​Stillbirth

The risk of pregnancy loss after 12 weeks is 3-4%, while a loss after 20 weeks, considered a stillbirth rather than a miscarriage, occurs in about 1 in every 160 pregnancies. While a first-trimester miscarriage may remain a private experience if the pregnancy has not been widely shared, a late-term loss often involves more public disclosure and increased awareness from others. When this type of loss follows a prenatal diagnosis and difficult decision-making, couples often struggle to explain their baby’s passing while maintaining their privacy. Common curiosity, often disguised as concern, can make women and their partners feel vulnerable to judgment and scrutiny.

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Many couples discover that 50% of stillbirths have no identifiable cause, leaving parents, particularly “Loss Moms,” with a painful sense of guilt, feeling as though there was something they could have done to prevent their baby’s death. Leaving the hospital with an empty car seat and returning to a home that was prepared to welcome a new life can be devastating. Even with traumatic memories of labor and a silent birth, many describe a surreal sense of disbelief surrounding the stillbirth.

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Counselling following a stillbirth, regardless of the underlying cause, can support families in coping with the intense emotional aftermath of losing a baby they held and knew. Therapy can also help them find meaningful rituals to honor and remember their child. Sadly, there is often a natural reluctance to talk about stillbirths, leaving women and their partners to grieve in isolation while trying to return to a life that will never be the same. Therapy aimed at working through the pain of this loss can also include young siblings and grandparents, helping to heal the entire family.

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There are many excellent resources for parents, but one podcast in particular has been especially helpful in offering personal insights into the grief of stillbirth. At a Total Loss, created by Katherine Lazar, is available wherever you listen to podcasts and can also be found on Instagram.

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Counselling Fees

My counselling fees are not covered by OHIP although many have coverage through extended health benefits plans provided by their employers. As a therapist with designation as a Registered Social Worker (RSW), many clients are eligible for reimbursement of fees. Benefits packages through companies such as Sun Life, Blue Cross, Great West Life Insurance and Greenshield Canada can provide coverage for counselling services. Please check your employee benefits package to determine your individual coverage.

Any counselling expenses not covered by third party insurance benefits can be claimed as medical expenses when you file your annual income tax return. As a Registered Social Worker, I am considered an authorized ‘medical practitioner’, allowing you to claim counselling fees as a medical expense.

Clients are not charged for telephone consultations prior to initial counselling sessions. The fee for a 60-75 minute counselling session is $135.00. Payments are generally made by etransfer to jgcounselling@rogers.com after each session. Formal receipts are provided.