Grief and bereavement counselling in Vaughan
Grief has no timetable.
Whether the loss was last week or years ago, you don’t have to carry it alone. We offer gentle, judgment-free support at your own pace, in Vaughan and online across Ontario.
Takes 2 minutes. No credit card. No referral needed.
- 24+ Registered PsychotherapistsLook any of us up on the CRPO register
- Direct billing availableSun Life, Beneva, Green Shield
- Evenings and weekendsIn person or online
Grief is the shape love takes after loss.
Grief doesn’t look the same for anyone. It can arrive as numbness, as waves that knock the wind out of you, as guilt over what was or wasn’t said, as anger at how unfair it is, even as relief that sits uncomfortably beside the sadness. It can show up in your body too, as exhaustion, a tight chest, or sleep that won’t come.
All of it is normal. There’s no correct order and no schedule it has to follow. You’re not behind, and you’re not doing it wrong. We never rush you, and we never see your grief as a problem to be fixed.
Grief counselling is gentle, judgment-free talk therapy that gives your loss the space it deserves. There’s no timeline you have to meet and nothing you have to be over, and you set the pace.
- No pressure to move on or get over it
- Room for whatever you feel, as it comes
- Judgment-free, in person or online across Ontario
What has grief been like for you?
Tap anything that sounds familiar. None of these means you’re grieving wrong. They’re common, and there’s room for all of it here.
Start with what you’re noticing.
Tap what sounds like you lately, and we’ll suggest a gentle next step.
You’ve noticed 1 thing.
That’s a natural part of grieving, and support can help you carry it. A free 20-minute consult is a gentle way to talk, with nothing you have to say.
You’ve noticed 3 things.
That’s a lot to carry. You don’t have to wait for a crisis or for things to get worse, and there’s no wrong time to reach out.
Losses that aren’t a death are real grief too. Divorce, a job, your health, a move or estrangement all deserve real support.
Book a free 20-minute consultThis isn’t a diagnosis.
Grief comes in waves, not neat stages.
There’s no correct order and no schedule. Step through some of the waves people meet along the way, and what support can look like.
- 1How it feels
“It hasn’t really hit me yet. I feel strangely flat.”
- 2What’s happeningThat’s your mind protecting you.Early on, many people feel numb or unreal, as if the loss hasn’t landed. It’s a common way of taking in something too big to hold all at once. Nothing is wrong with you.
- 3A gentler thought
“I don’t have to feel it all today. It can come as I’m able to hold it.”
- 1How it feels
“I keep replaying what I could have done differently.”
- 2What’s happeningThe what-ifs are one of the most common parts of grief.Replaying the past is often love looking for somewhere to go. We work through these thoughts together, gently and without judgment, at the pace you choose.
- 3A gentler thought
“These thoughts are part of grieving. I don’t have to carry them alone.”
- 1How it feels
“Months later, a song in a store knocked the wind out of me.”
- 2What’s happeningThat’s normal. Grief isn’t a straight line.Waves can be set off by a song, a smell or a date. At first they can feel huge, and for many people they tend to come further apart over time.
- 3A gentler thought
“A hard day isn’t going backwards. It’s how grief moves.”
- 1How it feels
“What does grief counselling actually do?”
- 2What’s happeningWe make room for your loss, at your pace.Your therapist offers a steady place to bring whatever you’re carrying, from the hardest moments to the memories you want to keep. In time, remembering can bring warmth alongside the pain.
- 3A gentler thought
“I’m not getting over them. I’m learning to carry them with me.”
An illustration of a common pattern, not a real client’s words. Wherever you are in the waves, steady support is here when you want it.
Talk it through, free for 20 minutesMeet therapists who walk with you through grief
Every therapist below is a Registered Psychotherapist who supports people through loss with warmth and patience. Watch a short intro, read their profile, or let us match you in your free consultation.
Watch introSvetlana Antonyshyn
Registered Psychotherapist, FounderCRPO #001652Woodbridge · Online
A deep, personal understanding of loss. Svetlana helps you find meaning and carry your person forward.
Watch introCarol McDowell
Registered PsychotherapistCRPO #10937Barrie · Online
Carol uses a narrative and meaning-making approach to help you make sense of your loss, at your pace.
Not sure who fits?
