Grief & Bereavement Therapy Kingston

With over 10 years experience working with Children’s mental health and 15 years working with individuals and couples in the greater Kingston area, our counsellor is well placed to guide you back to using resources you already have through talk therapy and practical skills that will effect change for you in a timely manner.

Common Signs of Grief & Bereavement We Help With in Kingston

• Persistent sadness, longing, or waves of intense emotion
• Difficulty accepting the loss or feeling “stuck” in grief
• Numbness or feeling disconnected from daily life
• Guilt, anger, or regret related to the loss
• Trouble sleeping, concentrating, or returning to routines
• Anxiety about further loss or change

What to Expect From Your First Session

Your first session is a chance to talk about your loss, in whatever way feels right for you, whether that means sharing memories, describing what daily life looks like now, or simply sitting with how overwhelming things feel. Your therapist will ask about your relationship to the person or loss, what support you currently have, and what you’re hoping for from grief counselling. There’s no set timeline you’re expected to follow and no “right way” to grieve. Some people come in shortly after a loss; others seek support months or years later when grief resurfaces.

Living With Grief Day to Day

Grief often comes in waves rather than following a straight line, and it’s common to feel like you’re managing well one day and overwhelmed the next. Between sessions, therapy often involves finding ways to honour the loss while gradually re-engaging with daily life, developing language for what you’re feeling, and identifying which supports genuinely help versus which feel draining right now. There is no fixed schedule for healing, and grief that resurfaces around anniversaries, holidays, or unexpected reminders is a normal part of the process, not a sign that something is wrong.

Prognosis & Outlook

Most people move through grief with the support of time, connection, and sometimes counselling, gradually finding ways to carry their loss while re-engaging with life. For some, grief becomes more complicated, prolonged intensely, or entangled with other stressors, and additional support can help. There is no fixed endpoint to grief, and many people describe learning to live alongside their loss rather than “getting over it.” Therapy can help with both the acute pain of early grief and the longer process of adjusting to life after loss.

When Grief Becomes Overwhelming

Occasionally, grief can bring intense despair or thoughts of not wanting to go on. If you are having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, please reach out for support right away. You can call or text 988 (Suicide Crisis Helpline, available 24/7 across Canada), or contact Wellness Together Canada for free, immediate support. If you or someone else is in immediate physical danger, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency department.

Your Care Team

Grief support at KuRated is provided by our Registered Psychotherapists, and for some people, grief also intersects with physical health, sleep, or existing medical conditions that benefit from involving your family doctor. If grief is affecting your ability to function at work, care for yourself, or manage other responsibilities for an extended period, we may also discuss additional supports, always at a pace that feels right for you.

Supporting a Loved One Through Grief

If someone you care about is grieving, one of the most helpful things you can do is simply be present, without trying to fix their pain or rush their process. Avoid phrases that minimize the loss, and instead let them lead the conversation about what they need. Continuing to check in weeks and months after a loss, when other support often fades, can mean a great deal. If you’re supporting someone through grief and finding it difficult, support is available for you as well.

Myth vs Fact

Myth: Grief follows five predictable stages in order.
Fact: While early grief models described common experiences like denial and anger, research shows grief is highly individual and rarely moves through neat, sequential stages.

Myth: You should be “over” grief within a certain timeframe.
Fact: There is no universal timeline for grief. Some people find their grief evolves and softens over months or years, while continuing to feel it at certain moments indefinitely.

Frequently Asked Questions About Grief & Bereavement Therapy in Kingston

Is there a “right” amount of time to grieve?
No. Grief has no fixed timeline. We meet you where you are, whether the loss happened recently or years ago.

What approaches do you use for grief and bereavement?
Our Kingston therapists use compassionate, evidence-based approaches tailored to your relationship with the loss, always moving at a pace that feels right for you.

Can therapy help with anticipatory grief?
Yes. We support clients grieving an impending loss, such as a loved one’s terminal illness, as well as those grieving after a loss has occurred.

Is grief therapy covered by insurance?
Most extended health plans cover services from a Registered Psychotherapist (RP). We recommend checking your plan for that specific coverage.

Is it normal to still feel grief years after a loss?
Yes. Grief doesn’t follow a fixed timeline, and it’s common for feelings to resurface around anniversaries, holidays, or unexpected reminders, even long after a loss.

Can I get support for a loss that wasn’t a death, like a divorce or job loss?
Yes. Grief therapy can support many kinds of loss, including the end of a relationship, loss of health, or other major life changes, not only bereavement after a death.

How do I know if my grief needs professional support versus just time?
If grief is significantly interfering with your ability to function, sleep, work, or care for yourself over an extended period, or feels stuck rather than gradually shifting, professional support can help.

Can children or teens in the family get grief support too?
Our team primarily works with adults; please reach out to discuss what support may be appropriate for a child or teen in your family, as they may benefit from age-specific resources.

Educational only. Not medical advice. Talk to your provider about your specific situation. Last reviewed: July 2026.

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