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Grief Therapy

You Don't Have to Carry the Weight of Loss Alone

At Nova Phoenix, we provide a compassionate and safe sanctuary to process your grief, honor your loss, and find your way back to healing—at your own pace.

No wait list!
(905) 980-0632

Compassionate Support for Grief and Loss

Living with the loss of a loved one or a significant life change can feel exhausting, isolating, and completely overwhelming. At Nova Phoenix Counselling Services, we provide grief therapy in Niagara Falls that is grounded in deep compassion, safety, and a true understanding of the mourning process.
 
Grief is not a linear journey, and our clinicians meet you exactly where you are. We offer personalized care that respects your unique bond with what was lost and honors your individual identity. Through gentle, trauma-informed approaches, our team helps you navigate the heaviness of loss, helping you slowly find your way back toward hope, stability, and emotional balance.
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Our Services

Individual Grief Counselling

Personal, one-on-one sessions focused entirely on your story and your emotional needs.

Processing Complex Emotions

Navigating the "messy" parts of grief—guilt, anger, confusion, and the feeling of being "stuck."

Life Transitions & Identity

Helping you rediscover who you are and how to build a meaningful life after a major loss.
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Personalized Support for Your Journey Through Loss

We recognize that every journey through Grief and Loss is deeply personal and unique. Our grief therapy focuses on creating a secure, non-judgmental space for reflection, emotional processing, and long-term recovery. At Nova Phoenix Counselling Services, our therapists provide individualized care plans for adults, youth, and children, addressing the complex emotional challenges that often follow a loss—such as deep sadness, anxiety, or difficulties in maintaining relationships and daily routines.
 
Sessions are designed to promote resilience and healthy coping strategies, allowing for gradual healing at a pace that feels safe and manageable for you. We also recognize that grief rarely exists in a vacuum; therefore, we offer integrated support for those navigating overlapping mental health concerns, including depression or trauma.
 
Our team follows a trauma-informed and anti-oppressive approach to ensure that every client feels fully understood, respected, and supported as they navigate their unique path toward emotional peace.

Navigating the Weight of Loss and Grief

The pain of a significant loss often lingers long after the event has passed. Have you found it difficult to find peace, connection, or joy since experiencing a profound loss? Grief can feel very similar to trauma; you may notice a deep sense of hopelessness, emotional numbness, or a constant state of "survival mode" that doesn't seem to fade. These are natural responses to the loss of a loved one, a relationship, or a major life change, and they can make daily life feel overwhelming or even unsafe.
 
The challenges of grief often create ripple effects in our lives, impacting our relationships, self-worth, and our ability to function at work.

Flexible Grief Support That Meets You Where You Are

At Nova Phoenix Counselling, we believe that when you are carrying the weight of loss, the process of getting help should be as simple and supportive as possible. Barriers should never stand in the way of your healing. We offer flexible appointment options designed to fit your needs and your comfort level:
  • In-Person Sessions: A quiet, safe space to process your grief face-to-face.
  • Virtual Therapy: Access compassionate support from the privacy and comfort of your own home.
  • Walking Therapy: For those who find that movement and nature help them process heavy emotions more easily.

Healing the Roots of Coping and Loss

Sometimes, the weight of grief and loss becomes so heavy that we turn to substances or other behaviors just to cope with the pain, stress, or overwhelming emptiness. If you find yourself using substances to numbe the ache of loss, please know that you are not alone, and you are not judged.
Our specialized grief and addiction counselling offers a supportive, non-judgmental space to:
  • Explore the Story Behind the Coping: We look at the roots of your substance use as a response to loss and trauma.
  • Reduce Shame: We work together to process the guilt and shame that often accompany both grief and addiction.
  • Build on Your Strengths: We help you reconnect with your core values and existing strengths to find healthier ways to honor your journey.

Why Nova Phoenix?

Safe & Confidential

Your sessions are a private space where you can be your most authentic self.

Compassionate Expertise

Our therapists specialize in grief-informed care, understanding the science and soul of healing.

Patient-Centered Approach

We don’t rush the process. We walk beside you for as long as you need.
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Meet the Therapist

A compassionate therapist smiling warmly outdoors, ready to support your healing.

