> Natalie is first and foremost an excellent listener. Something I find in her that I have not found in many other professionals is authenticity. She has helped me navigate my mom’s death by creating a place for me to exist as I am and come up with my own solutions. She has come to know me, and that wouldn’t have happened had she not been so real and by way of that, encouraged me to be the same. Losing my both my parents, but especially my mom, as a young woman made me feel as though there is no one who will care about me in this world anymore. That feeling stays a lot, but Natalie in many ways has been the closest thing to an antidote to it. If you feel like nothing will help but you don’t want to give up, call her.
Kristy Hoffman
> Dear Natalie
I am truly grateful for the ways and means with which you helped me. You made room for me on my best day and hour and gave me the opportunity to talk in a safe place and in an unhurried fashion. I appreciate your kindness, generosity and good advice. I am still examining that goal—survivor lifestyle versus some place of peace.
I feel fortunate to have met you on this journey I am trying to navigate towards. Peace.
Best wishes,
Margaret M.
> Hi Natalie, About 3 years ago after the death of my father - I had a zoom call with you. It was very helpful & made a big difference for me. I have referred you & your practice to other people as well.
Leanne M.
> After losing my partner of 10 years, I immediately knew that I would need counselling and someone who would listen as I unburdened myself of all the dark and obsessive thoughts concerning the circumstances of the death. I had lists of therapists from various sources, along with some personal recommendations, and Natalie's name came up often. Even though she was on holiday, Natalie responded and made time to meet with me immediately on Zoom. Over several months, with Natalie’s professional, warm, and compassionate guidance, I became better able to deal with my loss. Natalie shared insights that helped me see some aspects of the experience in a new light and helped me work through the overwhelming grief. At one session, she pointed out that I had smiled for the first time since we'd met. I understand now that bereavement recovery is not a straight-line continuum and that there may always be ups and downs, but I feel better equipped to deal with my grief on a day-to-day basis. Thank you, Natalie.
Laura C.
> I have known Natalie for years and have always admired her strength and her determination to turn her loss and grief into something that can help others. Therefore, when we expanded our work benefits to include mental wellness, I did not hesitate to refer Natalie's counseling services. Since then, we have only received positive feedback. She is there for our employees during some of the toughest periods of their lives in a way that we (HR) cannot be.
Betty Bah
> I had the honour of having Natalie as my supervisor while going through my Music Therapy training. I was looking for an experienced grief worker to guide me as I developed my skills for supporting people in grief as a Music Therapist. Initially, she invited me to participate in the Good Grief Central support groups, adding a music component. With her support, I was then able to provide music-based grief support groups online throughout the pandemic. It was a time when people's grief was compounded by global anxiety and isolation, and yet these groups felt safe. It was beautiful and inspiring to experience the bonding and trust that could occur in the group because of the safe boundaries Natalie created. Even as people share about the deepest pain of their lives, the group is held by her compassion and expertise. With her vast professional and life experience, believe me, there is no aspect of your grief that is too difficult or uncomfortable for Natalie. I aspire to have the strength, grace and integrity that she has as I support my own clients. I attribute a lot of my confidence in my own grief support work to the fact that I learned from the best. Thank you, Natalie!
Sarah Kennedy
> A few days after my 33 year old son suddenly died February 28th 2023, I was in shock, desperate and knew I needed help. After several attempts to reach someone, leaving voice messages, never talking to an actual person(terrible to go through when you are in shock/grief mode)I came across Natalie's number. I called and she was there! She answered and her kind voice not only soothed me but she also let me know I was not alone and she would help me get through this.. We arranged a Zoom meeting later on that same day! I am so grateful to her for being there, for her care and empathy. She knew the right things to say and helped me immensely through a very rough time. Thank you Natalie.
Teresa McAran
> Natalie, I wanted to send a personal note of deep gratitude to you for joining our OASFAA conference yesterday.
Normalizing grief is so important, and I am glad we were able to do so. I was so impressed by how vulnerable people were in the chat. Many folks were sharing recent losses, things they are navigating, feelings of guilt and shame. I did not expect such an outpouring of vulnerability, but it was met with so much tenderness and love from one another, which was beautiful to witness.
During happy hour, several members stated that they appreciated your radical candor.
Thank you so much for your time, patience, care, and attention. On behalf of the membership, we are grateful to you.✨
Bianca Marryshow
> The best gift you can give yourself is to attend Natalie Segall‘s Loss and Grief support group.
We learn to deal with triggers and understand regret and guilt. We discover how to cope better with overwhelming feelings of sadness. The groups are reassuring and comforting. Natalie Segall makes a beautiful difference in the world. I feel blessed and happy to have taken part in these heart warming sessions.
I can never thank Natalie enough for this perfect gift in my life!
Gundie Robertson
> Natalie Segall has been and is my savior. My beautiful son Marco moved to heaven at the age of 28. I didn't think I could survive the emptiness and the pain I felt. I found Natalie by searching on line. Natalie has helped me tremendously and continues to do so. She is attentive, compassionate, she understands and validates my feelings. She just gets it! She knows exactly what to say. I love her humour and how she will incorporate it in the conversation that it brings me to laugh and smile during some dark moments. I don't know how I would have been able to move forward and get to the place I am today without Natalie. Natalie always says that I do all the work and that she just gives me the tools.But if she wasn't supplying the proper tools, I wouldn't be able to move forward. Natalie is caring, loving and a remarkable human being. She has become an important and integral part of my life and I love her dearly. I would recommend Natalie to anyone who is experiencing any type of loss. Natalie is a God sent and I am so glad I found her. And I love her dog too. He often sits in our sessions. Love you Natali from Marco's mom
Maria Corsi
> You are a miracle worker.
