Grief Therapists in Vancouver, BC

Something's in the way. Sadness, anxiety, loneliness, stress, worry, depression, substance use, loss . The world is heavy, and that weight can be paralyzing. You know that you have something to offer. You're compassionate, creative, intelligent, sensitive, loving, and yet strong-willed, skeptical, and maybe even a bit rebellious. It seems as though you don't fit the mold, but it's the mold that doesn't fit you. Social isolation, feeling disconnected from others, from the world, adds to the weight, to the pain. If you could only break free from the self-doubt that cultures and institutions feed, the world might just open up for you.

If you're struggling with your sense of self-worth, or going through a tough loss or transition, you may want some support. I'd welcome the chance to work along side you. Finding the right fit with a therapist is really important for counselling to be helpful. It should be with someone who really understands what is happening for you, someone professionally qualified to help, and someone who you feel comfortable talking to. Therapy involves effort. The good news is that you won’t be doing it alone. The alliance between us means that I'll be there to support you, ready to work with you while you create your path forward.

If you're having a hard time focusing on daily tasks, losing track of time or zoning out, struggling more than usual lately, or want to just be better at life, you can find your Ataraxis. Ataraxis is "the absence of mental stress/anxiety; peace of mind, tranquility; a state of peace & quiet". Sounds wonderful, doesn't it? We all experience times when it's difficult to show up as our best selves, which can get discouraging after a while. Whether you're impacted by adult ADHD, difficult life experiences (big or small), or grieving a loss , you can find your footing and feel more in control of your life.

Are you feeling stressed or overwhelmed by life transitions, losses, crises or relationship challenges? Finding that anxiety is becoming unmanageable in your life? Perhaps trying to find meaningful life goals and make changes?In my counselling work I am passionate about connecting and working with people using a "person- centred" approach, which involves listening and focusing on understanding and respecting the perspective and experience of my clients. I will use a collaborative approach to work with you to gain clarity, understanding and solutions that will support positive growth and change in your life.

Hey you! I just want you to know that you have the right to be here, to express and talk about your emotions, and to become who you really are. Yes, in my previous career I too have been a victim of bullies at work. But it always stayed beneath the surface until I lost my beloved pets whom always given me strength, unconditional love and loyalty. I felt lonely, stuck and helpless. My 'non-judgmental' crew had left me. That's where I realized that I needed connect with my authentic self and learn to deal with the grief ...and work on the emotional wounds bullies have left me with years ago.

I imagine you might be struggling in some way at the moment. Maybe things are not the way you thought they would be. Maybe you imagined your life would have turned out differently. Perhaps you have had some painful life experiences that are feeling difficult to heal. Our grief and loss are exactly that and need to be honoured. What I do believe is if we allow space for our emotions and give the pain the attention it needs, we can experience some relief from that pain and find where the light can seep in. We then can build a life full of meaning and happiness.

Relationships issues, life transitions, and grief , are topics especially close to my heart. Together, we can clarify your values and what you're looking for in a partner, explore strategies for communicating more effectively in your relationships, use insight and self-compassion to disrupt destructive patterns of behaviour, or help you come to terms with a devastating break-up.

I believe that people deserve a place to feel seen, heard, and supported. In our sessions, I strive to provide a non-judgmental and open space where you can express yourself and explore your inner world so that we can create change together. While it is true that counselling can be challenging, I also believe it can and should include humour, hope, and be a comfortable place for you to learn and grow. If you are in a place where you are ready to make a change, I will support you to address concerns such as anxiety, depression, ADHD/ADD, parenting, interpersonal and relationship challenges, grief and loss , trauma, and careers.

If you are suffering from grief , anxiety or are in the midst of marriage/partnership breakup, I can help. If you have suffered abuse of any kind, I can help you make sense of those experiences. Or, if you are simply weary of the world, I can listen to how you are feeling to help you find hope. I offer a comfortable, safe and relaxed atmosphere and maintain the highest standards of confidentiality. I will add that my life's experiences are what make my service to others genuine, integral and fulfilling. I look forward to meeting with you.

Do you want to change the patterns in your important relationships? Do you seek more balance in your life? Do you need a safe place to be heard? Through our conversations, you will broaden your awareness of relationships, connection, balance, family, guilt, grief and loss .

My name is Johanna and my goal is to provide a productive and supported space where you can better understand yourself and achieve meaningful change. No matter how dire the circumstances appear to be, I believe that change is always possible. My motto is “keeping it real”, and I hope to be your fearless ally in your counselling journey. Starting counselling can be both daunting and uncomfortable, and I find it important to make this process as transparent, accessible and insightful as possible.

At Nirivia Counselling our goal is to help people develop a greater understanding of their issues and increase positive supports to create change. We have a deep respect for our clients and the therapeutic relationship, we work collaboratively through both talk and arts-based creative techniques to create insight and promote healing.

You are asking the big existential questions. Why am I here? Perhaps you keep looking to self-help books and always taking the next seminar or online course - always looking for the answers outside yourself. You want to feel connected to yourself, your loved ones, and the world around you, yet you feel like you don't belong. You feel loss and grief and are searching for purpose but are living with depression and anxiety and questioning your self-worth.

Feeling stuck? My approach is to build on your strengths, moving you from where you are to where you want to be. I endeavour to enhance the therapeutic relationship by creating a caring and nurturing space for you to express feelings, emotions, behaviours, and relationships. My compassionate nature brings to the counselling relationship the sense of safety, support, and encouragement you need. When facing difficult life tasks, I provide the encouragement to explore new ways to approach your concerns, help shift perspectives and create fresh insights.

It has been for too long that we have not given ourselves permission to fully grieve our losses. Whether it is a fear that allowing the grief to be experienced will be too much to bear, or the belief that we don't have as bad a situation as others, there are many reasons that we don't allow ourselves to grieve fully after our losses. This unprocessed grief will affect us, mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. Together, we will explore resources around and within you to honor your grief and move through it. Village Grief Counselling is an oasis for individuals experiencing loss .

Dear clients, I am sending you my warmest greetings as you take this incredible step of showing up for yourself here. Life could be unbearable and confusing at times. I believe that the complexity of life is sometimes beyond words, but never beyond love and the desire to connect with ourselves. It is my hope to meet you and honor your life stories with compassion, love, and a true desire to listen. I look forward to going on this amazing journey with you, one in which we explore the peace, love, and light within you through developing practical ways of healing that suit you the most.

I am an expressive arts therapist because when words in therapy are not enough, creative self-expression (through visual arts, movement, music, writing and drama) can allow us to speak things we don't have the words to say. My hope as a therapist is to provide a gentle space where you can express yourself creatively, uniquely, and holistically. My work often appeals to people who have experienced deep grief or loss , trauma, or complex life transitions. I have worked with many children (& families), youth, adults, and the elderly processing abuse, anxiety, parental struggles, depression, divorce, immigration, identity & disability.

Hiu is experienced in working from an Intersectionality-focused lens with predominantly people of the Global Majority with different neurotypes, who identify as queer and have ongoing relationships with grief . Trained in Feminist Narrative Therapy, Hiu privileges a person’s survival story and relationships to their agency, emotions, boundaries, and people. Hiu takes on a co-researcher role in therapy sessions with deconstructive conversations, insightful and possibly challenging questions, curiosity, and a commitment to naming the oppressive systems and dominant narratives at work.