Does life feel unrecognizable after losing someone you love?
The grief that comes after someone passes away doesn’t follow rules. It doesn’t come in a straight line. Some days you’re functioning. Other days you’re barely making it through the morning. The world keeps moving, but you feel stuck in a moment you never asked for.
Maybe the loss was recent. Maybe it happened years ago and the waves still knock you sideways. Losing someone you love changes your inner landscape. The routines are different. The conversations are different. You are different.
Your emotions feel unpredictable.
Your energy disappears without warning.
You can’t always explain what you’re feeling or why.
Maybe you’ve noticed things like:
- feeling overwhelmed by memories, reminders, or anniversaries
- difficulty concentrating or caring about things you used to enjoy
- guilt for laughing, feeling OK for a moment, or “moving on”
- avoiding places, people, or conversations that bring up the grief
- feeling isolated because others don’t really understand
- changes in sleep, appetite, motivation, or emotional regulation
- searching terms like “am I grieving,” “how long does grief last,” or “is this normal after losing someone?”
- waves of sadness that feel random, sudden, or impossible to manage
If you're reading this thinking, “yeah… this is where I am,” you’re not alone. Grief can follow the death of a parent, child, partner, close friend, or anyone who shaped your life in a meaningful way. It shifts how you see yourself, your relationships, and your future. Even when people around you say “you’re so strong,” grief can feel unbearably heavy and confusing.
Many Canadians turn to therapy at Shift Collab to make sense of their grief, understand the waves instead of fearing them, find steadier footing in their day to day life, and reconnect with parts of themselves that feel lost in the pain.
Why Canadians choose Shift Collab for support after death and loss
Our therapists understand grief in all its forms. The heartbreak. The numbness. The anger you don’t know what to do with. The ache of missing someone who mattered. Therapy gives you a space where you don’t have to pretend you’re fine or rush your healing. You get support that helps you make sense of what you’re carrying and find ways to move forward without leaving your person behind. The support is compassionate, personal, and grounded in helping you cope in real, everyday life. Not by avoiding grief but by learning how to live with it in a way that feels more gentle and survivable.
16,000+
Canadian clients supported
125+
Psychotherapists + Social Workers
80+
Clinical specialties
97%
Of clients are highly satisfied with their care
100%
Virtual— therapy anytime, any place
Therapy for death and loss might be right for you if you want to…
understand the emotional waves instead of feeling blindsided by them
talk about your person without worrying you’re “burdening” someone
make space for grief without losing yourself in it
cope with everyday tasks that suddenly feel harder
ease the guilt around healing, living, or experiencing joy again
get support from a therapist who gets the messy, human side of grief
What therapy for death and loss looks like at Shift
Therapy after death and loss isn’t about “getting over it.” It’s about having a space where your pain is allowed to exist without being minimized or rushed. A space to understand your relationship with the person you lost and how their presence still lives in your life.
In therapy, you might:
- explore how grief is showing up in your body, habits, and emotions
- learn to navigate waves of sadness, anger, guilt, or numbness
- understand the difference between healthy grief and feeling stuck
- build small, supportive routines that help you function again
- find ways to keep your connection to your person without staying in suffering
- create space for healing while honouring your loss
What makes therapy for death and loss at Shift Collab different
Work with a therapist who really gets grief. Only 5 percent of applicants join our team, and the ones who do bring an average of 11 years of experience supporting people through loss, heartbreak, and life changing transitions.
With 125+ therapists, we match you with someone who specializes in grief, bereavement, loss of a loved one, and any other emotional layers you’re navigating.
If something feels off after 30 days, we’ll rematch you with a new therapist and cover your next session. No awkwardness.
Therapy from anywhere in Canada, seven days a week. No waitlists. No rearranging your life to make it work.
See why over 16,000+ Canadians choose us.
Meet our therapists who support clients after death and loss👋
Meet our therapists who support clients after death and loss👋
Thinking about getting support during this time?
Our care team is here to match you with a therapist who’s a great fit. Use the form to tell us what you’re looking for and we’ll get back to you with handpicked therapist recommendations.
Have questions before getting started? Use the form to tell us what you’re curious about and our care team will reach out with answers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is grief?
Grief is the natural response to losing someone who mattered deeply to you. It’s not something you “get over” or move through in a neat set of stages. It’s a process that unfolds over time and often shifts as your life continues without the person you lost.
Grief doesn’t follow a schedule or a rulebook. It can resurface long after the loss itself, especially as your relationships, routines, and sense of self change. What matters most is not whether you’re grieving the “right” way, but understanding that grief is a human response to love and loss, and it looks different for everyone.
How do I know if what I’m feeling is grief?
Grief can show up as crying at random moments, feeling disconnected, struggling to focus, avoiding reminders, or feeling waves of emotions you can’t predict. If you’ve lost someone and your inner world feels different, you’re likely grieving. It doesn’t have to look like what you’ve seen in movies.
Why does grief feel so heavy?
Because love was heavy too. Grief impacts your nervous system, your sleep, your energy, and your ability to cope. It isn’t about being weak. It’s about your system adjusting to a loss that changed your life.
Why can’t I “move on”?
Because grief isn’t a problem you solve. It’s a relationship that shifts. “Moving on” is a myth. Most people move forward by learning how to live with the love and the loss at the same time.
Can online therapy help with grief?
Absolutely. Online therapy gives you a supportive space to process grief at your own pace, talk about your person, and learn ways to cope that feel grounding instead of overwhelming.
What happens in therapy for death and loss?
You and your therapist explore what this loss has meant to you, how it’s showing up in your life, and what you need emotionally and practically. There’s no pressure to be “brave.” No timeline you have to follow.
How long does death and loss therapy take?
There’s no standard timeline. Many people begin noticing small shifts in a few weeks, like clearer emotions, better coping skills, or feeling less alone in the experience. Healing is a process, not a race.
Can therapy help with the loss of a parent, partner, child, or close friend?
Yes. Many Shift Collab clients come to therapy after losing the most important person in their life. Your therapist can help you process the relationship, the memories, the guilt, the anger, and the identity shifts that come with that kind of loss.
How do you match me with the right therapist?
Our care team reads your note closely and connects you with a therapist who specializes in grief, loss, and is licensed in your province. We consider your goals, your schedule, and the kind of therapeutic style you prefer.
Where can I learn more about grief & loss?
You can explore our therapist written articles to learn how grief works, why it shows up the way it does, and how to care for yourself through it. A great place to start is with these blogs:
Anticipatory Grief: How to Cope With the Quiet Heartbreak Before Loss
Finding Comfort in Pages: Three Books to Support You Through Grief
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