I had been crying and shaking for three days until I spoke to you.
I think what helped me most is when you said that if I had no common interests with my sister, even though I discovered that she was a remarkable person, I probably would not have been spending that much more time with her anyways.
I spoke to many good friends who were unable to help me even though they wanted to. You knew exactly what to say.
Now I respect you as an incredible therapist...
F.S.
> Hi Natalie,
You were absolutely fantastic!
Everyone loved your beautiful presentation!
It was exactly what we all needed.
You’re the best!
With greatest gratitude,
G.R.
> Hi Natalie,
I just wanted to thank you from the bottom of my heart for our session today. It was cathartic and I feel like I can breathe for the 1st time in a week. The work that you do and the services that you offer are priceless and something our world needs more of! I will surely recommend you to everyone I know who's going through a rough time.
I will do the work you recommended. I am sure I will reach out to you again in the near future.
All the best,
Franco
> love you so much natalie. You have saved my life and still saving it..you are amazing..thank you.💜💜💜💜💜💜
D.F.
> Dear Natalie,
Thank you for your wonderful help in healing my losses.
K.K.
> Natalie is truly an incredible counsellor. She helped me, and continues to help me, through a very dark time after an unimaginable loss. She is never farther than a phone call away and has been there for me through many hard days. She truly loves what she does and it shows in the personalized care she provides every one of her patients. I would recommend her to any one who is unlucky enough to join the grief club, she really helps you find joy along side your grief. Thank you, Natalie!
Megan Mastroberadino
> I recently lost my 26 year old daughter unexpectedly. My life was turned upside down within seconds. I was in immense pain.
I started therapy with Natalie Segall soon after my tragic loss.
If it was not for Natalie, I would not have had the strength to get out of bed. She gave me the space and guidance to navigate through this journey. She validates my feeling and gently guides me to move forward.
I have told Natalie many stories of my beautiful daughter. She listens so attentively and I feel she knows and loves my daughter.
Natalie is an incredible therapist. Her compassion for my loss has been an immense help to me.
Antoinette Romano
> Natalie is a really caring and warm person, and she is an expert when it comes to grief counselling. She listens carefully and attentively, asks insightful questions, and is great at proposing excellent tools and strategies to help me deal with my grief. Her ongoing support has gotten me through a very difficult time in my life. I cannot recommend Natalie highly enough!
Christopher P
> Dear Natalie,
I am truly grateful for the ways and means with which you helped me. You made room for me on my best day and hour and gave me the opportunity to talk in a safe place and an unhurried fashion. I appreciate your kindness, generosity, and good advice. I am still examining that goal—survivor lifestyle versus some place of peace.
I feel fortunate to have met you on this journey I am trying to navigate towards ? peace?
Best wishes,
Margaret M.
> Hi Natalie,
I just wanted to thank you for today’s session. Afterwards, I gave myself 15 minutes before I jumped back into work to reflect on what we discussed. I have to say I felt like a small weight had been lifted off my shoulders. It’s the most at peace I’ve felt since my mom passed away.
T.P.
> I first met Natalie in the spring of 2018, a few months after my mother passed away. This was a very difficult time for me and I did not know where to turn, I found Natalie through her website and I am so grateful that I found her.
She is compassionate, empathetic, so very patient and a very good listener. She was a godsend to me and still is.
I have attended workshops on dealing with grief here in Kahnawake given by Natalie and have referred close friends and family to her as I feel she is the best person to speak to when you are dealing with grief through loss of a loved one or when dealing with trauma.
Niawen
Janice Patton
> Happy holidays, Natalie.
I wanted to thank you for the session we had.
You really helped me a lot during a difficult and anxiety-filled time. You are a great counselor, and I want to thank you for helping me, and for everything you do for so many people. Not many people are able to, or are willing to, do what you do.
All the very best,
Susan
> Natalie has been a knowledgeable and supportive grief counselor at the most difficult time of my life. I lost my daughter suddenly and the pain was unbearable. But I found my way with her wisdom and kindness. During this time I saw eight therapists and after two years, I see only Natalie even though I have workplace benefits.
Thank you Natalie.
Julie Wong
> My father passed away this past April & the circumstances surrounding his time spent in hospice in our family home & then his death - were not only extremely sad for our family, but some of us were further traumatized by the behaviour of a few family members during that time as well. I have had a really difficult time trying to deal with my anger about this & the advice given - from seemingly everywhere - that I need to forgive - or I will be the one to suffer in the long run… That advice only made me more mad. I researched grief counselling & Montreal grief counsellors & found Natalie Segall. Not knowing what to expect, but hoping for some sound advice - I booked a zoom session with her last week. All I can say is that I will be forever grateful to Natalie for her compassionate, supportive, (sometimes funny!), straightforward, & practical advice. I had so many aha moments during our talk & was able to see things from a perspective that had not occurred to me before. Things just started to make sense to me about how I could continue to protect my boundaries, & support & care for myself while grieving for my father. But my biggest takeaway from the hour spent with Natalie - was an overwhelming sense of peace & calm that I experienced while listening and speaking with her. I haven’t really had that since my dad died - so this was a blessing to me. So, if there is anyone in need of a knowledgeable, kind & empathetic soul to help guide them through their time of grief - I highly recommend you get in touch with Natalie. You won’t be sorry. Thank you again Natalie.
