Grief & Loss
Compassionate support for grief and loss, available in person in Saint John and Woodstock and virtually across New Brunswick.
Grief Doesn't Always Look Like Sadness
Grief affects everyone differently. It can influence your thoughts and emotions, but it may also appear in your body, relationships, habits and ability to manage everyday life.
Thoughts
✓ Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
✓ Replaying memories or conversations
✓ Disbelief or confusion about what happened
Feelings
✓ Sadness, anger, guilt or numbness
✓ Loneliness or a sense of emptiness
✓ Unexpected waves of emotion
Body
✓ Fatigue or low energy
✓ Changes in sleep or appetite
✓ Tightness, heaviness or physical discomfort
Everyday Life
✓ Withdrawing from people or activities
✓ Difficulty keeping up with daily responsibilities
✓ Struggling with reminders, milestones or special occasions
You may recognize several of these experiences or only one or two. Grief looks different for everyone, and there is no right way or timeline for adjusting to a loss.
What Grief & Loss Can Feel Like
Grief can bring many different and sometimes conflicting emotions. It may change from day to day or arrive unexpectedly in waves.
- Feeling deep sadness, emptiness or longing
- Experiencing anger, guilt, regret or relief
- Feeling numb, disconnected or unlike yourself
- Struggling to accept that the loss has happened
- Finding it difficult to concentrate or make decisions
- Feeling alone, even when others are around
- Being unexpectedly affected by memories or reminders
Grief does not follow a predictable path. There is no right way to feel or set timeline for adjusting to a loss.
When Grief & Loss Start Getting in the Way
Grief is a natural response to losing someone or something meaningful. But when it begins affecting your daily life, relationships, work or ability to care for yourself, additional support may help.
- Everyday responsibilities feel difficult to manage
- You feel increasingly isolated or disconnected
- Memories or reminders make it hard to move through your day
- Guilt, anger or regret feels difficult to release
- Sleep, appetite or physical well-being are being affected
- You feel stuck or unsure how to move forward
You do not have to navigate grief alone. Therapy can offer a supportive space to process your loss and find ways to carry it while gradually reconnecting with life.
How Therapy Can Help With Grief & Loss
Grief therapy is not about forgetting your loss or being encouraged to “move on.” It offers a compassionate space to understand your experience, express difficult emotions and adjust to the changes that loss can bring.
✓ Process sadness, anger, guilt, regret or relief
✓ Make sense of complicated or conflicting emotions
✓ Cope with reminders, anniversaries and unexpected waves of grief
✓ Adjust to changes in your identity, relationships or daily life
✓ Find meaningful ways to remember and honour what was lost
✓ Gradually reconnect with the people and activities that matter to you
Your therapist will meet you where you are, supporting you as you find a way to carry your loss while moving forward at your own pace.
What Grief & Loss Therapy Might Look Like
1. Understand your grief
Explore your emotions, memories and the ways loss is affecting your daily life.
2. Find ways to cope
Develop strategies for managing difficult emotions, reminders, anniversaries and unexpected waves of grief.
3. Reconnect with life
Gradually adjust to what has changed while finding meaningful ways to honour your loss and move forward.
Grief therapy is shaped by your experience, needs and pace. Sessions may offer space to talk openly about your loss while helping you cope with the changes it has brought.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Grief can follow many kinds of loss, including the end of a relationship, changes in health, pregnancy loss, job loss, caregiving transitions or other significant life changes.
There is no specific point when you “should” seek therapy. Support may help if grief is affecting your daily life, relationships, sleep, work or ability to care for yourself or if you simply want a safe place to process your loss.
No. Grief does not follow a predictable timeline, and everyone adjusts to loss differently. Therapy will not rush you or expect you to move forward before you are ready.
That is okay. You do not need to know what to say or be ready to discuss everything immediately. Your therapist will work at your pace and help you explore your experience safely.
Yes. Grief can involve many conflicting emotions. Therapy offers a nonjudgmental place to understand and process whatever you are experiencing.
Yes. We offer virtual therapy throughout New Brunswick, as well as in-person appointments in Saint John and Woodstock.
Meet Some of Our Therapists Who Support Clients Through Grief and Loss
Alex Hitchcock, LCT-C
Counselling Therapist
Alex offers grounded, collaborative support for teens and adults navigating grief, life transitions and other difficult experiences. Using approaches such as the Grief Recovery Method, he helps clients process their loss, reconnect with their strengths and move forward at their own pace.
Kelly Reid, LCT-C
Counselling Therapist
Kelly offers open, compassionate support for teens and adults experiencing grief, loss and other difficult life challenges. Drawing on more than 20 years of experience and a range of therapeutic approaches, she helps clients recognize their strengths and find a path forward that fits their individual needs.
Olivia Baxter (Stymiest), LCT-C
Counselling Therapist
Olivia offers flexible and creative support for children, teens and adults navigating grief and loss. Drawing on trauma-informed approaches, EMDR and art therapy, she creates a safe space for clients to explore difficult emotions and process their experiences in ways that feel right for them.
Related Resources on Grief & Loss
Article on grief & loss written by our therapists:
Allowing Ourselves to Feel:Reflections on Grief & Healing
Some people may also benefit from connecting with others who have experienced loss through community-based programs or support groups. Compassionate Grief Centre is a local non-profit offering grief support groups and additional resources for individuals and families in our community. Listen to a Podcast Episode we recorded with Jamie Godfrey, CEO, about grief, connection and creating support after her own personal loss.
You Don't Have to Navigate Grief & Loss Alone
Grief can feel isolating, but compassionate support is available.
We can help you connect with a therapist who will meet you where you are and support you at your own pace.