The role of counselling and therapy in processing grief: How professional support can ease the emotional impact
Grief is a deeply personal and often overwhelming experience. Whether it stems from the anticipated loss of a loved one through medical assistance in dying (MAID), a sudden death, or another form of loss, navigating the emotional aftermath can be incredibly challenging. At MAID Family Support Society, we understand that while grief is a natural response to loss, it doesn’t always feel manageable, and no one should have to go through it alone.
One of the most powerful tools available to individuals and families during this time is professional grief counseling and therapy. With the right support, it’s possible to find a path forward – one that honours your loved one while also caring for your own emotional well-being.
Understanding grief in the context of MAID
Grief connected to MAID can come with a unique set of emotions: relief, guilt, confusion, peace, sorrow – often all at once. These feelings may surface before death (anticipatory grief), immediately after, or even months later.
For family members, caregivers, and chosen family, the decision to support a MAID request can feel both compassionate and complicated. Professional counselling offers a safe, non-judgmental space to process these layers and reduce the emotional burden.
How therapy helps in grieving
1. Making sense of complex emotions
Grief doesn’t follow a linear path. A licensed therapist or grief counsellor can help identify and normalize emotions, from sadness and anger to numbness and fear. Understanding that there’s no right way to grieve is often the first step to healing.
2. Providing tools for coping
Counselling introduces practical strategies to manage daily life while grieving. This may include mindfulness, journaling, breathing techniques, or cognitive-behavioural approaches to redirect intrusive thoughts or feelings of guilt.
3. Creating a safe space to speak freely
Sometimes friends and family don’t know what to say, or they may unintentionally minimize your experience. A trained therapist offers an unbiased ear, free from judgment, where you can say what you need to say.
4. Supporting families and loved ones collectively
Group or family counselling can facilitate honest conversations and strengthen connections. Sharing grief within a supportive setting can ease isolation and bring mutual understanding.
5. Recognizing when grief becomes something more
While grief is not a mental illness, it can sometimes trigger or worsen depression, anxiety, or trauma responses. Professional support can help detect these signs early and provide appropriate interventions.
When should you seek help?
There’s no timeline for grief. However, you may benefit from counselling if:
- Your grief feels too heavy to carry alone
- You’re experiencing ongoing sleep issues, anxiety, or panic
- You feel stuck in guilt, anger, or numbness
- You’re withdrawing from others or avoiding reminders of your loved one
- You want help navigating MAID-related emotions and decisions
Whether you’ve just experienced a loss or are anticipating one, support is available.
How MAID Family Support Society can help
We are proud to offer peer-to-peer support and bereavement resources for individuals impacted by MAID, with additional counselling options currently being explored in some regions. Our team understands the nuanced emotional journey that comes with end-of-life choices, and we’re here to walk with you every step of the way.
Our goal is to create a compassionate, informed community where no one feels alone in their grief.
Final thoughts
Grief may change you, but it doesn’t have to define you. With the right support, you can honour your loss, express your pain, and slowly rediscover moments of peace and meaning.
Therapy is not about “fixing” grief. It’s about learning to carry it with care.
If you or someone you love is struggling with grief related to MAID, we invite you to reach out. Visit maidfamilysupport.ca to learn more about our resources and connect with someone who understands.
Photo by Toa Heftiba on Unsplash
