Grief Therapy in Ottawa: When Loss Lives in the Body, Not Just the Mind

Trauma-Informed & Attachment-Based Grief Counselling in Ontario

Grief doesn’t follow a timeline.

It doesn’t move in neat stages.

And it doesn’t live only in thoughts or memories.

For many people, grief shows up in the body—tightness in the chest, exhaustion, numbness, anxiety, or a feeling of being fundamentally changed. If you’re searching for grief therapy in Ottawa, you may already know that “talking it out” hasn’t been enough.

At Felt Sense Psychotherapy, we offer grief counselling that is trauma-informed, attachment-based, and somatically grounded, supporting the whole person through loss.

What Is Grief Therapy?

Grief therapy provides a supportive space to process loss in a way that honors your nervous system, relationships, and capacity.

Grief can follow many kinds of loss, including:

    •    Death of a loved one

    •    Anticipatory grief

    •    Relationship or family estrangement

    •    Divorce or separation

    •    Loss of identity, health, or future plans

    •    Complicated or unresolved grief

There is no “right way” to grieve—and no timeline you need to meet.

When Grief Becomes Overwhelming

While grief is a natural response to loss, many people seek therapy when they notice:

    •    Persistent numbness or emotional shutdown

    •    Anxiety, panic, or hypervigilance

    •    Guilt, regret, or unresolved anger

    •    Difficulty functioning months or years after a loss

    •    Avoidance of reminders or emotions

    •    Feeling disconnected from others or from yourself

These are not signs you’re grieving “wrong.”

They are often signs that your nervous system is overwhelmed.

Why Grief Lives in the Body

Loss disrupts our sense of safety and connection. From an attachment perspective, grief activates the same systems that once relied on closeness, attunement, and protection.

This can show up as:

    •    A body that feels on constant alert

    •    Collapse, exhaustion, or numbness

    •    Waves of emotion that feel unmanageable

    •    A longing for connection alongside a fear of it

Somatic grief therapy helps you work with these responses gently, without forcing emotional expression before your system is ready.

Our Approach to Grief Therapy at Felt Sense Psychotherapy

At Felt Sense Psychotherapy in Ottawa, grief counselling is:

Trauma-Informed

We recognize how loss can overwhelm the nervous system. Sessions are paced to your window of tolerance, so you’re not retraumatized in the process of healing.

Attachment-Based

We explore how your relationships—past and present—shape the way you grieve, connect, and seek support.

Somatic & Body-Based

We work with sensations, emotions, and felt experience, helping grief move through the body rather than staying stuck.

Non-Pathologizing

Grief is not a disorder to fix. It is a human response that deserves care, compassion, and space.

Complicated Grief and Unresolved Loss

Some losses don’t receive the space they need—especially when:

    •    The relationship was complex or painful

    •    There was no closure

    •    You had to “be strong” for others

    •    The loss wasn’t socially recognized

Therapy can help untangle what remains unfinished, without pressure to “move on.”

Grief Therapy for Adults and Relationships

Grief can impact how we relate to others, including:

    •    Increased withdrawal or irritability

    •    Difficulty trusting or relying on support

    •    Conflict in partnerships where people grieve differently

We offer grief-informed individual therapy and couples therapy to help restore connection and understanding during loss.

Looking for Grief Counselling in Ottawa?

If you’re searching for:

    •    Grief therapy Ottawa

    •    Grief counselling Ontario

    •    Trauma-informed grief therapist

    •    Somatic grief therapy

    •    Attachment-based grief counselling

Felt Sense Psychotherapy offers a grounded, compassionate space to process loss at your own pace.

We also offer lower-fee therapy options through supervised intern therapists.

You Don’t Have to Grieve Alone

Grief changes us—but it doesn’t have to isolate us.

Healing doesn’t mean forgetting.

It means learning how to carry loss with more support, safety, and connection.

👉 Book a consultation or learn more about grief therapy at Felt Sense Psychotherapy.

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