December 1 - the day when Creative Intentions makes its online debut. Updates coming.
Site Content
Services
I offer therapy that deals with the loss of loved ones, furkids, self identity, home, career ... to name the primary losses that lead to grief and bereavement: its pain, suffering and a want to heal.
Please check our services for all consultations and workshops offered. death
Upcoming Events
Video postings will be an ongoing process. My next ones include: when is religion a no-no in bereavement; the crazy things people say and do around death; great and not-so-great supporters for bereavement; places to go for help when loss or death occurs ... as well, I am open to requests for talks you would like to hear. Follow the Contact Us page.
Will post other presentations and musings I do once I know dates.
FALL 2022-WINTER 2023 SERIES ...
Loss, Grief and Bereavement Counselling Presents: Death & Bereavement: A Journey in Learning
Katherine A. Weir, LGB Counsellor, @itjusthappens.ca presents a 6-part series addressing issues surrounding death and bereavement. Each presentation week a topic specific to grief is addressed through a 30-minute presentation and 1 hour ask-me-anything question period. Tune to any or all these knowledge-rich presentations, as listed below:
Sept. 28 – After death: Crazy experiences • What things happen • What things are said • Staying true to your story
Oct. 26 – Being a support system for the bereaved • Types of death • Good and not good supports • Tips for helping
Nov. 23 – Holidays and bereavement • How to make it through the holidays • Coping strategies • Changes through time
Jan 25 – Post-loss: The first year and anniversaries • The first year • Anniversaries • Staying true to you
Feb. 22 – Why we fear death • Religion and its influences • Fear of the future • How this affects the living
Mar. 22 – Listener’s choice • Topic to be chosen by listeners/participants • Participants from presentations 1-3 are asked to send in suggested topics • In presentation 4, the topic for presentation 6 will be announced
SIGN UP (at no charge) @ https://awakeningspirituality.ca/our-events/loss/
PROMOTIONAL OFFER: Sign up for a 20% savings on any of the following: Introductory Meeting, One-on-One Counselling Workshops or an I-am-in-need Consultation. This offer is good until 10pm EST the following day after the presentation. Full payment, minus the discount, must be made 24 hours prior to starting your requested service.
Starting this fall 2023
FALL/WINTER/SPRING 2023-2024 PRESENTATIONS
DEATH & BEREAVEMENT: SERIES 2
This is the follow-up series to the first Death & Bereavement series that took place in the Fall/Winter of 2022-2023. Because of the success of the first set of presentations, this second set will delve deeper into topics on death, grief and bereavement, always focusing on the little or not talked about road to bereavement knowledge.
Katherine opens the doors for participants to have their questions answered and in the post 30-minute online presentation she leads a Q&A session, where as she says, "the best things happen."
Hosted through Awakening Spirituality, this series is free to any participant who wants to join in.
All presentations & Q&A sessions take place on the fourth Wednesday of each month, from 7-8:30pm EST. (December excluded). Sign up link below.
September 27, 2023 - Losing a Grandchild * Your child * Yourself * Moving forward
October 25, 2023 - Suicide for Survivors * Why is suicide different? * Survivor shame * Suicide and societal responsibility: A Choice
November 22, 2023 - Death in Utero & At Birth * Attitudes in not counting * Losses not seen * Supporting the parents
January 24, 2024 - Loss of Hope * In death * In self * With outside forces
February 28, 2024 - M.A.i.D. * Religion's inputs * Supporting a MAiD choice * Honouring the "patient's choice"
March 27, 2024 - eco: Anxiety: The Death of Mother Earth * Concerns & Realities * No hope: Younger generation * Prayers & practicality
April 26, 2024 - To be decided
May 24, 2024 - To be decided
Promotional Discounts
20% discounts are available in 2 formats.
Yearly, on March 10th, the anniversary of my son's death, I offer a 20% discount to anyone who signs up for one of the following: Introductory Meeting, One-on-One Counselling Workshop and I-am-in-need One-on-One Consultation. You must sign up and pay your full fee within March 10's 24-hour day period.
I also offer ad-hoc 20% off the following: Introductory Meetings, One-on-One Counselling Workshops and I-am-in-need One-on-One Consultations when I do presentations through Awakening Spirituality. https://awakeningspirituality.ca/our-events/loss/
Katherine's Gone Virtual
If you are experiencing the pain and suffering from loss, death or grief, or if you are in bereavement and finding it hard to move forward then you need SOMEONE TO LISTEN.
With decades of experience in bereavement, life learning and ups and downs, as well as research and practice, I know what it means to have someone listen to you when loss is all-encompassing.
Let me be that listener for you.
FAQs
What do you do when you listen?
I listen to your story and help guide you to understanding what it is you want in your present state. From there we create a plan of action and work toward solving your wants.
What types of therapy do you use?
I use listen, written and art therapy.
What are your hours of operation?
Click "Find out more"below.
What are your fees?
All fees are listed on our Services Page.
Fees are upgraded on July 1, yearly.
Do you have a refund policy?
I do not offer refunds unless a healthy valid reason is provided. This only applies to workshops, with only 50% of the full fee refunded at the end of week 2.
About Us
Meet Katherine A. Weir, MA
ABOUT ME
Hi, my name is Katherine A. Weir, and I am bereaved. I have been identifying as bereaved since March 10, 1993 … the day my 6-year-old son died.
