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Therapy for Suicide Loss

New Moon Psychotherapy offers Therapy for Suicide Loss in Downtown Toronto with online sessions available across Ontario.

What Is Therapy for Suicide Loss?

Losing a loved one to suicide is one of the most profoundly painful and challenging life experiences.

It is a unique form of grief that brings a whirlwind of emotions—shock, sorrow, guilt, anger, confusion, and even, at times, relief.

You might feel isolated, carrying questions that seem to have no answers.

At New Moon Psychotherapy, we understand the depths of this grief and are here to support you.

Understanding the Emotional Impact of Suicide Bereavement

Grief following a suicide loss is unlike other forms of grief. Its sudden and often traumatic nature can leave you feeling untethered and overwhelmed.

Common emotional responses include:

You may be grappling with thoughts of “I should have seen the signs” or “If only I had acted differently” which amplify feelings of helplessness.

You may feel torn between love for the person and difficulty comprehending what led to their decision.

Anger towards the person who died, oneself, others who may not have seen the signs, the world or life for feeling unfair.

It may feel like others can’t understand your pain, leading to withdrawal, avoidance, and distancing from your support system.

Experiences such as flashbacks, nightmares, intrusive thoughts, or an increased sense of anxiety are not uncommon.

You may worry that others will judge you or societal misconceptions about suicide can make it difficult to talk about your loss.

It doesn't have to feel this way forever

We offer a safe, compassionate space for you to process your loss and begin your healing journey. Our therapists are experienced in suicide bereavement and understand the complex emotions and challenges that accompany this type of grief.

We are here to help you explore your feelings without judgment, to work through the emotional pain, and to find meaning and hope amid the loss.

Therapy for Suicide Loss In Downtown Toronto

How Can We Help?

Grief counselling

Providing a supportive environment to express and process your emotions.

Trauma-informed care

Helping you address the traumatic aspects of your loss with sensitivity and care.

Psychoeducation

Offering insights into the nature of suicide grief to help you understand your experience better.

Building coping strategies

Equipping you with tools to manage difficult feelings and rebuild a sense of stability.

Supporting connection

Encouraging healthy communication with loved ones and seeking understanding within your community.

You're not alone...

While this path may feel isolating, you do not have to face it alone.

The pain of loss can be immense, but with the right care and support, healing is possible.

At New Moon Psychotherapy, we are honored to walk alongside you in this deeply personal and courageous process. Together, we can help you find steps toward understanding, acceptance, and eventually, a renewed sense of peace.

If you are ready to begin this healing process, or even if you’re unsure of where to start, we are here for you.

These complex reactions can feel overwhelming, but you don’t need to carry them alone.

Therapy for Suicide Loss

How Can Therapy Help?

At New Moon Psychotherapy, we believe that healing from suicide loss doesn’t mean leaving your loved one behind, but rather finding a way to carry their memory with love, not pain. Therapy offers a compassionate and safe space where you can begin navigating this difficult path forward.

We tailor our approach to your unique needs, offering a variety of therapeutic methods, including:

Grief Focused Therapy

Designed to help you process and navigate the intense emotions and pain associated with loss. It provides a safe space to explore feelings of sadness, anger, guilt, and confusion, while also helping you find ways to adapt to life without your loved one. The goal is to support the healing process, helping you find meaning and peace to continue living your life.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

EMDR Is an evidence-based therapy to help you process traumatic memories associated with suicide loss, reducing emotional distress. Through guided eye movements, or other forms of bilateral stimulation, it works to transform how your brain stores and reacts to these experiences.

Induced After-Death Communication (IADC) Therapy

Induced After-Death Communication (IADC) Therapy is a specialized therapeutic approach built upon the principles of EMDR and designed specifically to help people process grief and traumatic loss. Through guided bilateral stimulation, IADC helps reduce the emotional intensity of grief, transform the way grief is carried, and support emotional resolution while maintaining a meaningful bond with the person who has died.

Despite its name, IADC does not require or assume that someone will communicate with a deceased loved one, nor does it depend on any particular spiritual or religious beliefs. Some people experience a profound shift in perspective or a renewed sense of peace, while others simply find that their grief feels less overwhelming. Every experience is unique, and there is no expected or “correct” outcome.

Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)

CPT is an evidence-based therapy to treat trauma and PTSD. In the context of suicide loss, it helps to challenge and reframe unhelpful thoughts or beliefs about the loss, such as feelings of guilt, self-blame, or the sense that life is no longer meaningful.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT is an evidence-based therapy that helps you identify and replace unhelpful thought patterns, helping you regain control and build healthier coping mechanisms.

Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT)

Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) is considered an antidote to intense feelings of guilt, shame, and self-blame that accompany suicide loss. It emphasizes self-compassion and helps you cultivate a kind, non-judgmental attitude towards your pain and grief.

Internal Family Systems (IFS)

IFS helps you understand and integrate the various parts of yourself that may be activated by the trauma of losing someone to suicide. In IFS, these parts may include feelings of grief, guilt, anger, confusion, or even self-blame. The therapist may help you connect and heal with these wounded parts and cultivate a compassionate healing relationship with them.

Narrative Therapy

Narrative Therapy encourages you to see yourself as more than the loss, helping you separate your identity from the trauma. The focus is on reframing your grief and loss by externalizing the pain, creating a story that acknowledges the difficulty of the experience while also allowing space for healing and growth.

Body-Based Therapies

Therapies such as Somatic Experiencing or Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, recognize that grief and trauma can manifest as tension, discomfort, or other physical symptoms. By bringing awareness to these sensations, you learn to release stored emotions, ground yourself in the present moment, and restore a sense of balance and safety in your body.

“Asking for help is not a sign of weakness, but a sign of strength and courage. It’s okay to lean on others when you need it.”

– Anonymous

What to Expect During Grief Therapy for Suicide Loss?

Grief therapy for suicide loss is a personalized and deeply empathetic process. Here’s what you can expect when you work with us:

Healing at Your Own Pace

There is no “right” timeline for grief. Your process is unique, and we will meet you where you are, every step of the way.

You Are Not Alone

Suicide loss carries a depth of pain and complexity that can feel unbearable without support.

Healing is possible.

While the grief may never fully go away, it can transform into a softer, gentler presence that allows you to move forward while keeping your loved one’s memory alive.

With help, you can learn to carry the weight of this loss with greater ease and more love than sadness.