Leanne Morin
> Too bad google only has 5 stars… I am so thankful to have met with Natalie during the most difficult time of my life.. thank you Natalie for helping my sister and I.
Filia Kavathas
> You have changed my life and you are truly amazing.
I was so grateful to attend Natalie's online six week support group in the Spring after the loss of my father a few months prior. Natalie's accepting and open demeanor as well as the words she speaks have a way of honoring your own grief journey. While everyone in the group had a unique experience of their grief, the discussion and witnessing of these lived journeys provided a commonality that you know that you are not alone in the process. I wished a resource like Natalie had existed 30 years prior when my mother passed. How is it that we are still so challenged in our culture to have safe places to discuss our experiences of death with loved ones? Thank goodness for Natalie's ability to provide sheltering and a safe place to share. I would highly recommend this service to anyone I know going through a grief process.
Pauline Beharry
> Meeting Natalie has been incredibly helpful.
I first consulted her 2 years after the death of my husband.
Recently I saw her again to deal with issues about the aging process and the impact of grief accompanying these changes.
She has the wonderful ability to normalize the mourning process and accept it as part of our human existence.
Working with Natalie has made me able to regain joy in my life!
Thank you Natalie
Myra Fogelrubin
> Due to a personal family loss and a business closure, within 2 months apart. I had trouble seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, until I met Natalie. It has changed me for the better and I am so happy that we connected. She is calm, collected, and definitely a true professional. I definitely recommend for anyone who has lost someone.
Antoine Zammit
> I attended grief counselling sessions with Natalie for nine months after losing my husband and son within five weeks of one another. Through her compassionate guidance, I was able to begin the task of making sense of a world that had been upended. Natalie's talent, wisdom, and experience helped me work through feelings of remorse, guilt, loss, and anger. When I first met Natalie, I felt alone. Although I was good at keeping up outward appearances, I was able to explore my feelings with her help. She asked just the right questions and gave me helpful feedback so I could continue doing all the essential work outside of counselling. I always looked forward to my sessions with Natalie. Even though I'm leaving the area, I am leaving as a much healthier individual due to her help. Natalie is a treasure.
Carol L
> My experience with her has been amazing, eye opening and extremely helpful. She has helped me grow and get through a terrible time after losing my mother suddenly. Her counselling and help and support have been stellar. Anyone that is in need to overcome various challenges in their life And need counselling and support, I would recommend her 1 million times over!!! I am grateful for her !!
Deb Lallouz
> Natalie has been such a great source of support during an exceptionally challenging time in my life. She continues to validate everything I do in terms of dealing with my young children during our time of grief. She offers wonderful support groups and is always available when I need to book a session. I can’t praise her enough for her work.
Jessica Sinyor
> I actually found Natalie when I was qoogling through the web looking for grief counsellors ! I found her ! She helped me so much after my mom died in 2018 , I don’t know what I would have done without her ❤️She is such an attentive listener with so much compassion! I’d go to her in a heart beat .. if I ever needed her again ! I have also referred her to some family members.
J P
> I met Natalie two and a half years ago when I had just lost my son. The shock and the grief cannot be put into words. I looked up Natalie but I was not ready to book an appointment until she said "Whomever you choose, make sure they are skilled in what you are experiencing". I knew then that she was the one. She is direct, honest, knowledgable, friendly and professional, all at the same time. I don't know how I would be today had it not been for the support and help provided by Natalie. I admire and respect her.
Sonia Cholakian
> Very professional and thorough. She has helped me work through some very heavy issues in a short amount of time. Kind and free-spirited. An excellent resource.
Jason Nieczyporowski
> Natalie,
It is important to have a place to turn to in times of distress. We need more people like you who care and want to do good for the community. God bless you in your goals.
With much love,
Christine
> Natalie,
I want to thank you for your incredible skills and understanding which really helped me when the roadblocks of life got in my way.
I am so very grateful for your wisdom.
Thanks so much!
Myra
> I am so grateful for being part of a 6-session grief and loss support group this May and June, run free-of-charge by the non-profit Good Grief Central, founded by thanatologist Natalie Segall:
https://www.goodgriefcentral.com/
I highly recommend her work and these supportive sessions as they start again in the fall. Also, for donating to help groups like this be companions and guides as people navigate the land of grief.
It was the 40th anniversary of my mother's death in May, and it was an important time to check in about that loss and its ongoing impact - it was healing and freeing. Thank you to Natalie and all those who were in the group with me.
Meg Roberts
> I was very grateful that I was able to connect with Natalie Segall, to be on Zoom, in her Grieving Support
Group, on the recent loss of my dear husband.
I want to acknowledge Natalie, with her advice and guidance, her sessions helped me cope with my loss.
Listening to Natalie's feedback with the other group members, was comforting.
Thanks Natalie, for your support
Bluma M.
> I highly recommend Good Grief Central's six week support group facilitated by Natalie. It was incredibly validating to be in the company of others also experiencing profound loss. It reminded that what I am going through is neither outside the human condition nor wrong. Thanks to Natalie's wise counsel, skilful facilitation; her willingness to share from her own experiential encounters with loss, I felt so much less alone. The depth of her authenticity, integrity and genuine care for others is humbling to witness. I wish dearly loved ones didn't have to pass but if so--rather, and it is painful to write this--when so--what gifting to know that Good Grief Central and Natalie are there. Thank you Natalie and Good Grief Central for your generosity, kindness, professionalism and wise stewardship. I think of you as a safe harbour I can return to just by remembering what was shared in these past sessions. And, no longer shy to join another group session or ask for individualized help when the waters of grief become too much! I cannot express my gratitude enough. Thank you!
