I’m your grief companion. Here to support you and help create an emotional balance inside grief.
Hi, I’m Jennifer Masters. While I am glad you stopped by, I am also deeply saddened that you need grief support.
I based my practice on the belief that grief counselling by an empathetic grief professional must be affordable and accessible; that is why my services are FREE.
I also believe that grief counselling is critical and valuable mental health support and is a right for everyone and not a choice for only some! So, book your phone consultation with me today.
During this call, you will share whatever you want me to know about your loss and feelings and let me know what kinds of emotional support you need. After that, I will become your grief companion.
We will meet by Zoom and/ or phone as often as you need me, and we shall talk for as long as you need. I will be happy to share with you the grief wisdom that I learned when I was in your head and heart space, which I hope will empower you and help you gain balance and harmony in this new life without your special person.
It’s that easy.
What Is Grief?
The word “grief” is the simple way of explaining a highly complex, messy, mixture of thoughts, feelings, beliefs and actions that we experience when someone who we care deeply about dies.
Grief is natural and necessary process. Grief is also a universal AND a deeply personal experience.
Problem is, we live in a grief illiterate world. Our culture tends to deny, diminish, judge the pain of our grief. This can leave us feeling ashamed or afraid of, or hide from, or think of our feelings as “wrong”. But I want you to know that grief is instinctive human response to loss.
I provide remote grief counselling that looks like a gentle conversation between you and me. It happens on Zoom, your computer, laptop, tablet or phone. I use state-of-the-art security and encryption protocols to maintain privacy and confidentiality so that you feel comfortable and secure during our time together.
We will meet at a time that is convenient for you. We will talk for as long as you need. And I am also available for emergency appointments on the weekends. You will also have permission to reach me 24/7 via text. I believe in accessible grief counselling.
My mission is to provide you with a safe space to be vulnerable, plenty of time to share your stories, explore your deepest thoughts and feelings, and feel heard and accepted. And I do all this at no cost to you. Grief counselling should always be affordable.
My goal is to make our time together full of compassion and permission. You will always leave feeling accepted and validated for who you are and where you are in your grief. I believe in empowering you with confidence and tools to see that you can navigate your grief and get to a place of balance, harmony, and honouring your beloved. I believe in hope.
The benefits of online counselling include increased accessibility if you live in a rural or remote area, flexibility and alignment with your work or mom/dad schedule, no anxiety about parking or driving in unsafe weather conditions, and the convenience and comfort of having sessions in your home or office or even in your car.
This method of counselling is also a convenience if you experience barriers to mobility or transportation, have difficulty arranging childcare for sessions, or are dealing with other circumstances that make it difficult to leave your home, including social anxiety.
Question #1: Why Remote?
Answer: When COVID-19 hit, everything moved from in person, to online. Therapy, counselling, and psychiatry was no different. Patients and mental health providers all had to learn how to get comfortable with online therapy. And we did.
I am continuing to do online grief counselling as I have heard from my clients that it is a cost effective and convenient to meet with me, and they feel just as comfortable, and just as positive as in a 1:1 session.
Question #2: Is online counselling as effective as in-person counselling?
Answer: The research has shown that online therapy is as effective as face-to-face. My clients have all felt that the online experience is consistent with the counselling services received in person, with many of my newer clients prefer it.
Question #3: Will our online counselling session be private and confidential?
Answer: Yes. I work from my home office, and I live alone. So, at every meetup, you see I am in a quiet, confidential, and private space. I also have a secure wifi connection.
I would also ask that you be in a quiet, alone space.
If you are concerned about somebody in your home or office overhearing your session, may I suggest you wear headphones or earbuds and turn on a white noise machine near the door to drown out your voice (i.e. fan, humidifier, or noise machine)?
In terms of confidentiality, I use state-of-the-art security and encryption protocols to maintain privacy and confidentiality so that you feel comfortable and secure during video conferencing. I also practice alone, so no one will ever need to access my files.
Question #4: What if we experience technical issues like a frozen or dropped video session?
