Supporting adults
in their grief, loss, and life transitions
"Grief is a way of loving, love is a way of grieving.
They need each other in order to be themselves"
Stephen Jenkinson
If you or someone dear to you has been diagnosed with a terminal illness or a loved one has died, you are probably experiencing a combination of fear, anger and sadness; you may feel numb, alone and isolated. You may have difficulties coping and wonder if you will ever be happy again.
Thanatology and Grief Counselling is a form of therapy that helps the bereaved to explore their distress and confusing feelings. My sessions facilitate your grieving process, ease the fear that you are going crazy, and familiarize you with the nature and dynamics of grief. I aim to promote healing and open windows for personal growth.
My guiding principles:
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Everyone is welcome in my practice. all genders, races, cultures, sexual orientations, family constellations and relationships.
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There is no "one size fits all" approach to grieving and bereavement.
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I believe grief and bereavement impact our physical, mental, and emotional aspects of ourselves.
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And that grief is not a problem. Instead, I am here to listen, validate, encourage, and to help you integrate the loss into your life.
Getting started
How do you find a counsellor who is right for you?
I believe that the relationship between client and counsellor is the most important factor in determining the success of your therapy experience, and research backs this up too.
Therefore, I encourage you to contact me to set up a complimentary 15-minute consultation before our first counselling appointment.
Warm, compassionate, open-minded and inclusive
describe my approach and style.
I place high value on careful listening, responsiveness and professional ethics.
Malia C. Ronderos
CCC, CT, MCATD,RMT
Something About Me
I founded A Place to Grieve Counselling and Coaching after I recovered from cancer. At that time, I already had a bachelor's degree in sociology and psychology from Simon Fraser University and a counselling degree from Vancouver Community College. I also had a Master's in Adult Training and Development from the Schulich School of Business. During the early years of my profession, I counselled children and youth in inner-city schools in Vancouver and have been a counsellor for adults for over 25 years.
I returned to school to freshen up my knowledge and skills. I studied Death, Dying, and Bereavement and integrated other alternative and effective methods into my counselling practice including Narrative Therapy, Person-Centered and Mindfulness-Based Counselling. I have over 20 years of experience practicing complementary healing modalities including Neuro-Linguistic Programming, Therapeutic Touch, and Reiki.
Since 2015, I have volunteered for Wellspring, an organization that helps cancer patients, their families, and caregivers living with cancer by offering unique non-medical programs. In 2022, I become a Chronic and Transition Cancer Coach.
In my practice, I aim to offer a safe counselling space for all genders, races, cultures, family constellations and relationships. I am bilingual, speak Spanish, love nature, and have an affinity for dogs. Sometimes a pup may be invited to join us on a Walk and Talk session.
I've been told that clients trust me and feel I can help because of my open and gentle nature. It is an honour and a privilege to listen to my client's personal stories. Every individual grieves differently and at different times; for that reason, each session starts wherever each client is.
Welcome to A Place to Grieve.
Counselling & Complementary
skills
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Narrative Therapy
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Person-Centered Counselling
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Mindfulness-Based Counselling
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Emotion-focussed Therapy EFT
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Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP)
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Mindfulness to Reduce Stress
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Therapeutic Touch
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Reiki
Walk and Talk sessions
Registered Holistic Practitioner, City of Toronto