S.B.
>…I would like to say thank you. You were such an amazing presenter. You were just very real about everything you said and your confidence highlighted how passionate you are about your work. I loved it and I think the rest of our staff did as well. Your strength will continue to inspire me.
'Anonymous'
> Thank you Natalie for helping and guiding me through the process in understanding and accepting my losses. With your help I have found an inner peace.
Anna O.
>"FIVE OUT OF FIVE STARS"
Donna Bertie
> I would highly recommend Natalie to anyone who needs a grief councillor! I was very lost after the death of my son Anthony, and had stumbled upon her name as a councillor who specializes in grief. I had no idea what to expect upon booking my first of many sessions. Within minutes of meeting Natalie, I knew I was in excellent hands. Natalie is a wonderful, intelligent, warm, and charismatic person, and I immediately felt at home with her in this most horrific time of my life. The hour flew by every session, and if I could have booked her twice or three times a week, I would have. I cannot imagine how I could have survived the four months since Anthony died, without seeing her every week and then later every other week. I felt a sense of relief and gratitude after each session. She gave me helpful tips and tools to use to guide me through difficult times and I will be forever grateful that I was her patient. Natalie has such a unique way of mixing professionalism with a warmth that makes you never want the hour to be over! I am forever grateful that I chose her to be my grief councillor.
Sylvain Renaud
> J'ai eu la chance de rencontrer Natalie à un moment très critique dans ma vie. La douleur que l'on ressent est tellement intense que l'on croit que l'on s'en sortira jamais!
De par son écoute sans jugement, ses conseils et exercices, Natalie nous aide durant cette pénible traversée. Elle comprend très bien où on est situé dans notre deuil, le parcours qu'on doit faire et elle s'adapte très bien à nos besoins et elle suit et respecte notre rythme.
Un deuil c'est très personnel et bien que celui-ci nous accompagne toute la vie, les conseils de Natalie m'ont aidé à comprendre et à l'accepter mais surtout, de me donner la force de continuer et c'est pour cela que je lui suis reconnaissante.
Je n'hésite pas à recommander ses services si vous avez besoin d'aide professionnelle. Natalie offre une touche très personnalisée qui la différentie et qui font d'elle une spécialiste de l'accompagnement durant le deuil.
(Translated by Google)
I had the chance to meet Natalie at a very critical time in my life. The pain you feel is so intense that you think you'll never get away!
By listening without judgment, advice and exercises, Natalie helps us during this painful journey. She understands very well where we are located in our mourning, the path we must take and she adapts very well to our needs and she follows and respects our pace.
A mourning is very personal and although it accompanies us all the life, the advice of Natalie helped me to understand and to accept it but especially, to give me the strength to continue and it is for that that I am grateful to him.
I do not hesitate to recommend his services if you need professional help. Natalie offers a very personal touch that differentiates her and makes her a specialist in bereavement counseling.
Linda G
> After losing my beloved dog, sister and best friend last year, it was a huge help to meet with Natalie. From the very first moment I met her, she provided a non-judgemental and safe environment for me to express myself. It was like meeting up with an old friend who gets what you are saying No need to mask anything-the good, bad or the ugly.
Natalie helped me understand the very complicated circumstances of alcohol addiction/abuse and co-dependency. This enabled me to come to terms with the choices my sister made and her shocking, awful death.
Natalie also helped me understand the cancer journey my best friend undertook when many things did not make any sense to me.
I needed to understand "the whys" in both cases as well that the "should haves, could haves, and would haves" would not have changed anything.
After each meeting, I left feeling many pounds lighter as well as enlightened. A healthy healing was able to take hold and peace was slowly taking the place of sorrow, anger and resentment.
Natalie has my very sincere and deep gratitude.
'Penny Lane'
> Thank you Natalie for helping and guiding me through the process in understanding and accepting my losses. With your help I have found an inner peace.
Anna Olivaro
> I highly recommend Natalie Segall for grief and loss therapy and counselling. Natalie is very knowledgeable, insightful, understanding, supportive and compassionate. She is warm and friendly, and at the same time very professional. Natalie is very experienced in her field, and possesses all the the best and necessary qualities to be a really great grief and loss therapist. I made a lot of progress with a situation that I had been stuck in for a long time. I feel very lucky that I found Natalie to help me.
Thank you Natalie.
Susan Issenman
> Natalie was a tremendous help to me after the death of my partner. She is very good at what she does, and I highly recommend her. Thank you Natalie!
H.R.
> I have had the privilege of working with Natalie Segall as a former colleague, former client and as a volunteer. I worked with Natalie at the Royal Victoria Hospital, where we co-facilitated a Coping Skills workshop for patients with cancer. During this time, I was a university student completing my 8-month stage. Natalie was my mentor, and I often sought her counselling in all areas relating to loss and grief.
Raquel F
> I will be forever grateful to Natalie for her support and kindness at a time I was so distraught at the loss of my family.
So overcome by grief, this wonderful person reached out and pulled me thru that period of darkness.
I am so indebted for her help in how to voice my feelings, pain, fears and constantly offering a "SAFE" place I could go to. Helping me find my way back again.
There is no better individual who understands loss/grief more than Natalie. I have referred many clients to her and will continue to do so.