Zoe Sisson (she/her)

Zoe is a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) completing her Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology at Yorkville University. She holds a Bachelor of Psychology with a Minor in Anthropology from Western University. Her clinical experience spans youth mental health in live-in treatment settings as well as crisis intervention across local and national services supporting both youth and adults. In these roles, she has supported individuals navigating emotional dysregulation, family conflict, and complex life experiences.
Zoe specializes in working with youth and young adults as they navigate life transitions, identity development, relationships, and emotional challenges. Her approach is trauma-informed, relational, and client-centred, integrating evidence-based modalities to support meaningful and sustainable change. She focuses on building practical skills in emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness, while fostering insight and self-understanding.
Zoe is dedicated to building strong therapeutic relationships and creating a safe, respectful, and non-judgmental environment where clients feel supported in exploring their experiences. Her background in crisis work has strengthened her ability to remain grounded, responsive, and attuned in high-intensity situations.

She recognizes that periods of transition, particularly in adolescence, can feel overwhelming, and works collaboratively with clients to meet them where they are, supporting growth at a pace that feels manageable and empowering. Zoe values therapy rooted in trust and collaboration, helping clients develop tools and insights that translate into their everyday lives.

Zoe integrates elements of the following modalities into her practice:
• Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT)
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
• Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT)
• Narrative Therapy

A welcoming and professional female therapist smiling in a circular headshot.

Tia Van Fleet (she/her)

Tia is a Registered Social Worker with more than 15 years of experience supporting children, youth, adults, and families. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Sociology (minor in Indigenous Studies) and a Bachelor of Social Work. Her career spans frontline, clinical, and community-based roles, supporting individuals navigating mental health challenges, addictions, system involvement, and complex life circumstances.

A significant portion of her career has focused on children and youth in residential, treatment, and community settings, where she works closely with parents, foster and adoptive families, as well as young people impacted by attachment disruptions and complex emotional or behavioural needs. She is skilled in building trust with even the most guarded children and creating spaces where caregivers feel informed, supported, and free from judgment.

Alongside her work with children and youth, Tia brings over a decade of experience supporting adults across crisis, acute care, forensic, domestic violence, and independent practice settings. Through her work in first responder mental health roles, she has developed a strong commitment to supporting this population, grounded in firsthand understanding of frontline culture, cumulative trauma, operational stress, and the unique barriers that can make seeking support difficult.

Early in her career, Tia worked with Indigenous communities through domestic violence agencies and in public education. With several family members who are Status First Nations, this work is both professionally and personally meaningful. It has shaped her ongoing passion for supporting Indigenous individuals and families in a way that is respectful, relational, and culturally responsive.

Tia has completed formal university-level training in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, with additional training in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, somatic and nervous system-based approaches, attachment-focused modalities, and specialized caregiver support frameworks. She is a registered member of the Canadian Association for Play Therapy and will begin advanced play therapy training this year, further integrating play-based approaches into her child and youth work.
Drawing on experience across child and youth care, adult mental health, first responders, and culturally informed practice, Tia combines extensive clinical knowledge with a deeply relational approach. She supports individuals and families through complex challenges, offering compassionate, skilled, and culturally sensitive guidance that empowers clients to build resilience, find clarity, and move forward with confidence. Her practice is grounded in trust, respect, and evidence-informed approaches, ensuring clients feel heard, understood, and supported throughout their care.
Siobhan Kenny

Siobhan Kenny (she/her)

Siobhan is a Registered Social Worker with a Bachelor and Masters degree in Social Work. Siobhan has worked with families, individuals and children over the last 8 years. Siobhan is also a Métis individual and a mother of two children.
Siobhan is a dedicated and compassionate social worker who wants to foster change in the individuals and families she works with. She works from a client centered approach which focuses on the goals and values that you want to achieve.  She also enjoys working with children on emotional regulation, mental health and well-being, and navigating parental separation.

Siobhan is patient, non-judgmental, and extremely knowledgeable of resources that can support you and your family. Siobhan also has lived experience in managing family addiction, high conflict families, financial and housing stress, as well as loss of a parent and bereavement.

 

Siobhan utilizes CBT, DBT, solution focused and meditation strategies, just to name a few of her approaches. Siobhan is eager to help clients become their best self through empowerment and exploration of self-awareness. 

Thomas Tom

Thomas Tom (he/his)

Thomas is a Registered Social Worker. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and a Master of Social Work from Christ University in Bangalore, India. After moving to Canada as a student, Thomas completed post-graduate programs in Community and Social Service Management at Conestoga College and in Autism and Behavioural Science at Niagara College.

Thomas is a dedicated and compassionate social worker, deeply committed to creating positive change in the lives of the individuals and families he serves. With over four years of experience, Thomas has worked with individuals, couples, youth, and families in a variety of community and mental health settings, including hospitals, group homes, and addiction centers. He is skilled in several therapeutic approaches, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT), Trauma-Informed Care, and Crisis Intervention.

