Supporting Children, Youth and Adults Facing Complex Illness, Uncertainty and Grief
The diagnosis of a serious illness impacts individuals and families of all ages, often resulting in uncertainty, isolation and grief. Taking a strengths-based approach, Elizabeth facilitates supportive counselling fostering communication and coping strategies supporting children, youth and adults navigating the healthcare system following a complex diagnosis. Providing individual and family counselling, Elizabeth offers support following the diagnosis of a serious illness, into remission, at end of life and into bereavement. As professional caregivers are impacted by loss, Elizabeth also provides support to those caring for others.
“Grief is a reaction to loss.
We often confuse it as a reaction to death.
It’s really just a very natural reaction to loss.
When we lose any significant form of attachment,
it’s the process of adjusting.
”
Education Highlighting Compassion and Communication
Elizabeth highlights compassion and communication in the context of illness, uncertainty and loss. She designs and teaches workshops for continuing education, is a Palliative Educator with Acclaim Health and Pallium Canada, and collaborates on initiatives advocating for high quality Palliative and end-of-life care. Elizabeth is a Senior Lecturer with the Faculty of Social Work at Wilfrid Laurier University, a community partner with the Children and Youth Grief Network and an Assistant Clinical Professor with the Department of Family Medicine, Division of Palliative Care at McMaster University.
“Someone needs to encourage us not to brush aside what we feel.
Not to be ashamed of the love and grief that it arouses in us.
Not to be afraid of pain.
Someone needs to encourage us:
that this soft spot in us could be awakened,
and that to do this would change our lives.”
© C. Elizabeth Dougherty Consulting 2024. All rights reserved.