Thank you Natalie for sharing my journey. You exemplify that of a true professional with an added touch of much compassion, tenderness and solicitude for your clients
Barbara Salhany
> I feel extremely fortunate and blessed to have met Natalie Segall. At a time in my life when I was overcome and paralized in my grief, this wonderful human being used her gifts of compassion, humanity and expertise to guide and help in my healing.
Natalie's professionalism is absolute. Sometimes in life we meet people who leave a beautiful positive imprint in our life, and for me Natalie has done that.
Maura Corrigan
> When I lived in Montreal, being introduced to Natalie was the single most important gift I ever received from a close friend. After countless visits with a variety of specialists, no one had been able to help me cope with my grief issues. I finally met with Natalie, and her unique approach allowed me to get through a very difficult time in my life, and for this I will be forever grateful to her. Natalie’s sessions rose above and beyond my expectations - not only did they provide healing, but she empowered me with the necessary tools to help me cope with my grief and move forward in my life. Natalie’s practice is very professional, but she creates an environment that is warm and inviting. She is extremely gifted, knowledgeable, and professional, and also highly empathetic. Thanks to Natalie, I got my life back!
Dale Kearney
> Natalie was able to provide the guidance and support I so desperately needed during a very difficult and challenging period in my life when I was devastated by two deaths occurring within weeks of each other. She has a unique ability to make one feel completely safe, thus opening your heart and mind to accepting what is, and constructively moving forward. Thank you Natalie! You are a very warm, kind, empathetic soul, and most importantly a wonderful healer; I feel very blessed to have crossed paths with you.
Camilla G
> A friend recommended Natalie to me after I had suffered an overwhelming loss. I found Natalie to be highly skilled and compassionate –a very experienced and seasoned professional. I felt very comfortable with her, and she was exceedingly generous in terms of time and accessibility. Due to her careful scheduling, sessions with Natalie are never 50 minutes...they normally run a full hour. I was always impressed by the continuity from session to session, which allowed me to make significant visit-to-visit progress in my grief journey. Thank you for being there, Natalie!
Melanie M
> Natalie was able to help me during the most difficult period of my life, following the death of my husband after a long illness. She exudes professionalism combined with a tremendous warmth, and is wonderfully sensitive and supportive. Natalie provides an open and honest atmosphere, free of judgement, and is always fully engaged – exceptionally understanding and compassionate. The coping skills Natalie provided have been consistently helpful, and have proved to be indispensable tools in helping me come to terms with my grief issues. Thanks to Natalie, I have finally been able to move forward in my life, after a long period of debilitating grief, apathy, and indecision. Natalie is extremely knowledgeable, kind, and sincere, and it is my pleasure to recommend her services unreservedly.
Eliana S
>...I began seeing Natalie after suffering an overwhelming personal loss, and quickly came to appreciate her warm, empathic, gentle – yet extremely insightful – approach. At a very difficult time, Natalie never pushed too hard, but honoured my pace, while at the same time nudging me towards new insights about myself, and offering acceptance and validation of what I was experiencing in my grief journey. Natalie also suggested very valuable tools and exercises for me to use, and these proved highly effective. Thank you so much, Natalie - I don’t know what I would have done without you. I would readily seek Natalie out again, should my life circumstances (unfortunately) make this necessary. In the meantime, I would not hesitate to recommend Natalie’s services to anyone struggling with grief and loss. Her professionalism, compassion, and personal integrity are of the highest order.
R.M. Cummings
>...My original review mainly concerned Natalie’s excellent book, Demystifying Death and Dying in the Classroom through the Creative Arts...I now especially want to call attention to my experience with Natalie’s expertise as a grief counsellor. I feel that Natalie literally saved my life. When I was seven years old, my 48-year-old father died of a heart attack on a Sunday, and I was back in school the next day, believing that the onus was on me to pretend that nothing of any importance had happened. From that blustery Sunday afternoon in March onwards, nobody – my mother, neighbors, teachers, Anglican minister – spoke to me about this traumatic event. Sure, a few people might have bandied about some guarded euphemisms or ‘fairy tales’, but nothing more. Nor did I attend the funeral. Darkness had befallen me, and cast a pall over my life, but I had to ‘keep up appearances’, and appear to be (for my mother’s benefit) the rosy-cheeked boy who felt no pain. In later years, I grappled with alienation, corrosive anger, substance abuse, severe depression, suicidal thoughts, and much dangerous and impulsive behaviour. Such were the consequences for me of traumatic childhood loss of a parent and unaddressed grief. At just short of the age of 50, I was saved through Natalie Segall’s compassionate, insightful, and highly professional grief counselling. Natalie also suggested that I consult my physician regarding the possibility of going on an anti-depressant. My doctor concurred with Natalie, and I will be taking anti-depressants for the foreseeable future. If only a book like Natalie Segall’s, ‘Demystifying Death and Dying In The Classroom through The Creative Arts’ had been available to teachers when I was seven! This book is an eloquent and meticulously researched invitation to the teaching profession to bring age-appropriate death education into their classrooms. It is my fervent hope that educators will embrace and act upon the concepts found in Natalie’s book. My own early experience with the traumatic loss of a parent has given me a hard-won (yet certainly unsought) understanding of this area, so I feel qualified to endorse Natalie Segall’s book whole-heartedly and unreservedly.
