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Reviewed by Niyati Gandhi, C.Psych, Clinical Psychologist, Ontario
Grief counselling is a form of therapy that helps people process loss, whether the death of someone close, the end of a relationship, a major life change, or any experience that leaves a significant absence behind. At Therapy Villa in Etobicoke, therapists work with clients through grief without rushing them toward “moving on” — because grief doesn’t work on a timeline.
Grief therapy at Therapy Villa is not limited to bereavement. People come to us for support with many kinds of loss:
Death of a spouse, parent, child, sibling, or close friend
Experiencing miscarriage, pregnancy loss, or challenges with fertility
The end of a meaningful relationship or marriage
Losing a job, role, or sense of purpose and direction
Receiving a diagnosis that alters your future expectations
Losing connection with family members or loved ones
Grieving the death of a beloved animal companion
Grieving someone who is still alive but no longer present in the same way
If you’re experiencing any combination of these in Etobicoke, Toronto, or anywhere in Ontario, a registered therapist at Therapy Villa can help.
Grief shows up differently in every person. There’s no right way to grieve, and no correct timeline. But sometimes grief becomes complicated — it intensifies over time instead of gradually shifting, it interferes with your ability to function, or it starts to look more like depression or trauma than mourning.
Signs that grief therapy might help you:
Grief therapy at Therapy Villa isn’t about replacing the loss or convincing you to feel better faster. It’s about creating space to process what happened, explore what the loss means to you, and find a way to carry it forward without being paralyzed by it.
Your therapist may draw on approaches like Complicated Grief Treatment (CGT), narrative therapy, somatic-informed work, or trauma-focused methods if the loss was sudden or traumatic. Sessions are shaped around what you need, not a prescribed grief model.
No. The “five stages of grief” model is widely cited, but grief research has moved well beyond it. Grief is not linear. People circle back, skip stages entirely, or experience things not described in any model. Your therapist at Therapy Villa won’t try to put your grief into a framework — they’ll work with what’s actually happening for you.
Yes. Therapy Villa offers grief counselling via secure video for clients anywhere in Ontario. For those who are newly bereaved and finding it hard to leave home, virtual sessions make it possible to get support without adding the stress of travel.
It varies widely. Some people find meaningful support in 8 to 12 sessions. Others dealing with complicated grief, traumatic loss, or cumulative losses benefit from longer-term work. There's no rush.
Yes. Unresolved grief has no expiry date. Many people come to therapy for losses that happened years or even decades earlier, often because a new loss or life transition has brought it back to the surface.
Grief-informed therapy uses specific approaches designed for loss — exploring meaning-making, continuing bonds, and working through complicated emotions like guilt, anger, and relief that often accompany grief. It goes beyond general support.
There is no "should" with grief. The expectation that you should be over a loss by a certain date is one of the most common things clients struggle with. A grief therapist at Therapy Villa will never put a timeline on your process.
Therapy Villa primarily offers individual therapy. For family grief support, we can provide referrals or discuss options during your intake.
Therapy Villa offers grief counselling in person in Etobicoke and virtually across Ontario. You don’t have to carry this alone.
Healing doesn’t mean forgetting – it means finding a way forward from your loss with love.
Grief can shape your days in ways you didn’t anticipate. The weight of grief can appear in quiet moments or social settings, leaving you feeling stuck in sadness, longing, or disbelief. You might find yourself stuck in a cycle of sadness, longing, guilt, or disbelief that just doesn’t seem to lift – no end in sight. Others may expect you to “move on,” with time but inside, you can’t seem to let go.
If your grief has lingered – pausing life, dulling purpose, and pain that can feel unrelenting – it’s time to reach out. Our team of therapists at Therapy Villa can help you find your way back to living.
Grief is natural. And the old cliché may be right about time healing everything. But, when intense longing, pain, or emotional paralysis doesn’t lessen with time, it may be Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD) – a persistent form of grief that makes moving forward feel impossible.
Prolonged Grief Disorder includes:
A deep longing for your loved one that doesn’t fade with time.
Struggling with “what ifs” or disbelief about the loss.
Feeling unsure of who you are or what your purpose is without them.
Steering clear of people, places, or reminders that bring up the pain.
Feeling stuck, unable to see a path forward.
Grief that feels constant and continues to disrupt daily life.
It’s different from depression, it is your grief that has become chronic and complicated. Prolonged Grief Disorder may arise in case of an expected loss, but it can also feel more intense your loss is sudden or unexpected. In either circumstances, healing is possible. And, healing isn’t about forgetting, it’s about integration.
You loved deeply, and you lost deeply. It’s okay to not be okay. What matters is finding support that helps you through. You don’t have to carry this alone – let us walk with you.
We offer care that honors both the love you shared and the grief you carry. This isn’t about helping you to “get over your loss.” It’s about helping you live with your loss, and rediscover meaning in your life despite it.
Healing through grief isn’t about letting go; it’s about learning to carry love and loss together.
Personalized therapy begins with understanding your unique experiences and goals. Through tailored sessions, we use techniques to address your challenges, foster growth.
The process begins with an in-depth conversation to understand your personal history, challenging experiences, relationships and goals. This helps us create a clear roadmap for your therapy journey.
Every person’s healing looks different. We draw from most effective therapies such as CBT, DBT, somatic approaches, mindfulness, and EMDR; choosing techniques that best match your needs and comfort level.
Therapy is a partnership. In each session, we work together at a pace that feels right, helping you process your emotions, build insight, practice new skills, and create meaningful changes in your daily life.
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