West Vancouver Grief Counselling
When Loss Breaks Your World
Someone you loved died and everything stopped making sense. Maybe it was sudden - a heart attack, an accident, suicide - and you're in shock. Or maybe it was expected after a long illness but you're still not prepared for the hole they left. People keep saying "they're in a better place" or "time heals" and you want to scream because those words don't help when you can't get out of bed, can't stop crying, or can't feel anything at all. West Vancouver grief counselling gives you space to actually grieve without timelines, without pressure to "move on," without having to pretend you're okay when you're shattered.
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Creekside Counselling works with people all over the North Shore, from Lions Bay to Deep Cove, who are dealing with loss and discovering that grief is way more complicated and longer-lasting than anyone prepared them for. Grief counselling helps you process what happened, honour who you lost, and eventually rebuild a life that includes the loss instead of pretending it didn't happen.
Benefits of Grief Counselling
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Someone who won't tell you to get over it or that you should be past this by now. Grief doesn't follow neat timelines. It's messy, non-linear, and lasts way longer than the two weeks society seems to allow. Grief counselling gives you permission to take however long you need.
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Grief counselling addresses the many ways grief shows up. It's not just sadness - it's anger at the person for leaving, guilt over things you did or didn't say, anxiety about your own mortality, relief if the relationship was complicated, numbness where you can't feel anything. All of these are normal grief responses and counselling holds space for the full complexity.
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We help with the specific types of loss people face. Losing a parent when you're an adult and suddenly feeling like an orphan. Losing a spouse and not knowing who you are without them. Losing a child which goes against every natural order. Losing a sibling, a friend, a pet who was family. Each loss is different and grief counselling adapts to what you're dealing with.
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For sudden or traumatic deaths - suicide, accidents, violence - grief counselling addresses the trauma alongside the loss. You're not just grieving the person, you're processing the traumatic way they died. EMDR and trauma therapy help with intrusive images, flashbacks, and the shock that accompanies sudden loss.
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Grief counselling helps when you're stuck in one stage and can't seem to move through it. Maybe you're frozen in denial months later. Or stuck in rage that's destroying relationships. Or bargaining endlessly with "what ifs." We help you process whatever stage you're in without rushing you but also without letting you get permanently stuck there.
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We work with complicated grief - when loss triggers depression that won't lift, when you can't function months or years later, when grief feels like it's swallowing you whole. This isn't a sign you loved them more or are weak - complicated grief is a specific condition that needs treatment beyond just time passing.
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Grief counselling also addresses the practical identity shifts that come with loss. Who are you without your spouse of 40 years? How do you parent your remaining children after losing one? What's your role in the family after your parent dies? Rebuilding identity after loss is huge work that people don't talk about enough.
Creekside Counselling's Approach to Grief Counselling
We start wherever you are. Fresh loss where you're still in shock? Months or years later and still struggling? Anticipatory grief because someone's dying but not gone yet? There's no "right time" to start grief counselling. We meet you in whatever stage you're in.
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Grief counselling doesn't rush you through stages or push you to "acceptance" before you're ready. The five stages of grief aren't a linear checklist - they're a messy spiral you move through in your own way and time. We honor your unique grief process instead of forcing it into some predetermined path.
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We make space for all the contradictory feelings grief brings. You can miss someone AND be angry at them. You can grieve someone AND acknowledge the relationship was complicated or even abusive. You can feel relief they're not suffering AND guilt about that relief. We hold all of it without judgment.
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For traumatic deaths, we use EMDR to process the trauma of how they died separately from processing the grief of losing them. Sometimes people get stuck in the trauma images and can't access the love and memories underneath. Processing trauma first opens space for healthier grieving.
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Grief counselling includes telling their story. Who were they? What did you love about them? What do you miss most? What's the hardest part of them being gone? Talking about the person helps process the reality of loss instead of staying in denial or avoidance.
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We address the things nobody tells you about grief. How exhausted you'll be from emotional pain. How grief comes in waves when you least expect it. How holidays and anniversaries hit hard for years. How people disappear from your life because they don't know how to handle your grief. How you might forget small details about them and that's terrifying. Knowing these things are normal helps you feel less alone and less crazy.