Shawn in Montreal
>...I certainly did my due diligence before consulting Natalie, combing through her website, reading her articles, and looking into the wonderful work she does as coordinator of the Good Grief Workshops. One particular piece on her website I found very helpful, ‘Why Consult a Grief Counsellor?’ In fact, I feel the first paragraph is noteworthy enough to quote here: “It is important to understand that a grief counsellor is different from a social worker, psychologist, psychotherapist, or any other type of counsellor or therapist. A grief counsellor specializes in – and has devoted years of study and training to - thanatology, which is the intensive study of loss, grief, bereavement, mourning, death, dying, and palliative care.” By the time a work colleague had recommended Natalie to me, I had already run the gamut of psychologists and psychotherapists, all to no avail. So I came to Natalie encumbered by a lot of grief baggage, hopeful, but with my expectations having been dashed before by ‘professionals’ who truly lacked insight and knowledge in the area of grief and loss. Fast forward to the present: at this point, I have been seeing Natalie for a couple of months. I cannot speak too highly of Natalie’s expertise, compassion, and integrity. With Natalie’s help, I have gained insight into my grief, learned coping strategies, and am finally moving forward in my life, having come unstuck from my place of despair, passivity, and indifference.
Carol L
> As a long-time educator, I am very familiar with the wonderful work done by Natalie Segall and her dedicated volunteers at the Good Grief Workshops. I recently suggested to a grieving family that they attend a Good Grief Workshop. Afterwards, when I enquired how things had gone, the child and her parents couldn’t stop talking about what a positive experience it had been, and how much the Workshop had helped them!
Sarah P
> Natalie helped me move forward with my life when I felt paralyzed by grief. She is exceptionally good at what she does.
Brenda B
> As a health care professional working in social services almost 20 years with Children, Adolescents and adults with disabilities I simply can't speak highly enough of what a valuable resource Natalie is to persons in need of grief support and counseling. Having taken over when Dawn Cruchet (founder of the Good Grief Workshops) retired, Natalie has worked tirelessly to ‘take things to the next level.’ She has brought in many new volunteers, and the latest Workshop had the biggest enrolment ever! Natalie’s team spirit, professionalism, and compassion are greatly appreciated by all of us volunteers. Kudos, Natalie!
Daniel Haque
> I am a volunteer with the Good Grief Workshops for Children and Adolescents which Natalie coordinates. At each Workshop, I experience the spirit of compassion and understanding that emanates from Natalie and her team. It is truly wonderful to witness the positive transformation – so evident in their faces and body language - that occurs amongst parents and their children over the course of the Workshop. I am proud to be involved, even in a very small way, with an endeavour that makes such a truly significant difference in the lives of those who have experienced loss.
John K
> Natalie helped me to address the grief issues that I had been dealing with for a long time. She is extremely knowledgeable, compassionate, and very good at what she does. I feel very comfortable with Natalie, and would highly recommend her.
M. Richardson
> Nat, so proud of you for all the great service you provide.
Betty Bah
Kristy Hoffman
> Dear Natalie
I am truly grateful for the ways and means with which you helped me. You made room for me on my best day and hour and gave me the opportunity to talk in a safe place and in an unhurried fashion. I appreciate your kindness, generosity and good advice. I am still examining that goal—survivor lifestyle versus some place of peace.
I feel fortunate to have met you on this journey I am trying to navigate towards. Peace.
Best wishes,
Margaret M.
> Hi Natalie, About 3 years ago after the death of my father - I had a zoom call with you. It was very helpful & made a big difference for me. I have referred you & your practice to other people as well.
Leanne M.
> After losing my partner of 10 years, I immediately knew that I would need counselling and someone who would listen as I unburdened myself of all the dark and obsessive thoughts concerning the circumstances of the death. I had lists of therapists from various sources, along with some personal recommendations, and Natalie's name came up often. Even though she was on holiday, Natalie responded and made time to meet with me immediately on Zoom. Over several months, with Natalie’s professional, warm, and compassionate guidance, I became better able to deal with my loss. Natalie shared insights that helped me see some aspects of the experience in a new light and helped me work through the overwhelming grief. At one session, she pointed out that I had smiled for the first time since we'd met. I understand now that bereavement recovery is not a straight-line continuum and that there may always be ups and downs, but I feel better equipped to deal with my grief on a day-to-day basis. Thank you, Natalie.
Laura C.
> I have known Natalie for years and have always admired her strength and her determination to turn her loss and grief into something that can help others. Therefore, when we expanded our work benefits to include mental wellness, I did not hesitate to refer Natalie's counseling services. Since then, we have only received positive feedback. She is there for our employees during some of the toughest periods of their lives in a way that we (HR) cannot be.
Betty Bah
> I had the honour of having Natalie as my supervisor while going through my Music Therapy training. I was looking for an experienced grief worker to guide me as I developed my skills for supporting people in grief as a Music Therapist. Initially, she invited me to participate in the Good Grief Central support groups, adding a music component. With her support, I was then able to provide music-based grief support groups online throughout the pandemic. It was a time when people's grief was compounded by global anxiety and isolation, and yet these groups felt safe. It was beautiful and inspiring to experience the bonding and trust that could occur in the group because of the safe boundaries Natalie created. Even as people share about the deepest pain of their lives, the group is held by her compassion and expertise. With her vast professional and life experience, believe me, there is no aspect of your grief that is too difficult or uncomfortable for Natalie. I aspire to have the strength, grace and integrity that she has as I support my own clients. I attribute a lot of my confidence in my own grief support work to the fact that I learned from the best. Thank you, Natalie!
