Grief and Loss
Walking Through Grief with Culturally Grounded, Wholistic Support
Grief is one of the heaviest things a person can carry. Whether you have lost a loved one, a way of life, or a part of yourself, the pain can feel like it reaches every part of who you are — your mind, your heart, your spirit, and your body. At Vivian Timmins Indigenous Wholistic Wellness, we understand that grief is not something you simply “get over.” It is something you walk through, one step at a time, with the right support beside you.
Led by Vivian Timmins — an Indigenous social work educator, researcher, and Wholistic Wellness Practitioner with ancestral roots in the O’Mushkegowuk territory on the western shores of James Bay — our Grief and Loss services offer a safe, culturally grounded space where you can grieve fully and heal gently. Vivian blends traditional Indigenous healing practices with clinically informed support, honouring the wholistic nature of wellness — mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical. Spirituality is a central part of Indigenous well-being, and without it, the other parts of wellness cannot fully thrive.
Whether you are navigating the loss of a loved one, dealing with intergenerational grief, or processing the pain of cultural and community loss, this is a space where your story is honoured and your healing journey is respected.
Culturally Grounded Grief Support Matters
For Indigenous peoples, grief often carries layers that go far beyond a single loss. Historical trauma — the cumulative emotional and psychological wounding passed down across generations — shapes how grief is experienced today. Many Indigenous communities have carried unresolved grief for generations, connected to residential schools, the Sixties Scoop, the child welfare system, missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, and ongoing colonial violence.
Research consistently shows that culturally adapted grief interventions are not just helpful — they are essential. Indigenous participants in culturally grounded grief programs report feeling seen, respected, and empowered when their traditions, ceremonies, and worldviews are centred in the healing process. When grief support acknowledges historical trauma and intergenerational pain, it opens the door to genuine healing.
Our Grief and Loss services are built on this understanding:
Cultural Safety — A space free of shame or judgement, where your identity and traditions are honoured.
Intergenerational Awareness — Recognition that grief can be carried across generations, and that healing must address those roots.
Wholistic Approach — Care for mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical wellness together.
Community-Centred — Understanding that grief is not only individual but shared among families, communities, and Nations.
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You Will Experience
Our Team
How Our Grief and Loss Support Works
Our approach is wholistic, meaning we work with the whole person and the whole story. Here is what you can expect:
🔹 Step 1: Honouring Your Story
Every journey begins with listening. In our first sessions, we create space for you to share your loss, your pain, and your story. There is no rush, no judgement — just presence and compassion.
🔹 Step 2: Understanding Your Grief
Grief is not a problem to be fixed. It is an experience to be understood. We explore how your grief shows up emotionally, mentally, physically, and spiritually and how your culture and family history shape it.
🔹 Step 3: Connecting to Culture and Spirit
We introduce you to cultural and spiritual practices that may support your healing — whether that is ceremony, land-based activities, traditional teachings, or connecting with Elders and community.
🔹 Step 4: Practising Wholistic Wellness
Healing involves caring for your whole self. We work together on practices that restore balance — emotional expression, mental clarity, spiritual connection, and physical well-being.
🔹 Step 5: Walking Forward with Support
Healing is not a destination it is a journey. We walk alongside you as you continue forward, with ongoing support, community connection, and the tools to carry your grief in a way that honours both your loss and your life.
🔧 Optional Add-ons:
We can also connect you with community resources, cultural mentors, Elders, and land-based healing programs to deepen your support network.
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of grief and loss do you support?
Do I need to be Indigenous to access these services?
What is a wholistic approach to grief?
Do you use traditional ceremonies?
Is this like regular counselling or therapy?
How long does grief support take?
Can families or groups access grief support together?
THE PROCESS
Our Approaches
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Mindfulness-Based Approaches
Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT)
Trauma-Based Therapy
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🚀 Begin Your Healing Journey Today
Grief can feel like it will never lift but you do not have to carry it alone. At Vivian Timmins Indigenous Wholistic Wellness, we offer a space where your grief is honoured, your culture is centred, and your whole self is cared for.
Whether you are seeking one-on-one support, family healing, or connection to cultural practices that can hold your grief, we are here to walk with you.
📅 Book a Free Consultation to talk about what you are carrying and how we can support you. Together, we will find a path that honours your loss, your culture, and your healing.
Your grief is real. Your healing matters. Your culture is medicine. Let us walk together.