Let us match you in your free consultation. If the fit isn’t right, we’ll help you switch to another therapist on the team.
What your first session actually looks like
Reaching out for grief can feel like a big step. There’s nothing you have to talk about and nowhere you have to be. Your first appointment is a 70-minute initial assessment, and here’s how it tends to go.
- 1Minutes 0 to 15
Settling in
No script, no pressure. Your therapist welcomes you, explains confidentiality, and lets you know you can share as much or as little as you want.
- 2Minutes 15 to 60
Telling your story
When and if you’re ready, you share who or what you’ve lost. Tears are welcome, silence is welcome, and so is talking about something else entirely.
- 3Throughout
Nothing you have to be over
Your therapist never tells you how you should grieve. You might leave with a gentle way to cope with the hardest moments, or simply feel a little less alone.
- 4The last 10 minutes
No expectations
You decide if and when you come back. There’s no homework you must do, and your therapist meets you wherever you are next time.
Grieving a loss that isn’t a death?
Divorce, the end of a relationship, a job, a change in health or in who you are: these losses are real grief too, and they deserve real support.
Life transitions counsellingGentle support, shaped by your loss.
Grief counselling works best when it follows you, not a formula. Your therapist draws on evidence-based approaches and shapes them around what you need. Sessions give you a steady, dependable place to land, even while grief itself stays unpredictable.
Person-centred and compassion-focused
A warm, non-judgmental space where you’re met with compassion and never told how you should grieve.
More on person-centred therapyMeaning-making and continuing bonds
Narrative work that helps you make sense of your loss and carry your person with you, rather than leave them behind.
More on narrative therapyGrief-informed and trauma-informed
For sudden or traumatic loss, a careful approach that holds the shock and the grief together, safely.
CBT tools, when helpful
Gentle, practical tools for the heaviest thoughts, like guilt and the what-ifs, used only when you want them.
More on CBTInnerSight was founded by Svetlana Antonyshyn, RP, on the belief that healing should treat the person, not a label. More about our approach.
What the research says
We’ll always be honest about evidence. Grief isn’t an illness, and many people find support among the people around them. Therapy tends to help most when grief has become stuck or overwhelming.
In a 2025 survey of 1,170 bereaved adults in Ontario, 38.9% said they wanted support coping with their loss. Most who wanted it received support, most often from family, friends and others who were grieving.
A review of 14 studies estimated that about 1 in 10 adults bereaved by a non-violent death may develop prolonged grief, where grief stays intense over a long time. The authors urge caution, as the studies varied widely.
Across 31 trials, grief therapy eased grief symptoms modestly, both right after and at follow-up. Benefits were larger for one-to-one sessions and for people who were struggling most, and smaller after adjusting for possible publication bias.
A review of 14 trials found that therapy for complicated grief, where grief has become stuck, reduced symptoms, and the benefit grew at follow-up. Programs aimed at preventing it did not appear to help.
Our Registered Psychotherapists do not diagnose or prescribe. If grief comes with a low that won’t lift, or with worry or panic, we can support all of it together, alongside your family doctor if you’d like.
Clinically reviewed by Svetlana Antonyshyn, Registered Psychotherapist (CRPO #001652). Last reviewed October 2026.
What grief counselling costs
No hidden fees and no pressure. Most private insurance plans cover a portion of psychotherapy fees. We can bill Sun Life, Beneva (formerly SSQ) and Green Shield directly when your plan is with one of them, and we provide receipts for claims with other insurers.
- $0
- Free consultation · 20 minMeet a therapist, ask anything, and see if it feels right. No credit card and no obligation.
- $245
- First appointment · 70 minA longer first conversation to understand what’s going on and set goals together.
- $180
- Ongoing sessions · 55 minEvery session after your first, in person or online.
- $125
- Reduced-fee sessionWith select supervised therapists in training. Reduced-fee couples and family sessions are $175.
Appointments cancelled with less than 48 hours’ notice may be charged a cancellation fee. Sessions aren’t covered by OHIP, but psychotherapy from a Registered Psychotherapist may qualify as a medical expense at tax time. Worried about cost? See our reduced-fee program, or call us. We’re happy to walk you through it.
How far could your benefits go?
