Loss of a Child

The loss of a child is often referred to as the ultimate tragedy. It goes against the “natural order” for parents to outlive their child. Bereaved parents (or caregivers and grandparents) can mourn the death and loss of a child of any age, including miscarriage or stillbirths, and although they experience the common stages of grief, they tend to have a longer grieving process.

If you have lost your child, it’s probably fair to say that you have been devastated. This can be made more complicated if you have other children in your care and other relationships to tend to, such as your marriage. You may feel as though you are not able to fulfill your parental duties and that your relationship with your significant other is not a priority.  Life outside of your loss goes on but for you, life stopped when you lost your child and you may be feeling that you will never be able to move on from this loss.

Symptoms & signs of extreme grief from losing a child

Emotional symptoms:

  • Inconsolable sadness
  • Inability to accept that your child is gone
  • Thinking you still see them
  • Depression
  • Inability to function
  • Obsession with the child you lost, and what their future could have held
  • Obsession with death in general
  • Feelings of rage or anger
  • Feeling guilty that you are alive and your child’s life was cut so short
  • Numbness
  • Irritability
  • Withdrawing from others
  • Thoughts of suicide
  • Not wanting to be around people or in places that remind you of your child
  • Only wanting to be around people or in places that remind you of your child
  • Extreme anxiety about your remaining child/ren (if applicable)

Physical symptoms:

  • Excessive crying
  • Lack of appetite (or overeating)
  • Nausea
  • Diarrhea
  • Sleeplessness or sleeping too much
  • Feeling physical pain
  • Headaches
  • Lowered immunity
  • Increased use of alcohol, recreational or prescription drugs
  • Engaging in risky or self-destructive behaviours

You may also want to learn more about depression or anxiety.

When is it time to get help?

It is not fair to expect you to “get over” the loss of your child, even if other people tell you the opposite. It’s normal to experience grief when you’ve experienced a severe loss. The symptoms of grief are problematic if you’ve been experiencing them for a prolonged time and/or they are severe enough to affect your daily life – eating, sleeping, working, relationships, etc. for an extended time. It’s easy to slip from sadness over the loss to depression, anxiety, and it can even be a trigger for substance problems. It’s also hard to be objective when it comes to your own grief or depression, so if your loved ones are expressing concern about you, you should consider seeking help.

Extreme grief treatment methods

Some common treatment methods for dealing with the extreme grief of losing a child include:

  • Grief work therapy refers to the methods used in counselling that help people to grieve loss and understand their emotions associated with the loss in a healthy way with the ultimate goal of moving forward.
  • Acceptance and commitment therapy encourages clients to accept the difficulties and misfortunes of life. Clients learn coping techniques to not dwell on negative emotions by staying in the present.
  • Person Centered Therapy differs from more traditional therapeutic approaches in the belief that, while the therapist has expertise in many areas, the client is the expert on themselves and their lived experiences. People are essentially trustworthy and have a vast potential for understanding themselves while also being able to ultimately resolve their own problems when guided properly.
  • Emotionally focused therapy is based on observations and experience. It looks at emotions and emotional intelligence, which helps support stronger and more secure relationships by helping better understand how our actions impact others, and how our emotions drive our interaction.
  • Faith based therapy is using science-based therapeutic techniques that are administered by a therapist with similar spiritual beliefs or an understanding of those beliefs. This is not based on any one religion or spiritual belief.

Your therapist will talk with you about the best treatment method for your individual circumstances and unique needs.

What will I get out of treatment with Insight Psychological?

Here at Insight Psychological, we have trained specialists in grief and loss not only for the parents but also for siblings, friends, and other family members. Other parents have found a way to honour their child’s memory and acknowledge their grief while participating more meaningfully in their own lives. This can happen for you too.

We have therapists who will work with you to cope with your grief and make steps towards recovery. Insight can provide you with in-person, online, or telephone counselling. Contact us to learn more or to book an appointment.

Brooke Hendricks

Edmonton South, Online

Adults, Assessments

Loriann Quinlan

Edmonton South, Edmonton West, Online

Adults, Seniors

Terri Mulveney

Edmonton South, Online

Adults, Children (3-5), Children & Youth (6-12), Adolescents (13-17), LGBTQ community

Morganne Stubbs

Online, Sherwood Park

Adults, Adolescents (13-17), Families, Couples, LGBTQ community, Assessments

Dr. Scott Anderson

Calgary, Online

Adults, Adolescents (13-17), Assessments

Brandi Enns

Edmonton South, Online

Adults, Families, Couples, LGBTQ community, Sexuality, Assessments

Sabrina Brady

Edmonton Central, Edmonton North, Online

Adults, Adolescents (13-17), Seniors, Couples, LGBTQ community, Sexuality, Assessments

Karla Buchholz

Edmonton South, Online

Adults, Adolescents (13-17), Seniors, Families, Couples, LGBTQ community, Sexuality

Nicole Donovan

Edmonton South, Online, Sherwood Park

Adults, Children & Youth (6-12), Adolescents (13-17)

Kathryn Maier

Edmonton North, Online

Adults, Children (3-5), Children & Youth (6-12), Adolescents (13-17), Families, Assessments

Cody Cobler

Edmonton North, Online, Sherwood Park

Adults, Children & Youth (6-12), Adolescents (13-17), Families, LGBTQ community

Dawn Doucet Banting

Edmonton South, Online

Adults, Children (3-5), Children & Youth (6-12), Adolescents (13-17), Seniors, Families, Couples, LGBTQ community

Meghan Odsen

Edmonton South, Online

Adults, Adolescents (13-17), Seniors, Families, Couples, LGBTQ community, Sexuality, Assessments

Bonnie Kelly

Calgary, Online

Adults, Adolescents (13-17), Families, Couples, LGBTQ community, Sexuality

Emily Couture

Edmonton South, Sherwood Park, Online

Adults, Children (3-5), Children & Youth (6-12), Adolescents (13-17), Assessments

Chantelle Owen

Edmonton Central, Online, Edmonton West

Adults, Adolescents (13-17), Families, Couples, LGBTQ community, Sexuality

Kim Phua

Edmonton North, Online, Edmonton Central

Adults, Adolescents (13-17), Seniors, Families, Couples, LGBTQ community, Sexuality, Assessments

Brilene Wohlgemuth

Edmonton South, Sherwood Park, Online

Adults, Children & Youth (6-12), Adolescents (13-17), Families, LGBTQ community, Assessments

Lauren Chow

Edmonton Central, Edmonton South, Online

Adults, Adolescents (13-17), Couples, LGBTQ community

Dr. Hendriatta Wong

Corporate Services

Shirley Leonard

Corporate Services

Tara-Lee Goerlitz

Corporate Services

Trina Wilson Orieux

Corporate Services

Adults

Leah Cadieux

Spring Perinatal Services

Adults, Families, Couples, Infants

Tracey Howell

Spring Perinatal Services

Adults, Families, Couples

Sonya Duffee

Spring Perinatal Services

Adults, Families, Couples

Julia Braga

Spring Perinatal Services

Adults, Families, Couples

Jennine Fayad

Spring Perinatal Services

Adults, Families, Couples

Jackie Pubantz

Spring Perinatal Services

Adults, Children & Youth (6-12), Adolescents (13-17), Seniors

Megan Hoffman

Spring Perinatal Services

Adults, Children (3-5), Children & Youth (6-12), Adolescents (13-17), Seniors, Families, Couples

At this time, Insight Psychological does not have therapists who specialize in this specific area, but that doesn’t mean we can’t help you! Please contact us to talk with our Intake Personnel to find a therapist that is a good fit for you and your unique circumstances.