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Understanding Grief & Loss

Grief is a natural response to loss, and it can affect every part of life. Many people think grief only happens when someone important passes away, but it can show up during many other life changes. The emotional impact can feel heavy, confusing, or unpredictable, and every person’s experience is different.

People often experience grief after:

  • The death of a loved one
  • The end of a relationship or friendship
  • Losing a job or major career change
  • A shift in health or long term illness
  • Changes in identity or major life roles

Because grief is personal, there is no right or wrong way to move through it. Your thoughts, emotions, and reactions reflect your connection to what was lost and the meaning it held in your life.

How grief affects your life

Grief can touch everything from daily routines to relationships and decision making. Some people feel sadness or loneliness, while others feel anger, guilt, or numbness. It is also common to struggle with concentration, sleep, or appetite.

The intensity of grief can shift over time. Some days may feel manageable, and other days may feel overwhelming. These changes are normal. They are part of how the mind and body try to adapt to something that mattered deeply.

Why counselling can help

You do not have to carry grief alone. Counselling offers a safe place to talk openly, reflect, and find support during a very emotional time. In therapy, you can slow down and make sense of what you are feeling without judgment or pressure.

Counselling can help you:

  • Understand the many layers of your grief
  • Explore the meaning of the loss in your life
  • Stay connected to memories or values that still matter
  • Find ways to cope with the emotional and physical stress
  • Build a path forward based on your needs and strengths

Working with a trained therapist also provides space to talk about the parts of grief that feel confusing or difficult to share with family or friends.

Different types of grief

Grief does not follow a single timeline or pattern. People may experience:

  • Acute grief that feels sharp and overwhelming
  • Chronic grief that continues over a long period
  • Anticipatory grief when a loss is expected but has not happened yet
  • Complicated grief when emotions feel stuck or heavy for a long time
  • Identity based grief when a loss affects your sense of self

These forms of grief can shape how you cope and what type of support you need.

Finding your way through loss

When you are grieving, you may wonder how to move forward. Counselling does not rush this process. Instead, it helps you take one step at a time and explore what healing can look like for you.

Some people want to honour the memory of someone they loved. Others want to understand how to rebuild after a major life change. For many, the goal is to carry the loss with more ease and to reconnect with hope, purpose, or meaning.

In therapy, you may explore:

  • Small acts of care that help you cope day to day
  • Ways to stay connected to important memories
  • What values or strengths guided you through past challenges
  • How to let go of expectations that no longer fit
  • How to rebuild a sense of identity after life changes

These conversations help you understand the role of the loss in your life while creating space for new possibilities.

How grief counselling works at Wide Lens Counselling

At Wide Lens Counselling in Calgary, sessions are warm, collaborative, and tailored to your needs. You can expect gentle questions, supportive conversation, and space to explore your story at a pace that feels right for you.

The focus is on your voice, your hopes, and your way of moving through grief. You decide what feels safe to talk about, and together we look at ways to support healing, resilience, and strength.

Counselling may include:

  • Exploring your story of loss
  • Understanding emotional triggers
  • Naming strengths and acts of care
  • Rebuilding confidence and stability
  • Making decisions that honour your values

Support is available for grief related to death, relationships, health changes, identity loss, and significant life transitions.

Remembering

Grief can make the world feel emptied out, as if everything that mattered has slipped beyond reach. In narrative therapy, remembering offers a gentler path. We look for the threads of connection that still exist – the gestures, values, stories, and ways of being that your loved one wove into your life and which you continue to carry forward. In situations where ties to someone or something lost are complicated and painful, remembering practices can help us disentangle from the negative feelings and reclaim our identity on our own terms.

When to reach out for help

Many people seek counselling when grief begins to affect their daily life, relationships, or sense of direction. You may want support if you are feeling:

  • Stuck or unsure how to move forward
  • Overwhelmed by emotions
  • Disconnected from others
  • Unsure how to express your grief
  • Pulled between holding on and letting go

Reaching out does not mean the grief will disappear. It means you do not have to face it alone.

Moving toward healing

Healing from grief does not happen all at once. It is a gradual process that can include sadness, gratitude, frustration, love, confusion, and many other emotions. Counselling helps you understand these feelings and build a sense of steadiness as you move through them.

If you are looking for grief counselling in Calgary, I welcome you to reach out. Together, we can explore your story and find a path forward that reflects your values and honours your experience.

2025 © Wide Lens Counselling | Calgary AB
Lori Helfenbaum (she/her), RSW, MSW
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