After 29+ years and decades of people telling me I have a gift, I decided to believe in myself and my supporters and set out to start doing what I’m good at … listening.
As such, Loss Grief Bereavement Counselling has been created to help anyone, worldwide, who is dealing with loss and the pain that goes with losing a loved one, a furkid, a sense of self, one’s identity, one’s home or career and so on.
If you’re wanting to heal … then I’m here to listen and help you heal.
I am a daughter, mother, grandmother, writer, editor, visual artist, volunteer and healer.
I love all things with feathers, fur and other types of skin.
I am passionate about trees.
I am straight up honest, open-booked and filled with wisdom considering my only 6 decades of life.
I like helping.
MY CREDS
My credentials are multifacted.
- BAH in English and Women’s Studies and an MA in English, with a heavy accent on critical thinking, women, creative writing and indigenous knowledge and histories.
- Post-secondary educator in English and Business Communication Skills
- Trained as a paramedic
- Longtime volunteer in education
- Avid volunteer in hospice. Included in the experience was one-on-one mentoring, end-of-life care, meditator leader, art therapy participant and co-leader of workshops: seasonal, grief, volunteer
- Trained with Bereaved Families of Ontario
- Certified Personality Dimensions leader
- Trained through Human Services Community in emotions, self-awareness and leadership, learned skills related to these teachings
- Researcher
- Published author
WHAT'S IN A NAME?
So, why it just happens?
Gifted with more than my share of creative talents, I was asked many years ago how I come up with the ideas I do. The only answer that came to me was “it just happens.”
Years later when I released my business as a writer/editor, the plan was to bring to the public any gifts I have under the name itjusthappens.
You will note I write my business name as all lower case, with no spaces … it’s all to honour the great poet - e.e.cummings.
In everything I do, you’ll see my creative and highly-trained academic brain at work. I can think linearly, but prefer to let every journey I take to flow where it wants (and yes, needs) to go – left, right, up, down, inside, outside, in circles and, my favourite, in lines that make no sense to the “right way” to do things.
Side Bar on LGB
When starting this new business, I wanted a name that said exactly what I do, within the boundaries of my creative rules of engagement. So, Loss Grief Breavement Counselling or lossgriefbreavementcounselling was set in motion. Now, I got a lot of comments about the LGB status of my business name, and thought, NO, it fits for me. And besides I am a proud supporter of all genders and sexual persuasions … LGB stays.
Writings & Other musings
LEE MARACLE, mother, grandmother, sister, daughter, granddaughter to a family of many, and professor, poet, author, critical writer, lecturer, activist, mentor and hero to academia, First Nations and Metis peoples, and one of the nicest, funniest women to ever bless Turtle Island, left on her next journey on November 11, 2021. Her loss is felt worldwide, but none more than with her children and family. The following is a poem written by Tania Carter, Lee's daughter, 4 months after her mother's passing. Tania is also a poet and auther, recently publishing book with her mother and sister, Hope Matters (2019) by Lee Maracle, Columpa Bobb and Tania Carter.
I lift my hands up and she is there looking down. The echoes of her image, her voice, her thoughts, quell my fears. I look deeper into her eyes and question my humanity. My living, my feeling dwells deep in her mind still, there in that other place, filled with energy and light that drifts in and out of darkness. Her fear of my fear of giving up, crossed my mind and now my sight, as I remember, looking back at scenes of her strength, her passion for me to do well. Not just in profession, in money but in life, in love with self-for-self. I am wishing that it was knowing, everything, so I could answer her every time she looked at me with curiosity. Now seeing, I am me and I didn't know and that's okay, not to know. I love her for all my not knowing and not doing, so I can, in her view. she sees everything. She is everywhere, up there in the tree, out in the living room, Maybe on my couch. I just do not see her. I don't say can't because, if I tried I might. She might surprise me with her answer, when I ask questions that I never thought of before. Or the ones I didn't say out loud. I am loud now, for her, to her. To one day be heard - by her and all women like her.
Books & Stories I Recommend
Animals and Our Emotional Wellbeing
Animals and Our Emotional Wellbeing
Animals and Our Emotional Wellbeing
Animals and Our Emotional Wellbeing, published by One Thousand Trees, is a collection of 20 heartwarming, personal stories about how our furry best friends impact our lives in a positive and life-giving way. Beautifully illustrated by watercolour artist Irene Oktaba.
To order your copy go to the One Thousand Trees bookstore at www.ottbookstore.com.
Angel Has Her Wings
Animals and Our Emotional Wellbeing
Animals and Our Emotional Wellbeing
Angel Has Her Wings is a story in three parts: the original, full-length version (more for adults) about the author's loss of his beloved pet, the original version retold from the perspective of a ten-year-old boy, and a counting book for younger children.
To order your copy go to the One Thousand Trees bookstore at www.ottbookstore.com.
Angel by Numbers
Animals and Our Emotional Wellbeing
Angel by Numbers
To order your copy go to the One Thousand Trees bookstore at www.ottbookstore.com.
Hope Matters
Gentle Closings: How to Say Goodby to Someone You Love
Angel by Numbers
By Lee Maracle, Columpa Bobb and Tania Carter
Gentle Closings: How to Say Goodby to Someone You Love
Gentle Closings: How to Say Goodby to Someone You Love
Gentle Closings: How to Say Goodby to Someone You Love
by Ted Menten
This book is hard to get now, but it is my number one bible and my own survival guide for understanding how children see and experience death ... along with those around them.