Whether you're navigating the death of someone in your life, the end of a relationship, or another profound loss, you may feel like the
world has shifted beneath your feet. You're not alone in that.
At Willow Nook, I offer a compassionate space where your grief is not something to be "fixed" — but something to be understood, witnessed, and carried differently over time.
I work from a grief-informed approach inspired by Lois Tonkin’s “Growing Around Grief” model. Rather than expecting grief to shrink or disappear, this perspective recognizes that grief stays with us — but our lives can grow around it. With time, support, and intention, we learn to live with the grief instead of in it.
Grief doesn’t follow a timeline. It doesn’t look the same for everyone. And here, there is room for all of it — the sadness, the numbness, the guilt, the love, the longing.
What is Grief Therapy?
Grief therapy is talk therapy that helps you cope when someone important to you is gone. It gives you space to be honest about your feelings, with a therapist who knows this time can be hard. It’s not about forgetting your loved one—it’s about finding a way to live while keeping their memory close.
You might feel sadness, anger, guilt—or even relief. Every emotion is okay. There’s no “right” way to grieve. Therapy lets you explore what you feel, without judgement. Over time, it can help you adjust to life without your loved one, rebuild daily routines, and reconnect with things that once brought you comfort.
Grief therapy can happen one‑on‑one, with a partner, your family, or in a small group.
Different forms of grief counselling support different needs. For example:
Anticipatory/
Prospective grief
Anticipatory/Prospective grief happens when you expect a loss—like whensomeone is very sick.
Complicated grief
Complicated grief is intense, long‑lasting, and can make daily life difficult.
Ambiguous grief
Ambiguous grief is the pain of loss when there’s no clear ending or closure—where someone is physically or emotionally missing.
Disenfranchised grief
Disenfranchised grief is when your loss or sorrow isn’t recognized by others, so you feel you don’t have permission to grieve openly.
Services Offered
Individual counselling for older children, youth, and adults
Couple/Family counselling
Play-based therapy for young children
Psychoeducational Sessions around supporting grieving children and youth
Psychoeducational Sessions around navigating end of life
Psychoeducational Sessions around supporting children through a parent/guardian’s illness
Who We Help
Grief shows up in different ways for each person, and there’s no “right” way to feel. I am here to walk alongside you, whatever your grief looks like, including:
Children, youth and adults coping with loss
Whether your loss is fresh or it’s something you've carried for a long while, I offer safety, understanding, and support to help you feel and heal.
Parents/guardians & families
Family loss can be especially hard. I provide support to each person individually or together, to reconnect, share, and find healing in the ways that work best.
After miscarriage, stillborn or post-natal infant loss
Losing a pregnancy or infant is deeply personal. I strive to offer a caring space for you and your partner to grieve, remember, and find comfort.
Life Transitions
Grief isn’t always about death. Changes like divorce, ending a relationship, or shifting careers can bring real loss. I can help you move through those transitions and find your footing again.
Navigating a Life-Changing Diagnosis
When you’re diagnosed with a life‑changing illness, therapy offers support to help you and your children understand what’s happening, feel heard, and find ways to cope together.
End-of-Life Care
Offering a caring space to help you and your loved ones face tough emotions, talk through fears, and find peace, dignity, and meaning in the final chapter.
Caregivers & loved ones facing terminal illness
Anticipatory grief (grieving before a loss) can be heavy and tiring. I provide support through the here and now, preparing with care, and seeking moments of peace where you can.
How Grief Therapy Works
In your first meeting, I will provide an uninterrupted space for you to share your grief story and what you’re going through now.
I’ll explain how therapy works, answer your questions, and go over what you can expect. The most important thing is that you feel safe and heard.
The coming sessions will be shaped around you — your pace, what feels safe, and what feels like it helps.
We’ll work together to figure out how many sessions you need — whether it’s just a few to help you feel more stable, or more to gently explore harder emotions.
Every session moves at a pace that feels right for you, based on your goals and what you want to focus on.
Understanding your feelings
Learning ways to cope
Remembering and honouring
Dealing with daily life
Exploring self-identities
Facing hard triggers
Building a new path forward