Grief Counselling After the Loss of a Friend
For a loss that other people may not count, and that you do.
✓ Same-week ✓ Direct billing ✓ Sliding scale ✓ Licensed therapists
Book a free consultationFor a loss that other people may not count, and that you do.
✓ Same-week ✓ Direct billing ✓ Sliding scale ✓ Licensed therapists
Book a free consultationEvery clinician is registered with a regulatory college — the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO), the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW), or the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO).
We want therapy to be financially accessible for everyone. Reduced rates are available case-by-case based on need and availability.
We submit directly to most major insurers, so you don't pay out of pocket upfront.
Our office is in Ottawa. All client records are stored in Canada and handled under PIPEDA and PHIPA.
Some of what people describe in a first session after losing a friend.
WHAT PEOPLE BRING
Colleagues asked how the funeral was and then moved on. You may be carrying a loss that few people around you have registered, which can make it lonelier than it needs to be.
The group chat goes quiet, or carries on without them. Reaching for your phone to send them something, then remembering, is one of the most common things people mention.
A cancelled plan, a text left unanswered, a falling-out that never got repaired. These often take up more room than the years of ordinary friendship before them.
Counselling after the death of a friend starts by taking the loss at its real size. You don't have to argue for your right to be there. Sessions are a place to talk about the person, what the friendship was, and what has gone missing from your week since they died.
The work is practical as much as anything. That can mean sorting out where you stand with their family, deciding what to do with messages and photos, handling dates like their birthday, or working through anything left unsaid between you. If the death was sudden, or if you were the one who found out first, sessions can also slow that part down and go through it carefully.
If the grief has stayed at full strength for many months, our complicated grief page describes that pattern. For the wider picture of how we work with loss, see our grief counselling page.
Email, phone, or fill out our booking form. There's no script and no pressure. You can share as much or as little as you want.
A real person, not a bot, will reply as soon as we can with a few options for a free 15-minute consultation.
We listen. You ask questions. No paperwork, no obligation. If we're not the right match, we'll point you toward someone who might be.
Direct billing where possible. Evening and weekend availability. Virtual or in-person in Ottawa.
Sessions are 50 minutes in length. Rates vary by therapist and are confirmed during your free consultation. We accept e-transfer and credit cards, and direct-bill most insurers.
Sliding-scale spots are available based on need. Ask during your free consultation.
Same 50-minute format, structured for two participants and shared concerns.
Registered Psychotherapist and Registered Social Worker services are covered by most extended health plans in Canada. We recommend confirming your specific coverage before your first paid session. Sun Life, Manulife, Canada Life, Green Shield, and most major insurers include coverage.
We direct-bill where your insurer allows it. Otherwise, you pay at the time of session and submit the receipt for reimbursement.
Every session generates a receipt listing the provider's license number, suitable for insurance reimbursement.
In-person sessions are held at our Ottawa office. Virtual sessions use a secure, PIPEDA-compliant video platform. You can switch between the two.
We ask for 24 hours notice on cancellations. Late cancellations and no-shows are charged the full session fee.
After the free 15-minute consultation, your first paid session is intake-focused. Bring questions, anything you have already tried, and any goals you have in mind.
QUESTIONS
Yes. The depth of grief tracks the closeness of the relationship, not the label on it. A friend you spoke to every day can leave a larger gap than a relative you saw twice a year, and there is nothing wrong with you for feeling that.
Yes. Being left out of the rituals is one of the harder parts of losing a friend, and it comes up often in sessions. Counselling does not depend on anyone else recognizing your loss.
There is no set number of sessions. Some people come for a handful of sessions around the funeral and the first few months; others want somewhere to return to at anniversaries. You and your therapist decide the pace together, and you can stop or pause at any point.
No. You can book directly with a Registered Psychotherapist or Registered Social Worker without a doctor's referral. Some insurance plans ask for one before reimbursing, so it is worth checking your policy.
Psychotherapy with a Registered Psychotherapist or Registered Social Worker is not covered by OHIP. Many extended health and workplace benefit plans cover it, though plans differ on which credentials they reimburse. Check whether yours covers RP, RSW, or both.
Yes. Our therapists offer secure video sessions to clients anywhere in Ontario, and many people mix virtual and in-person visits depending on the week. Everything discussed stays confidential either way.
Therapy is a longer-term relationship. If you're in acute distress, please reach the services below first. They are free, confidential, and available right now.
