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
Something About Me
I founded A Place to Grieve Counselling and End of Life Education after my journey with cancer. Upon my recovery, I felt a profound calling to support those who are grieving and who are looking for meaning, connection and healing. Drawing on my personal experience and a rewarding earlier career in counselling children and youth in Vancouver, I step forward to do what I love to do most.
CCC, CT, MCATD,RMT
My holistic approach to my practice is unique. In addition to my years of counselling experience and personal journey, I integrate various counselling styles and a number of recognized complementary healing modalities. I am unwavering in my commitment to creating a safe and welcoming space for each client, regardless of their background, beliefs, or family constellations, ensuring they feel secure and comfortable.
Since 2015, I have been volunteering with Wellspring, and later, I expanded my role to become a Chronic and Transition Cancer Coach. Wellspring offers programs and services at no charge to anyone with any type of cancer at any stage in their journey.
It is an honour and a privilege to listen and provide you with a place to feel safe, understood, and supported through your unique grief journey. I deeply believe that everyone grieves differently and at different times; for this reason, I start each session wherever my client is and feels at that moment, respecting and valuing their individual journey.
My formal education includes a BA in psychology, sociology, and counselling from Simon Fraser University and Vancouver Community College; Multicultural Studies at the Cultural Intelligence Center, Bingham Farms, Michigan; ExecEd’s Masters Certificate Adult Training and Development at York University Toronto; Studies on Death, Dying and Bereavement at Wilfred Laurie University, Guelph; I studied Person-centered Counselling at Holbeck College in Leeds, UK and conducted studies in Narrative Therapy. I am studying Grief Education at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, Toronto, and I am also a Neuro Linguistic Programming Practitioner from NLP Canada.
There is nothing like integrating
my love for dogs and nature into
a Walk and Talk Session
Registered Holistic Practitioner, City of Toronto