Thomas has a particular interest in working with South Asian men, individuals who have immigrated to Canada for studies and work, and those navigating the complexities of cultural identity. Having personally experienced the challenges of transitioning to a new country, he understands the unique struggles faced by immigrants and is passionate about supporting them in overcoming these obstacles.

In addition to his professional expertise, Thomas is fluent in English and Malayalam, and has the ability to communicate in Hindi, Tamil, and Kannada. His multicultural background and linguistic abilities allow him to connect with a diverse range of clients, ensuring that they feel seen, heard, and supported in their therapeutic journey.

Thomas also recognizes the importance of spirituality and cultural practices in individuals' well-being. He values the integration of cultural and spiritual aspects in therapy, which helps clients find meaning, strength, and resilience as they work through their challenges.

Tsarina Smith

Tsarina Smith (she/her)

Tsarina is pursuing her Masters of Arts in Counselling Psychology from Yorkville University. She has her bachelors of honours in Sociology with a minor in women and gender studies.
For the past 7 years, Tsarina has been working with those experiencing homelessness in Hamilton, ON. During this time, she became familiar with the large gaps that exist within the system and decided to further her education to further support those in need. This work has created a solid foundation for Tsarina, where she has built skills working with those in crisis, experiencing complex situations as a result of situations outside of one’s control.

Tsarina has experience working with those struggling with anxiety, depression, trauma, identity concerns, systemic injustices, and criminally involved individuals.

Tsarina strives to practice from anti-oppressive, non-judgemental, compassionate, and trauma-informed framework. Her hope is to continue to provide safe spaces in which people are able to feel empowered to improve themselves and the world around them.

Tsarina has begun some training in CBT and DBT. She has an eclectic approach including aspects of Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Person-centered Therapy.

Grief & Loss: Frequently Asked Questions

What can I expect in my first grief therapy session?

Your first session is a gentle space for you to share your story and the nature of your loss. There is no pressure to "perform" or be strong. We will discuss how your grief is currently affecting your life and identify your immediate needs for support. It is a safe, confidential environment where all your emotions—whether sadness, anger, or numbness—are welcome.

How long will it take for me to feel "normal" again?

Grief doesn't follow a set timeline, and there is no "normal" way to feel. Our goal isn't to help you "get over" the loss, but rather to help you learn how to carry it and integrate it into your life. We work with you at your own pace, ensuring you feel supported through every wave of emotion, however long it takes.

What if my grief feels "complicated" or I feel guilty?

Grief often comes with difficult emotions like guilt, regret, or even relief, which can make the process feel "stuck" or complicated. This is very common. Therapy provides a non-judgmental space to explore these tangled feelings, helping you find clarity and self-compassion as you process the complex layers of your relationship with what was lost.

Can therapy help with "invisible" losses, like a job or a divorce?

Absolutely. Grief is not limited to death. We provide support for all types of loss, including the end of a relationship, the loss of health, career changes, or even the loss of a dream. If you are feeling a sense of mourning or emptiness, your pain is valid, and therapy can help you navigate that transition.

How do I know if I need professional help for my grief?

While grief is a natural part of life, professional support is helpful if you feel completely stuck, unable to function in daily life, or if you are using substances to cope with the pain. If your grief feels too heavy to carry alone, or if you simply need a safe person to talk to who isn't a family member or friend, we are here for you.

Ready to Begin Your Journey Toward Healing and Peace?

If you’re looking for professional, compassionate counselling with no wait list, we’re here to support you.

(905) 980-0632

Our Locations

Nova Phoenix Counselling Services

148 1/2 Welland Avenue, St. Catharines, Ontario, L2R 2N6

905-980-0632

Nova Phoenix Counselling Services

5679 Main Street, Niagara Falls, Ontario, L2G 5Z3

905-980-0632

Nova Phoenix Counselling Services

70 Seventh Street, Welland, Ontario, L3B 5B7

905-980-0632

Nova Phoenix Counselling Services

203-1038 Garner Road West, Ancaster, Ontario, L9G 3K9

905-980-0632

Nova Phoenix Counselling Services

 136 Gilmore Rd, Fort Erie, ON L2A 2M2, Canada

905-980-0632

Nova Phoenix Counselling Services

534 Brant St, Burlington, ON L7R 2G8, Canada

905-980-0632

Nova Phoenix Counselling Services

430 Hazeldean Road, Suite 227, Ottawa, ON K2L 1T9, Canada

905-980-0632

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