Sarah Kennedy
> A few days after my 33 year old son suddenly died February 28th 2023, I was in shock, desperate and knew I needed help. After several attempts to reach someone, leaving voice messages, never talking to an actual person(terrible to go through when you are in shock/grief mode)I came across Natalie's number. I called and she was there! She answered and her kind voice not only soothed me but she also let me know I was not alone and she would help me get through this.. We arranged a Zoom meeting later on that same day! I am so grateful to her for being there, for her care and empathy. She knew the right things to say and helped me immensely through a very rough time. Thank you Natalie.
Teresa McAran
> Natalie, I wanted to send a personal note of deep gratitude to you for joining our OASFAA conference yesterday.
Normalizing grief is so important, and I am glad we were able to do so. I was so impressed by how vulnerable people were in the chat. Many folks were sharing recent losses, things they are navigating, feelings of guilt and shame. I did not expect such an outpouring of vulnerability, but it was met with so much tenderness and love from one another, which was beautiful to witness.
During happy hour, several members stated that they appreciated your radical candor.
Thank you so much for your time, patience, care, and attention. On behalf of the membership, we are grateful to you.✨
Bianca Marryshow
> The best gift you can give yourself is to attend Natalie Segall‘s Loss and Grief support group.
We learn to deal with triggers and understand regret and guilt. We discover how to cope better with overwhelming feelings of sadness. The groups are reassuring and comforting. Natalie Segall makes a beautiful difference in the world. I feel blessed and happy to have taken part in these heart warming sessions.
I can never thank Natalie enough for this perfect gift in my life!
Gundie Robertson
> Natalie Segall has been and is my savior. My beautiful son Marco moved to heaven at the age of 28. I didn't think I could survive the emptiness and the pain I felt. I found Natalie by searching on line. Natalie has helped me tremendously and continues to do so. She is attentive, compassionate, she understands and validates my feelings. She just gets it! She knows exactly what to say. I love her humour and how she will incorporate it in the conversation that it brings me to laugh and smile during some dark moments. I don't know how I would have been able to move forward and get to the place I am today without Natalie. Natalie always says that I do all the work and that she just gives me the tools.But if she wasn't supplying the proper tools, I wouldn't be able to move forward. Natalie is caring, loving and a remarkable human being. She has become an important and integral part of my life and I love her dearly. I would recommend Natalie to anyone who is experiencing any type of loss. Natalie is a God sent and I am so glad I found her. And I love her dog too. He often sits in our sessions. Love you Natali from Marco's mom
Maria Corsi
> You are a miracle worker.
I had been crying and shaking for three days until I spoke to you.
I think what helped me most is when you said that if I had no common interests with my sister, even though I discovered that she was a remarkable person, I probably would not have been spending that much more time with her anyways.
I spoke to many good friends who were unable to help me even though they wanted to. You knew exactly what to say.
Now I respect you as an incredible therapist...
F.S.
> Hi Natalie,
You were absolutely fantastic!
Everyone loved your beautiful presentation!
It was exactly what we all needed.
You’re the best!
With greatest gratitude,
G.R.
> Hi Natalie,
I just wanted to thank you from the bottom of my heart for our session today. It was cathartic and I feel like I can breathe for the 1st time in a week. The work that you do and the services that you offer are priceless and something our world needs more of! I will surely recommend you to everyone I know who's going through a rough time.
I will do the work you recommended. I am sure I will reach out to you again in the near future.
All the best,
Franco
> love you so much natalie. You have saved my life and still saving it..you are amazing..thank you.💜💜💜💜💜💜
D.F.
> Dear Natalie,
Thank you for your wonderful help in healing my losses.
K.K.
> Natalie is truly an incredible counsellor. She helped me, and continues to help me, through a very dark time after an unimaginable loss. She is never farther than a phone call away and has been there for me through many hard days. She truly loves what she does and it shows in the personalized care she provides every one of her patients. I would recommend her to any one who is unlucky enough to join the grief club, she really helps you find joy along side your grief. Thank you, Natalie!
Megan Mastroberadino
> I recently lost my 26 year old daughter unexpectedly. My life was turned upside down within seconds. I was in immense pain.
I started therapy with Natalie Segall soon after my tragic loss.
If it was not for Natalie, I would not have had the strength to get out of bed. She gave me the space and guidance to navigate through this journey. She validates my feeling and gently guides me to move forward.
I have told Natalie many stories of my beautiful daughter. She listens so attentively and I feel she knows and loves my daughter.
Natalie is an incredible therapist. Her compassion for my loss has been an immense help to me.
Antoinette Romano
> Natalie is a really caring and warm person, and she is an expert when it comes to grief counselling. She listens carefully and attentively, asks insightful questions, and is great at proposing excellent tools and strategies to help me deal with my grief. Her ongoing support has gotten me through a very difficult time in my life. I cannot recommend Natalie highly enough!
Christopher P
> Dear Natalie,
I am truly grateful for the ways and means with which you helped me. You made room for me on my best day and hour and gave me the opportunity to talk in a safe place and an unhurried fashion. I appreciate your kindness, generosity, and good advice. I am still examining that goal—survivor lifestyle versus some place of peace.
I feel fortunate to have met you on this journey I am trying to navigate towards ? peace?
Best wishes,
Margaret M.
> Hi Natalie,
I just wanted to thank you for today’s session. Afterwards, I gave myself 15 minutes before I jumped back into work to reflect on what we discussed. I have to say I felt like a small weight had been lifted off my shoulders. It’s the most at peace I’ve felt since my mom passed away.
T.P.
