Child & Family Grief Counselling

Welcome to Sage Centre. We recognize this can be a difficult time for you and those close to you. We will do everything we can to offer you both support and helpful resources.

We offer the only professional services for grieving children in Southern Alberta. Our counsellors specialize in helping families with children and teens adjust to the changes in their lives when someone close to them is living with a life-threatening illness or has died.

As the leading agency in Child & Family Grief we are the primary referral site for the following: schools, Alberta Health Services, health and mental health care professionals, victims assistance services, and past & current clients.

We Go Where We Are Needed

We ensure our services are accessible to all by attempting to remove logistical challenges during an already challenging time. Our counsellors work with patients and families at our Sage Centre location, and when appropriate, can also offer support at hospices, hospitals, schools, home, or at other locations.

Why Grief Counselling

Grief is how we respond when we experience loss. Everyone experiences grief and many people associate grief with the death of someone close to them. Grief is also a common reaction when someone in their lives is diagnosed with a life-threatening illness.

Grief is complicated. There is no one way to experience grief; members of the same family can grieve differently. Connecting with other people can reduce the sense of isolation and feelings of loneliness that often come with grief. Our counsellors can help a grieving child, teen, or family navigate the emotions and overall impact associated with grief.

What to Expect

Parents and caregivers will be invited to meet their family’s counsellor during an intake session. When children and teens first meet with their counsellor, the focuses will be getting to know each other and exploring the space.

Counselling sessions may include art and play therapies, writing or other activities that help explore and express grief.

Accessible to All

Counselling fees are on a sliding scale based on family income and drop-in groups are free of charge.

No one is turned away due to financial difficulties as we work hard with our community partners to ensure there are no obstacles to accessing our services. If your financial circumstances change at any time, please do not hesitate to speak with your counsellor for a fee adjustment.

Risks & Benefits of Grief Counselling

There may be some increase in intensity of feelings as we discuss and work through grief. The intention and benefit of counselling is to enhance our well-being. We all grieve in our own unique way and have different needs as we experience the death of someone close to us.

Individual counselling is focused on the individual’s immediate or near future concerns, such as grief after someone close to them has died. It’s a one-on-one discussion between the counsellor and the client. The two form an alliance, a relationship or bond that enables trust and personal growth. Sessions may include art and play therapies, writing or other activities that help explore and express grief.

Family counselling brings together the members of a family as a group. It focuses on family dynamics and explores issues that affect a family (e.g. disease, death or conflict). By engaging the immediate family unit in grief counselling, those grieving can find great long-term support around them as they establish their resiliency.