This sadness can come in waves, sometimes catching you off guard in the middle of an ordinary day.
Anger and Frustration: It's normal to feel angry at the situation, at your loved one for leaving, at yourself, or even at others who still have what you've lost. Through CBT techniques, we'll work on channeling these emotions constructively.
Guilt and Regret: "What if" and "if only" thoughts are common. Using cognitive restructuring, I'll help you examine these thoughts compassionately and find peace with decisions made and words left unsaid.
Anxiety and Fear: Loss can shake your sense of security. You might worry about your own mortality, fear losing others, or feel anxious about facing life without your loved one. CBT provides excellent tools for managing grief-related anxiety.
Numbness and Disconnection: Sometimes, grief can leave you feeling nothing at all. This emotional numbness is your mind's way of protecting you from overwhelming pain, and we'll work gently to reconnect with emotions at a pace that feels safe.
Relief: If your loved one suffered before their death, feeling relief is a normal and valid response. I provide a judgment-free space to explore these complex emotions.
Common Myths About Grief
Throughout my years as a grief counsellor, I've seen how misconceptions about grief can complicate healing. Let's address these myths:
Myth: Grief follows predictable stages. Your grief journey is unique. While frameworks can be helpful, I don't expect you to grieve according to any predetermined timeline or pattern.
Myth: You should "move on" after a certain time. There's no expiration date on grief. In my practice, I support you for as long as you need, whether that's weeks, months, or years after your loss.
Myth: Online counselling isn't as effective as in-person counseling. Research consistently shows that online therapy can be just as effective as face-to-face sessions. Many of my clients find they can open up more readily from the comfort of their own homes.
Myth: Strong people don't need help. Seeking grief counselling is a sign of strength and self-awareness. It shows you're committed to healing and honoring your loved one's memory.
Myth: Grief only happens after death. I recognize and validate all forms of loss, including relationship endings, job loss, and life transitions that trigger genuine grief responses.
The Role of Grief Counselling
As your grief counsellor, I play a crucial role in your healing journey. While friends and family provide important comfort, professional support offers specialized skills and perspectives that can make a significant difference in one's life.
Benefits of Grief Counselling
Working with me at Corinna Killeen Counselling provides numerous benefits:
Professional Expertise: With specialized training in grief, trauma, and CBT, I bring evidence-based techniques proven to support healing.
Consistent Support: Regular weekly sessions provide stability during a chaotic time, offering a steady anchor as you navigate the unpredictable waves of grief.
Objective Perspective: As someone outside your personal circle, I can offer insights and observations that friends and family might miss or feel uncomfortable sharing.
Tailored Strategies: I adapt CBT techniques specifically to your situation, whether you're grieving the loss of a parent, sibling, spouse, or navigating another significant loss.
Safe Processing: Our confidential sessions provide a space where you can express any emotion without worrying about burdening others or being judged.
Skill Development: You'll learn practical techniques for managing difficult moments, from breathing exercises for acute grief attacks to thought-challenging strategies for persistent negative beliefs.
Convenience and Privacy: Online sessions mean you can access professional support without leaving home, particularly valuable during intense grief when even simple tasks feel overwhelming.
Grief Bereavement Counseling Approaches
My CBT-based approach to grief counselling incorporates several therapeutic techniques:
Cognitive Restructuring: We'll identify and gently challenge thoughts that intensify suffering, such as "I should have done more" or "I'll never be happy again," and replace them with more balanced and compassionate perspectives.
Behavioral Activation: Grief often leads to withdrawal and inactivity. I'll help you gradually re-engage with life through small, manageable steps that honor both your need to grieve and your need to live.
Mindfulness Techniques: Learning to stay present with difficult emotions, rather than avoiding them, can reduce suffering and promote healing. I incorporate mindfulness practices adapted for grief work.
Memory Work: We'll find meaningful ways to maintain a connection with your loved one while building a life that accommodates their absence.
Values Clarification: Grief often prompts existential questions. Together, we'll explore what matters most to you now and how to align your life with these values.
Trauma-Informed Approaches: When loss involves trauma or activates past traumas, I integrate specialized techniques to ensure you feel safe while processing both grief and trauma.
Accessing Grief Support
Finding Grief Counselling Near You
When searching for "grief counselling near me" in BC, online therapy offers unique advantages:
Provincial Access: Whether you're in Vancouver, Victoria, Kelowna, or a remote community in northern BC, you can access specialized grief support without geographical limitations.
No Commute Required: Save time and energy by eliminating the need for travel. This is especially valuable when grief makes even simple tasks exhausting.
Flexible Scheduling: Online sessions can often be scheduled outside traditional office hours, accommodating work schedules and family responsibilities.
