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.

Sage Centre 1245 70 Avenue SE Calgary, AB T2H 2X8 403-263-4525 info@sagecentre.ca |
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Sage Centre is wheelchair accessible and free parking is available in front of the building.

For Children
Supporting Children
- Canadian Alliance for Grieving Children and Youth
- Children's Grief Centre Brochure
- Child & Teen Grief after a Suicide
- How Children Grieve and Ways We Can Help
- Informing a Child of a Death
- Preparing Emotionally for Disasters or Emergencies
- Psychological First Aid After a Disaster
- Recovery after a Disaster or Emergency
- Responding to a Disaster or Emergency
- Sleep Disturbances
- Talking To Children about Life-Threatening Illness
- When Bad Things Happen
- When Grief Goes to School
- When the Holidays Hurt
- Lost for Words - Advice for Children About How to Cope with Grief
Suggested Books for Children
- Ida, Always by Caron Levis
- In My Heart: A Book of Feelings by Jo Witek
- Life is Like the Wild by Shona Innes
- Tear Soup: A Recipe for Healing After Loss by Pat Schwiebert, Chuck DeKlyen
- The Invisible String by Patricia Karst
- The Next Place by Warren Hanson
- Wherever You Are: My Love Will Find You by Nancy Tillman








For Teens
Supporting Teens
- Canadian Alliance for Grieving Children and Youth
- Children's Grief Centre Brochure
- Child & Teen Grief after a Suicide
- How Teens Grieve and Ways We Can Help
- Informing a Child of a Death
- Preparing Emotionally for Disasters or Emergencies
- Psychological First Aid After a Disaster
- Recovery after a Disaster or Emergency
- Responding to a Disaster or Emergency
- Sleep Disturbances
- Talking To Teens about Life-Threatening Illness
- When Bad Things Happen
- When Grief Goes to School
- When the Holidays Hurt
Suggested Books for Teens
- Someone I Loved Died by Suicide by Doreen T. Cammarata
- The Grieving Teen: A Guide for Teenagers and their Friends by Helen Fitzgerald
- The Invisible String by Patricia Karst
- The Next Place by Warren Hanson
- When a Friend Dies: A Book for Teens about Grieving and Healing by Marilyn Grootman
- Wherever You Are: My Love Will Find You by Nancy Tillman








For Families
- Canadian Alliance for Grieving Children and Youth
- Children's Grief Centre Brochure
- Child & Teen Grief after a Suicide
- Family Conversations about MAID
- Helping Your Child or Teen Recover from a Disaster or Emergency
- How Children Grieve and Ways We Can Help
- How Teens Grieve and Ways We Can Help
- Informing a Child of a Death
- MyGrief.ca
- Preparing Emotionally for Disasters or Emergencies
- Psychological First Aid After a Disaster
- Recovery after a Disaster or Emergency
- Responding to a Disaster or Emergency
- Should My Child Attend the Funeral?
- Sleep Disturbances
- Talking To Children about Life-Threatening Illness
- Talking to Teens about Life-Threatening Illness
- When Bad Things Happen
- When Grief Goes to School
- When the Holidays Hurt
- Video: Each member of a family grieves differently (French)
Special Event & Holidays
- Help for the Holidays
- The Year I Ran Away From Christmas
- When Bad Things Happen
- When Grief Goes to School
- When the Holidays Hurt
Suggested Books for Families
- Healing A Teen's Heart: 100 Practical Ideas For Families, Friends and Caregivers by Alan Wolfelt
- Help Me Say Goodbye: Activities for Helping Kids Cope when Someone Special Dies by Janis Silverman
- Helping Children Grieve by Theresa Huntley
- I Miss You: A First Look at Death by Pat Thomas
- Never Too Young To Know: Death in Children's Lives by Phyllis Silverman
- Waterbugs and Dragonflies: Explaining Death to Children by Doris Stickney
- When Someone Very Special Dies: Children Can Learn to Cope with Grief by Marge Eaton Heegaard
View the full bibliography








For Adults
- MyGrief.ca
- Preparing Emotionally for Disasters or Emergencies
- Psychological First Aid After a Disaster
- Recovery after a Disaster or Emergency
- Responding to a Disaster or Emergency
- Sleep Disturbances
Special Event & Holidays
- Help for the Holidays
- The Year I Ran Away From Christmas
- When Bad Things Happen
- When the Holidays Hurt
Suggested Books for Adults
- Catching Your Breath in Grief by Thomas Attig
- Healing Your Grieving Soul by Alan Wolfelt
- How We Grieve: Relearning the World by Thomas Attig
- Living a Life that Matters by Harold S. Kushner
- Option B: Finding Adversity, Building Resilience and Finding Joy by Sheryl Sandberg
- The Heart of Grief: Death and the Search for Lasting Love by Thomas Attig
View the full bibliography








For Caregivers Coping with Advanced Illness
- A Guide for Caregivers
- CareChannel Resource Library
- Emotional Journey of Caregiving
- Caregiver Alberta: Programs & Services Brochure
- Caregiver Alberta: Community Programs
- Caregiver Coaching
- Caregiver Connect
- Caregivers Guide: A Handbook about End of Life Care
- Caregivers Lighthouse
- Calgary Seniors Volunteer Respite for Caregivers
- Caregivers: Put on Your Own Oxygen Mask First
- Caregiver Support Program Online Training
- Canadian Virtual Hospice
- Family Conversations about MAID
- Living with Advanced Illness Brochure
- PEOLC Resources
- Sleep Disturbances
- Stories for Caregivers
- Support for Alzheimer's and Dementia Caregivers
- Talking to Children About Life-Threatening Illness
- Talking To Teens about Life-Threatening Illness
- When the Holidays Hurt
- When Grief Goes to School
- Video -- Tips for Caregivers
Suggested Books
- Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End by Atul Gawande
- The Bright Hour: A Memoir of Living and Dying by Nina Riggs
- The Grace in Dying: A Message of Hope, Comfort and Spiritual Transformation by Kathleen Dowling Singh
- Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom
- Walking Each Other Home: Conversations on Loving and Dying by Ram Dass, Bush Mirabai
- When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi








For Professionals & Volunteers Working with Children, Teens and Families
- Canadian Virtual Hospice
- Children's Grief Centre Brochure
- Informing a Child of a Death
- Living with Advanced Illness Brochure
- KidsGrief.ca
- MyGrief.ca
Suggested References
- Continuing Bonds: New Understandings of Grief by Dennis Klass
- Never Too Young to Know: Death in Children's Lives by Phyllis Rolfe Silverman
- Predictors and Parameters of Resilience to Loss: Toward an Individual Differences Model by A. D. Mancini, G. A. Bonanno
- The Dual Process Model of Coping with Bereavement by M. Stroebe, H. Schut
- The Grieving Person's Bill of Rights by Alan Wolfelt
View the full grief bibliography