Navigating Loss: How Grief Counselling in Kelowna Can Help You Heal
Grief is a force unlike any other—an unpredictable wave that can leave us feeling untethered and alone. I have known grief intimately, and through my journey, I have explored various ways to process loss. Journaling, somatic experiencing, and psychedelic-assisted therapy have all played a role in helping me integrate pain, transform suffering, and reconnect with life meaningfully.
The Role of Therapy in Grief Recovery
Grief isn't just an emotional experience; it is profoundly physical. I have felt it in my chest, the heaviness in my limbs, and the fatigue and brain fog that make even simple tasks feel overwhelming. Therapy can provide a structured environment to help navigate these experiences, lowering the risk of prolonged grief disorder (Neimeyer et al., 2014).
Somatic Experiencing: Grief often becomes lodged in the body. Somatic Experiencing helped me recognize how my grief settled in my muscles and nervous system. By learning to observe and release these physical patterns, I discovered moments of relief and peace.
Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy: Psychedelics have opened a door to new perspectives on loss (Pennebaker & Smyth, 2016). Expanded states have allowed me to access buried emotions and reconnect with a deeper sense of purpose, reducing emotional rigidity and fostering profound acceptance.
Journaling and Expressive Writing: Writing has been one of the most powerful tools in my healing process. Through journaling, I externalized my grief, giving it form and shape rather than allowing it to fester in the shadows of my mind.
How Journaling Supports the Healing Process
Research by Pennebaker and Smyth (2016) highlights that expressive writing can alleviate stress and enhance emotional well-being. In my experience, journaling has helped me:
Create a space to explore emotions without judgment.
Acknowledge the evolving nature of my grief journey.
Discover meaning in memories instead of being overwhelmed by loss.
Observe moments of healing, even when they seem small or fleeting.
Clear my mind and become open to new ideas.
Download Your Free Grief Journal
Journaling has been an incredibly powerful tool for me, and I want to share it with others. I have created a Free 100-page Grief Journal filled with guided prompts to help you navigate your emotions, memories, and healing. This journal is my gift to anyone seeking a different experience with their grief. I designed it to provide comfort and clarity during challenging times.
Take the first step toward healing.
Seeking Support
If you are navigating grief and considering grief counselling, remember that you are not alone. Healing involves not forgetting but learning to carry love and loss together. Whether through therapy, somatic work, psychedelics, or journaling, there are as many methods to integrate pain and rediscover meaning as there are people in the world.
Be kind to yourself. This journey is yours; remember, there is no deadline for healing.
Take Great Care,
Kelly
References:
Neimeyer, R. A., et al. (2014). Grief therapy and the reconstruction of meaning: From principles to practice. Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy.
Pennebaker, J. W., & Smyth, J. M. (2016). Opening Up by Writing It Down: How Expressive Writing Improves Health and Eases Emotional Pain.
Watts, R., & Luoma, J. B. (2020). The use of psychedelic-assisted therapy in the treatment of grief and loss. Frontiers in Psychiatry.