Comfort of Home: Process difficult emotions in your own space, surrounded by comforting objects and memories if you choose.
Privacy: No waiting rooms or chance encounters. Your therapy remains completely private.
Online Grief Counseling in British Columbia
Specialized Support
My practice primarily serves adults aged 35-70 who are navigating significant life transitions and losses. This demographic often faces unique challenges:
Challenges of caring for both children while grieving: Many clients are simultaneously grieving parents while supporting their own children, creating complex emotional demands.
Career Considerations: Balancing grief with professional responsibilities requires specific strategies, which online therapy can accommodate more flexibly.
Multiple Losses: By midlife, many people have experienced several significant losses. I help you process both current grief and any unresolved past losses.
Life Experience: I honor the wisdom and resilience you've developed while recognizing that each loss brings its own challenges.
User-Friendly Technology: Online counselling is designed to be user-friendly, requiring only basic computer skills.
The Transformation Process
Grief counselling with me isn't about "fixing" your grief or making it disappear. Instead, it's about transformation – learning to carry your grief in a way that allows for continued growth and, eventually, renewed meaning and purpose.
How Grief Counselling Facilitates Healing
The transformation through our work together happens gradually:
Building Trust: Our initial sessions are designed to build a strong therapeutic relationship. I want you to feel safe, heard, and understood before we dive into deeper work.
Understanding Your Grief: Using CBT principles, we'll map out how your thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and physical sensations interact in your grief experience.
Identifying Patterns: Together, we'll notice patterns that might be keeping you stuck, such as avoidance behaviors or rumination cycles.
Developing New Skills: I'll teach you specific CBT techniques tailored to your needs, from thought logs to behavioral experiments designed for grief work and other therapeutic purposes.
Processing Pain Safely: Rather than overwhelming you, we'll gradually increase your exposure to painful emotions, building your capacity to feel without becoming overwhelmed.
Creating Meaning: Many clients find that grief counselling helps them discover meaning in their loss and their continued life. This isn't about finding silver linings, but about integrating loss into a meaningful life narrative.
Building a New Normal: Gradually, we'll work on creating a life that acknowledges your loss while allowing for new experiences and connections.
Client Success Stories
While maintaining confidentiality, I can share that clients who've worked with me have experienced:
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Reduced anxiety and depression symptoms related to their grief
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Improved sleep and daily functioning
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Ability to talk about their loved one without becoming overwhelmed
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Renewed sense of purpose and meaning
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Stronger connections with surviving family members
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Return to work and social activities at their own pace
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Development of lasting coping strategies for grief waves
What to Expect in Grief Counselling
Understanding what happens in our sessions can ease any anxiety about starting therapy.
Initial Consultation
Your first session with me focuses on connection and understanding:
Technical Comfort: We'll ensure you're comfortable with the online platform before diving into therapeutic work.
Your Story: I'll invite you to share about your loved one and your loss at whatever pace feels right. There's no pressure to share everything immediately.
Assessment: I'll gently explore how grief is affecting different areas of your life to understand how best to support you.
Collaborative Goal Setting: Together, we'll identify what you hope to gain from counselling, whether that's managing specific symptoms or broader life reconstruction.
Treatment Planning: I'll explain how CBT can help with your specific situation, and we'll create a preliminary plan for our work together.
Ongoing Sessions
Our regular online sessions typically include:
Check-ins: Each session begins with a review of your week, including the challenges you faced and the progress you made.
Skill Practice: We'll review homework and practice CBT techniques together, addressing any difficulties that arise.
Focused Work: The central portion of our session focuses on addressing specific aspects of your grief using CBT interventions.
Planning: Each session ends with collaborative homework planning to reinforce skills between sessions.
Flexibility: While I primarily use CBT, I adapt each session to your immediate needs.
Taking the First Step
If you're ready to explore grief counselling with me, I'm here to support you. As a specialized grief counsellor serving adults across British Columbia, I understand the courage it takes to reach out for help.
My online CBT-based approach offers evidence-based support for parent loss, sibling loss, spousal loss, and other significant life transitions. Whether you're in Vancouver, elsewhere in BC, or searching for "grief counselling near me," my virtual practice brings professional support directly to you.
You don't have to navigate this journey alone. Through compassionate, skilled online counselling, I'll help you process your grief, develop coping strategies, and gradually rebuild a meaningful life that honors both your loss and your capacity for continued growth.
Take that courageous first step today. Your future self will thank you.
Book Your Free 15-Minute Consultation Today
Together, we'll begin transforming your grief into a journey of healing, one session at a time. Your loved one's memory deserves to be honored, and you deserve support as you learn to carry their love forward into your future.
📞 Call: 778.988.1797
📧 Email: corinnakilleencounselling@gmail.com
🌐 Book Online