Pick your plan’s yearly maximum for a Registered Psychotherapist.
An estimate, not a quote or a promise of coverage. Plans differ on the percentage reimbursed, per-visit limits, deductibles and which providers they recognize, so check your benefits booklet or ask your insurer about “Registered Psychotherapist” and “Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying).”
Book a free 20-minute consultDon’t take our word for it. Check.
Anyone can say they’re good at this. Here’s what you can verify about us in about two minutes, without speaking to anyone.
Regulated, not self-declared
“Psychotherapist” is a protected title in Ontario. Our team are Registered Psychotherapists, accountable to a College with a public complaints process.
See every therapist’s registrationSupervised every month
Our therapists meet for clinical supervision every month, so the work stays accountable to someone other than the person doing it.
How we workWe show our sources
Where we describe what therapy can help with, we name the source and link it, from Statistics Canada and CAMH to peer-reviewed trials.
What we help withNothing locks you in
No referral needed. No contract, no package to buy. Fees are published up front, $180 for a 55-minute session. If the fit isn’t right, tell us and we’ll help you switch to another therapist on the team.
Fees and coverageGrief counselling: your questions, answered
Still wondering about something? Ask us in a free consult, or call (905) 553-9507. Phones are answered weekdays 9 am to 5 pm, Saturdays 9 am to 2 pm.
Is there a normal timeline for grief?
No. Grief is not linear and there is no deadline. It comes in waves, not neat stages, and it can ease and return. We never rush you or tell you how you should feel. You set the pace.
Do I need a referral for grief counselling in Vaughan?
No referral is needed. You can book a free 20-minute consultation online at psychotherapyclinic.janeapp.com or call (905) 553-9507. Most people have their first full session within a week.
When should I reach out instead of grieving on my own?
There is no wrong time to reach out. If grief feels stuck, overwhelming, or is affecting your sleep, work or relationships, gentle support can help. You do not have to wait for a crisis or for things to get worse.
Can you help with a loss that happened years ago?
Yes. Grief has no expiry date. Old losses can resurface around anniversaries, milestones, or new losses, and that is completely normal. It is never too late to find support and make sense of what you carry.
Do you support losses that are not a death?
Yes. Divorce, the end of a relationship, job loss, health changes, a move, estrangement and other non-death losses are real grief and deserve real support. We hold space for whatever you are mourning.
Is grief counselling available online across Ontario?
Yes. We offer secure video sessions anywhere in Ontario, plus in-person sessions in Vaughan, Woodbridge and Barrie. Online sessions let you grieve from a place where you feel safe, and evenings and weekends are available.
How much does grief counselling cost and is it covered?
The first 20-minute consultation is free. Individual sessions are $180 for 55 minutes. There is no OHIP coverage, but most private insurance plans cover a portion of services from a Registered Psychotherapist. We bill Sun Life, Beneva (formerly SSQ) and Green Shield directly, and reduced-fee spots are available.
What happens in the first session?
A gentle, pressure-free conversation. You set the pace and share only what you want to, with nothing you have to talk about. Together you begin to shape a way forward that honours both your loss and your healing.
How is grief counselling different from talking to friends or family?
The people who love you want to help, but they are often grieving too, or unsure what to say. A Registered Psychotherapist offers a steady, trained presence with nowhere else to be and nothing they need from you, so you can grieve without managing anyone else's feelings.
Is it grief or depression?
They can look alike and often overlap, low mood, tiredness, trouble concentrating. Grief tends to come in waves tied to the loss and can include moments of connection or even joy, while depression is usually a more constant low. A Registered Psychotherapist cannot formally diagnose either, but we help you understand what you are carrying and support you either way.
Grief counselling near you
In-person sessions in Woodbridge, Maple and Barrie, plus secure video sessions anywhere in Ontario. Evenings and weekends available.
Online across Ontario
Secure video sessions from anywhere in the province, from a place where you feel safe.
Book an online consultAppointment hoursMonday to Friday, 9:30 am to 8:00 pmSaturday, 9:30 am to 5:30 pm
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Whenever you’re ready, a gentle, no-pressure conversation is here for you. There’s no deadline, and there’s no wrong time to reach out.
Phones answered Monday to Friday 9 am to 5 pm, Saturday 9 am to 2 pm.