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Grief counselling helps with the practical challenges of loss. Going through their belongings. Deciding what to keep and what to let go. Handling their estate. Navigating first holidays without them. These concrete tasks are grief work too, not just the emotional processing.
We also work on building continuing bonds with the person who died. Modern grief therapy recognizes you don't "let go" and move on - you find ways to maintain connection while building a life without their physical presence. What rituals or practices help you feel connected? How do you honor their memory? How do they stay part of your life even though they're gone?
Pricing Information
Grief counselling sessions are $165 per 50-minute session. Fresh loss often means weekly sessions for emotional support and processing. As grief becomes less acute, biweekly or monthly works better. We adjust frequency based on where you're at.
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Length of treatment varies hugely. Some people need support for a few months through the acute grief period. Others work with us for a year or more through anniversaries, holidays, and the long process of rebuilding life. There's no timeline for "finishing" grief work.
We provide receipts for insurance. Most extended health plans in BC cover grief counselling. Check your benefits - many West Vancouver employers offer good mental health coverage that includes bereavement support.
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Some people access grief counselling through hospice programs if their loved one died under hospice care, or through victim services if the death was a crime or accident. We can help you figure out what resources might be available.
Areas We Serve
We are in West Vancouver and work with grieving people throughout the North Shore. Our grief counselling clients come from all West Van neighborhoods - Horseshoe Bay, Dundarave, Ambleside, Eagle Harbour, Caulfeild, Whitby Estates, British Properties, Cypress Village, Gleneagles, Bayridge, Chartwell.
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We also see people from North Vancouver, Lions Bay, and throughout Metro Vancouver dealing with loss. Some people prefer working with a grief counsellor outside their immediate community for privacy during this vulnerable time.
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Virtual grief counselling works well for many people, especially if leaving the house feels impossible during early grief or if you're dealing with anticipatory grief and caregiving responsibilities that make in-person appointments hard.
Frequently Asked Questions About Grief Counselling
How do I know if I need grief counselling or if I'm grieving normally?
If grief is interfering with your ability to function - you can't work, can't take care of yourself or your family, having suicidal thoughts, stuck in one emotion for months - counselling helps. But you don't have to be in crisis. If you're struggling and want support, that's reason enough.
Is it too late to get help if the loss was years ago?
Never too late. Lots of people put off processing grief and it catches up with them years later. Or they grieved at the time but new life stages bring up the loss again differently. We work with people processing losses from decades ago. Grief doesn't expire.
Will therapy make me forget them or "let go"?
No. Grief counselling helps you maintain connection to who you lost while building a life that includes the loss. You don't forget them or stop loving them - you find ways to carry them with you while still living. They become part of your story instead of the only story.
What if I'm not sad enough? I feel numb or relieved and that makes me feel guilty.
Everyone grieves differently. Numbness is a normal protective response. Relief is normal too, especially after long illnesses or complicated relationships. Grief counselling helps you process whatever you're actually feeling instead of what you think you "should" feel.
How long does grief last?
There's no timeline. Acute grief usually lessens after 6-12 months but you'll have waves of grief for years, especially around anniversaries, holidays, or life milestones they're missing. Grief doesn't end - it changes shape and becomes something you carry rather than something that flattens you.
Can grief counselling help with anticipatory grief when someone's dying but not gone yet?
Absolutely. Grieving before death is real and hard - you're losing them gradually while also trying to be present for them. Anticipatory grief counselling helps you process what's happening, navigate complex family dynamics, and prepare as much as possible for loss you know is coming.
What's the difference between grief and depression?
Grief includes moments of positive emotion and connection even in the depths of loss. Depression is more persistent numbness and hopelessness. That said, grief can trigger clinical depression, especially complicated grief. If you're having suicidal thoughts, can't function at all, or feel no hope things will ever improve, you likely need treatment for depression alongside grief processing.
Will you make me talk about the death if it was traumatic?
Only when you're ready. With traumatic deaths, we often need to process the trauma first using approaches like EMDR before you can access healthier grief. We never force you to describe traumatic details before you're stable enough. Your pace always.
You don't have to carry this alone. West Vancouver grief counselling provides support for one of life's hardest experiences, honoring who you lost while helping you rebuild a life that includes them even though they're gone. Book your session today - grief deserves witness and you deserve support.