Separation & Divorce Counselling Mississauga
Individual counselling for adults who have decided to separate, are in the middle of a separation or divorce, or are co-parenting after one.
What Brings People to a Divorce Therapist
Some people come to me right after the decision is made. Maybe you were the one who ended it, or your partner told you they want out, and you're still taking in that it's really happening.
Others are already in it. One of you wanted this more than the other, and you're carrying grief, anger or guilt you didn't expect, sometimes all in the same afternoon. Telling the kids and working out who moves out can turn every conversation into a fight.
And some come after the divorce is final. The weekends without the kids are lonelier than they expected, and handoffs with their ex still end in tension.
WORKING WITH ME
Support for You Through a Separation
I'm Sherriden Brown. My background is in couples work, so I understand how two people get to this point. In these sessions it's just you, and we focus on what you need to get through it.
My job is to help you get through this with as little damage as possible, to you and to any kids in the middle of it. In person in Port Credit, or online across Ontario.
MY PROCESS
How Therapy for Separation Works
I offer this work to individuals only. Once one or both people have decided not to repair the relationship, bringing them together for deep emotional work isn't safe, so these sessions are just for you.
We focus on getting through this with as little damage as possible. That means making sense of the grief and anger so they stop running your days, and finding a way to talk with your ex about the kids and money without every exchange turning into the old argument.
We also look at the pattern you and your ex fell into, so you don't carry it into co-parenting or into your next relationship.
What The Future Could look Like
Rebuilding Your Life After Separation
You stop replaying the last year of the marriage every night. The grief still comes up, often around birthdays and holidays, and it passes instead of flattening you for days.
Handoffs get shorter and calmer. You and your ex can sort out a schedule change by text without it becoming a fight about the past, and the kids stop bracing for it. You start to get a sense of who you are on your own again, and what you want next.
THE PRACTICAL DETAILS
Seeing a Divorce Counsellor in Mississauga
When so much else is uncertain, the logistics of counselling shouldn't add to it. Here's what sessions cost, where we meet, and when I'm available.
Fees and Insurance
Each 50-minute session is $230. OHIP doesn't cover psychotherapy, but most extended health plans do, and I bill them directly.
In Person or Online
My office is in Port Credit, a few minutes' walk from the GO station. Online sessions can be easier while you're adjusting to a new parenting schedule or a move.
Session Times
Weekdays between 9 and 6. You can book online at a time that works around your parenting schedule.
Not Ready to Give Up on the Marriage?
If you both still want to try, couples counselling is the place to start. Book a free 15-minute call and we'll work out which fits.
FAQs
Questions About Counselling Through a Separation
Separating brings up questions that can be hard to ask out loud, about the kids and about what counselling can realistically do at this stage. These are the ones people ask me most often before they book.
Can we come to counselling together if we're separating?
No. I offer separation and divorce counselling to individuals only. When one or both of you has decided not to repair the relationship, bringing you together for this kind of deep emotional work isn't safe. If you need help working out parenting plans with your ex, a family mediator is usually the right person for that.
What if I'm not sure yet?
Then this page probably isn't the right place to start. If your partner is open to it, couples counselling is where you'd look at it together. If they aren't, Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy can help you work out what you want.
How do we tell the kids we're separating?
Ideally together, in simple language that fits their age, with the reassurance that it isn't their fault and that you'll both still be there. I can help you plan what to say and how to answer their questions. I work with adults, so if your children need support of their own, I can suggest a child therapist.
Why am I grieving when I'm the one who wanted to leave?
Because you're still losing something, like the life you planned and the family as it was. Grief and relief often show up together, and feeling sad doesn't mean you made the wrong choice.
What is a silent divorce?
A silent divorce is when a married couple stays together but has lost their emotional, and often physical, connection. The marriage may look fine to others while at home it has become practical and distant. I've written more about it in From a Silent Divorce to Reconnection.
Can you help with a high-conflict separation?
Yes. In our sessions I help you lower the temperature, set limits on how you communicate with your ex, and keep the kids out of the middle. If you don't feel safe with your ex, tell me on our first call and I'll help you find the right support alongside our work.