Iris Counseling
102 Chartwell Dr. P6A 6A2 Sault Sainte Marie, ON, Canada

Coronavirus and the Six Needs of Mourning by Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D. Alongside the physical pandemic, the novel coronavirus is causing a pandemic of grief. That’s what we’re all feeling right nowgrief. It’s important to recognize that....Continue reading

Grief and Faith during the Christmas Season. What Grieving People Wish You Knew at Christmas December 21, 2016 Article by Nancy Guthrie Guest Contributor...Continue reading

Photography Exercises for Exploring Grief Expression of Emotion: Chose 1 or 2 emotions you feel when thinking about death, grief, or a specific loss and express them photographically. Check out some examples here. Symbolism: Reminders of your loved one in everyday life:... This could be a literal symbol (grave marker or personal item) This could be an abstract reminder (rain or a sunset) Photographing objects: This exercise can be helpful when parting with important or sentimental objects or moving to a new home. Photographs help you to hold on to memories while letting go of physical objects. Photograph possessions that belonged to or remind you of your loved one. Check out a how-to on photographing symbols here. The Empty Chair: Photograph an environment where you would often see your loved one prior to their death Photograph a place where you feel your loved one’s absence the most. Dear Photograph (www.dearphotograph.com) Find a photo from the past and take a picture of it in the same location that the original photo it was taken. See Eleanor’s Dear Photograph here. Hope and Strength: Transformational Self Portrait: Take a self-portrait that reflects personal growth and transformation (strength, compassion, inner peace, health). Check out this post about taking self-portraits here. Symbols of Strength: Photograph symbols or reminders that make you feel strong, inspire you or give you hope. Check out Litsa’s post on photographing murals as symbols of strength. Consider a sunset, friends and family members, religious symbols, or a personal item. Words and Quotes: Incorporate words, verses, or quotes that resonate with you in a photo. You can also find or create these words in your environment and photograph them. Gratitude: Photograph the small things that make you feel grateful. Share them with us at #whatsyourgratitude We love photographing gratitudes, check out posts about gratitude here. See more

Grieving a child who has died as a result of Addictions: When Addiction Wins: Support for Grieving Families Posted by:Cathy Taughinbaugh Real empathy is sometimes not insisting that it will be okay but acknowledging that it is not.~ Sheryl Sandburg Do you know a grieving family who has lost their child to addiction? ...Continue reading

For those who grieve, night time is the hardest time. I know if from my own personal experience and I hear people who come to see me or attend a grief group. So I found this article that might help. Yes night can seem soooo long. I hope it helps... Nighttime Rumination in Grief...Continue reading

Author: Mark Liebenow When I tried to explain grief to those who had no clue, it was like describing a rhino to an Inuit. Some people just don’t get it. Using a metaphor sometimes helps explain the unexplainable. Grief is an animal....Continue reading