Answer: At the beginning of each session, you and I will confirm the best phone number to call you if we experience any technical difficulties. I will attempt to reboot the video session and resume the meeting, and if that is not possible due to a poor wifi connection, we will complete the session by phone. This is why it is essential to have a secure wifi connection and, when possible, to connect your computer or laptop to an ethernet port.
Question #5: What is the cost of grief counselling with you?
Answer: My grief counselling sessions are always FREE. The cost for my ‘consultation’ appointment is on a sliding scale between $5.00 to $75.00 and is directly covered under many extended Health Care Plans and Health Spending Accounts.
Question #6: What Does Grief Feel Like?
Answer: What are some of the feelings and experiences you may be dealing with after a bereavement or loss?
Shock
Numbness/feeling as though in a daze or in ‘robot mode’
Denial
Feeling abandoned
Overwhelming sadness
Crying, at times uncontrollably or seemingly without end
Pain
Anger
Guilt
Shame
Fatigue/ exhaustion
Grief Depression
Longing
Having to cope with others’ reactions – having to comfort others through your own grief.
Difficulties Adapting
Loss of self
A questioning of the future/ your life’s purpose
Helplessness
Hopelessness
Powerlessness
One of the main things to remember is that all the above feelings are expected, including those feelings perceived as “ugly,” “wrong,” or “unacceptable” by society, friends or family. OK. But know this – anything you feel is correct.
Often, those who are bereaved can become anxious, worried or depressed that they are having these feelings and thoughts, concerned that some of them are not ‘normal’ or that they are ‘bad’ or ‘wrong’ to be experiencing these emotions. The reality is that it is normal to feel all sorts of things and that anger, frustration, guilt, etc., are all part of the grief experience.
Something else to understand is that grief never ends. It is not something we can fix like a broken leg or something we get over like a cold. We are not ill, and there is no cast for a broken heart. Grief is a forever thing. The good-ish news is that with excellent counselling, you can learn how to soften your grief and allow it to integrate into your life
Question #7: When is it time to consider grief counselling?
Answer: You may want to consider grief counselling if you are experiencing some or any of the following feelings, thoughts or behaviours:
Are you feeling ‘stuck’ in grief? Is it hard for you to see if you are moving through grief?
Do you feel overwhelmed by grief?
Do you wrestle with feelings of disbelief or emotional numbness over the loss?
Do you find yourself self-isolating? Do you find yourself saying “no” more often than not to social invitations?
Do you find that you avoid people, situations, or places because they remind you of your beloved?
Do you feel confused, guilty, or ashamed about your feelings?
Do you ignore your feelings or overbook yourself in order not to deal with your grief?
Are you feeling confused as to who you are without your beloved?
Have you lost trust in the world?
Is it now hard to see your purpose in the world without your loved one?
Have you become overly anxious?
Do you find yourself having to explain and justify your grief?
Is it hard to know who you are without your loved one?
Do you feel angry with your friends and family because they do not understand your grief?
Do you ever feel helpless?
Do you ever feel hopeless?
If any of the above has you nodding in agreement, consider 1:1 time with me.
I understand grief because my Father passed in 2019. I know how to be sympathetic and valuable because that is what I thirsted for. I will fully respect your feelings and help you come to terms with what has happened in a way that feels comfortable and supported because that is what I responded to in my grief.
I know how to help when your family and friends are unsure what to say. I will not spout grief theories or jargon at you because those went over my head. I will talk to you, not at you.
I know you are having a difficult time because my grief was brutal. You do not have to do it alone. I can be your grief companion by providing excellent grief counselling.
Please reach out to me. I will take the time to apply my skills, empathic nature, and experience to help you move forward toward balance, peace, life, love, and honouring your beloved.
The Wisdom Of My Grief is a personal account of my journey through grief. It is not to be taken as medical advice. Jennifer Masters is not a psychiatrist or any other registered mental health professional. You should not substitute the information found on The Wisdom of My Grief website for professional help.
