Often when a person has had a stressful and anxiety provoking experience the autonomic nervous system becomes activated. The act of intentionally remembering allows you time to process your experience and incorporate it into your memories and personal identity.Īdapted from: Walking Through Grief Helping Others Deal with Loss Crisis and Trauma Resource Institute (CTRI)
Making time to reflect on the impact of the change your grief experience is making in your life can help you to integrate the past and what “was” into the present, what “is”, and further to keep the best part of the past going forward into what is “becoming” for the future. Creating specific times for reflection on, and recognition of, your feelings can begin to normalize or alleviate the intensity of emotional pain associated with loss. The ability to control where, when, and the duration of these activities of remembrance can enhance your sense of control over the grieving experience. This creation of a routine or ritual which acknowledges your loss without allowing it to overwhelm you, can include using a specific room, a walking route in your neighbourhood, or visiting a significant site for you on a regular basis, according to how much you need to. This acknowledgement of your loss instead of ignoring it, or pushing it away, can hep you to integrate your new normal into the way you are in the world now. Intentionally setting aside a time and a place to experience sadness and longing can make you feel less likely to express your grief at times that may be intrusive in your daily life. Setting up a time in your day to reflect on your loss and to allow space and time for grieving can contribute to an improved sense of control. I also offer hypnotherapy to manage insomnia, chronic pain, and habit alteration like smoking cessation. I offer both individual and group counselling depending on your preference. My clients include people who may have received a life‑altering diagnosis such as cancer, are managing a chronic condition like Crohns or diabetes, or are experiencing a developmental transition like aging or menopause.
I provide counselling for clients in Nova Scotia using telephone, video, and in person delivery. I am a member of both the Nova Scotia College of Counselling Therapists and the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association. I am a certified Hypnotherapist through Daybreak Therapy and Training. I have a Master of Education in Lifelong Learning from Mount Saint Vincent University, and a Master of Education in Counselling and Psychotherapy from Acadia University. I have worked for 22 years as a registered Nurse in the Canadian health care system after graduating from Saint Francis-Xavier University with a BSc in Nursing in 1988.