Purple Lotus

Grief or Loss Therapists in Ottawa

Browse 1 therapist specializing in Grief or Loss in Ottawa. Find the right counsellor or psychotherapist for your needs.

Grief is the emotional, cognitive, and physical response to losing something or someone significant. While it is commonly associated with the death of a loved one, grief can follow many kinds of loss, including the end of a relationship, a serious diagnosis, job loss, infertility, estrangement, or a major life transition. There is no single way grief unfolds, and the idea that it moves through fixed stages has largely given way to a more flexible understanding: grief is non-linear, shaped by your relationship to what was lost, your history, your support system, and the circumstances of the loss.

What to look for in a Grief or Loss therapist on Purple Lotus

  • Specific training or experience with grief and loss
  • Comfort with intense emotion and non-linear grief processes
  • Familiarity with the type of loss you are experiencing
  • Experience with complicated or prolonged grief if relevant

1 therapist for Grief or Loss in Ottawa

Browse 1 therapist specializing in Grief or Loss in Ottawa. Find the right counsellor or psychotherapist for your needs.

Julianna Servello

Julianna Servello

I work with children, teens, adults, couples, and families who may be feeling overwhelmed, stuck, disconnected, or unsure of how to move forward. My goal is to create a warm, supportive space where you can feel comfortable being yourself while working toward meaningful and lasting change. I bring a strong clinical background to my private practice, with experience working in hospital and community settings with individuals and families navigating a wide range of mental health, emotional, relational, and life challenges. My hospital experience has given me the opportunity to work with people during some of the most difficult and uncertain periods of their lives, supporting clients and families through complex circumstances, significant transitions, illness, trauma, crisis, grief, and changes in functioning. This experience has shaped the way I practice today: with compassion, clinical thoughtfulness, and an understanding that every person’s circumstances and needs are different. My clinical work includes supporting individuals experiencing anxiety, ADHD, OCD, emotional regulation difficulties, relationship and family concerns, grief, trauma, burnout, self-esteem concerns, and major life transitions. I also support clients through prenatal and postpartum challenges and the emotional impact of motor vehicle accidents and other traumatic experiences. I work with clients across the lifespan and tailor therapy to their individual goals, strengths, personality, and circumstances. OCD is a particular area of clinical interest and expertise for me. I have extensive training and experience supporting clients with OCD and related anxiety concerns, and I understand how consuming and disruptive intrusive thoughts, uncertainty, compulsions, and avoidance can become. My approach is compassionate, collaborative, and evidence-informed, with the goal of helping clients better understand their experiences and develop greater confidence in responding to difficult thoughts, feelings, and sensations. I also provide OCD-focused clinical supervision and consultation to other clinicians looking to strengthen their knowledge and confidence in this area. I also have a strong interest in ADHD and emotional regulation. For clients with ADHD, I recognize that challenges can extend far beyond attention and organization and may affect relationships, self-esteem, emotional regulation, work, school, and day-to-day functioning. Therapy can provide a space to better understand these patterns, develop strategies that are realistic for your life, and move away from shame or self-criticism toward greater self-understanding. My approach is integrative and individualized. I draw from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), trauma-informed practice, narrative therapy, and strengths-based approaches. Rather than using a one-size-fits-all model, I consider what you are experiencing, what has or has not worked for you in the past, and what you hope to change. Together, we can identify practical strategies while also exploring the deeper patterns, experiences, and relationships that may be contributing to what you are experiencing. I believe therapy should be both clinically meaningful and genuinely human. You do not need to have everything figured out before coming to therapy, and you do not need to know exactly what you need. Sometimes people simply know that something is not feeling right, that they are exhausted from trying to manage everything on their own, or that they keep finding themselves caught in the same patterns. Therapy can provide an opportunity to slow down, make sense of what is happening, and develop a clearer path forward. Whether you are navigating anxiety, OCD, ADHD, grief, trauma, relationship difficulties, burnout, a major life transition, or simply feeling stuck, I aim to meet you where you are. My role is not to tell you who you should be or how you should live, but to work alongside you to better understand yourself, build on your existing strengths, and develop meaningful changes that fit your life. I welcome the opportunity to work collaboratively with clients and, when appropriate, with families and other healthcare professionals involved in their care. My hospital background has reinforced for me the value of collaboration and continuity of care, and I believe that connecting clients with the right supports can make an important difference in their overall wellbeing. Above all, I want therapy to feel like a space where you can be honest, understood, and supported without judgment. Whether you are coming to therapy for the first time or have been in therapy before, we can start wherever you are and work together from there.

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Frequently asked questions

What is grief therapy and what does it involve?

Grief therapy is a form of professional support that helps people process loss and adapt to life after it. Sessions typically involve talking through the loss, the emotions and meanings attached to it, and the challenges of moving forward. Therapists may draw on narrative, CBT, trauma-focused, or other frameworks depending on your needs.

How do I know if I need grief therapy or if grief will resolve on its own?

Grief often resolves over time with support from relationships and community. Therapy may be useful if grief feels stuck or is intensifying rather than shifting, if it is significantly disrupting daily functioning for an extended period, if you have limited support, or if the loss involved trauma. A therapist can help you assess whether focused support would make a difference.

What is the difference between grief and prolonged grief disorder?

Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD) describes grief that is unusually persistent and impairing, typically characterized by intense yearning for the person who died, difficulty accepting the loss, and significant disruption to daily life lasting more than 12 months after bereavement. Not all ongoing grief meets this threshold, and a qualified clinician can assess whether your experience fits.

Can grief therapy help with losses other than death?

Yes. Grief therapists work with many kinds of loss including relationship endings, miscarriage, infertility, chronic illness, estrangement, job loss, and major life transitions. Some losses are not widely recognized as grief by others, which can make the experience more isolating. A grief therapist will take your loss seriously regardless of its cause.

How long does grief therapy take?

It depends on the nature of the loss and the approach used. Structured approaches like Complicated Grief Treatment typically run 16 sessions. Grief therapy more broadly may be shorter or longer depending on your goals. Some people find meaningful relief in a few months; others benefit from longer support, especially when grief is intertwined with trauma or major life disruption.

Is grief therapy available online?

Yes. Most grief therapists in Canada offer online sessions, and research supports the effectiveness of virtual therapy for grief. Online therapy may make it easier to access a therapist who specializes in your type of loss, regardless of location.

What if I feel guilty about grieving or think I should be over it by now?

These feelings are very common and often one of the things grief therapy directly addresses. There is no timeline that applies to everyone, and grief does not become invalid because time has passed or because others expect you to have moved on. A grief therapist will work with these responses, not against them.

How do I find a grief therapist in Ottawa?

Browse therapists in Ottawa who list grief or loss as a specialization. Check their profiles for experience with your specific type of loss and the approach they use. Many therapists in Ottawa also offer online sessions if you prefer to meet virtually.

Is grief therapy covered by insurance in Ottawa?

Coverage depends on your extended health plan. If your therapist in Ottawa is a registered psychologist, psychotherapist, or social worker, sessions may be eligible for reimbursement. Check your policy for covered designations, annual limits, and whether a referral is required.

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