> I first met Natalie in the spring of 2018, a few months after my mother passed away. This was a very difficult time for me and I did not know where to turn, I found Natalie through her website and I am so grateful that I found her.
She is compassionate, empathetic, so very patient and a very good listener. She was a godsend to me and still is.
I have attended workshops on dealing with grief here in Kahnawake given by Natalie and have referred close friends and family to her as I feel she is the best person to speak to when you are dealing with grief through loss of a loved one or when dealing with trauma.
Niawen
Janice Patton
> Happy holidays, Natalie.
I wanted to thank you for the session we had.
You really helped me a lot during a difficult and anxiety-filled time. You are a great counselor, and I want to thank you for helping me, and for everything you do for so many people. Not many people are able to, or are willing to, do what you do.
All the very best,
Susan
> Natalie has been a knowledgeable and supportive grief counselor at the most difficult time of my life. I lost my daughter suddenly and the pain was unbearable. But I found my way with her wisdom and kindness. During this time I saw eight therapists and after two years, I see only Natalie even though I have workplace benefits.
Thank you Natalie.
Julie Wong
> My father passed away this past April & the circumstances surrounding his time spent in hospice in our family home & then his death - were not only extremely sad for our family, but some of us were further traumatized by the behaviour of a few family members during that time as well. I have had a really difficult time trying to deal with my anger about this & the advice given - from seemingly everywhere - that I need to forgive - or I will be the one to suffer in the long run… That advice only made me more mad. I researched grief counselling & Montreal grief counsellors & found Natalie Segall. Not knowing what to expect, but hoping for some sound advice - I booked a zoom session with her last week. All I can say is that I will be forever grateful to Natalie for her compassionate, supportive, (sometimes funny!), straightforward, & practical advice. I had so many aha moments during our talk & was able to see things from a perspective that had not occurred to me before. Things just started to make sense to me about how I could continue to protect my boundaries, & support & care for myself while grieving for my father. But my biggest takeaway from the hour spent with Natalie - was an overwhelming sense of peace & calm that I experienced while listening and speaking with her. I haven’t really had that since my dad died - so this was a blessing to me. So, if there is anyone in need of a knowledgeable, kind & empathetic soul to help guide them through their time of grief - I highly recommend you get in touch with Natalie. You won’t be sorry. Thank you again Natalie.
Leanne Morin
> Too bad google only has 5 stars… I am so thankful to have met with Natalie during the most difficult time of my life.. thank you Natalie for helping my sister and I.
Filia Kavathas
> You have changed my life and you are truly amazing.
I was so grateful to attend Natalie's online six week support group in the Spring after the loss of my father a few months prior. Natalie's accepting and open demeanor as well as the words she speaks have a way of honoring your own grief journey. While everyone in the group had a unique experience of their grief, the discussion and witnessing of these lived journeys provided a commonality that you know that you are not alone in the process. I wished a resource like Natalie had existed 30 years prior when my mother passed. How is it that we are still so challenged in our culture to have safe places to discuss our experiences of death with loved ones? Thank goodness for Natalie's ability to provide sheltering and a safe place to share. I would highly recommend this service to anyone I know going through a grief process.
Pauline Beharry
> Meeting Natalie has been incredibly helpful.
I first consulted her 2 years after the death of my husband.
Recently I saw her again to deal with issues about the aging process and the impact of grief accompanying these changes.
She has the wonderful ability to normalize the mourning process and accept it as part of our human existence.
Working with Natalie has made me able to regain joy in my life!
Thank you Natalie
Myra Fogelrubin
> Due to a personal family loss and a business closure, within 2 months apart. I had trouble seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, until I met Natalie. It has changed me for the better and I am so happy that we connected. She is calm, collected, and definitely a true professional. I definitely recommend for anyone who has lost someone.
Antoine Zammit
> I attended grief counselling sessions with Natalie for nine months after losing my husband and son within five weeks of one another. Through her compassionate guidance, I was able to begin the task of making sense of a world that had been upended. Natalie's talent, wisdom, and experience helped me work through feelings of remorse, guilt, loss, and anger. When I first met Natalie, I felt alone. Although I was good at keeping up outward appearances, I was able to explore my feelings with her help. She asked just the right questions and gave me helpful feedback so I could continue doing all the essential work outside of counselling. I always looked forward to my sessions with Natalie. Even though I'm leaving the area, I am leaving as a much healthier individual due to her help. Natalie is a treasure.
Carol L
> My experience with her has been amazing, eye opening and extremely helpful. She has helped me grow and get through a terrible time after losing my mother suddenly. Her counselling and help and support have been stellar. Anyone that is in need to overcome various challenges in their life And need counselling and support, I would recommend her 1 million times over!!! I am grateful for her !!
Deb Lallouz
> Natalie has been such a great source of support during an exceptionally challenging time in my life. She continues to validate everything I do in terms of dealing with my young children during our time of grief. She offers wonderful support groups and is always available when I need to book a session. I can’t praise her enough for her work.
Jessica Sinyor
> I actually found Natalie when I was qoogling through the web looking for grief counsellors ! I found her ! She helped me so much after my mom died in 2018 , I don’t know what I would have done without her ❤️She is such an attentive listener with so much compassion! I’d go to her in a heart beat .. if I ever needed her again ! I have also referred her to some family members.
J P
> I met Natalie two and a half years ago when I had just lost my son. The shock and the grief cannot be put into words. I looked up Natalie but I was not ready to book an appointment until she said "Whomever you choose, make sure they are skilled in what you are experiencing". I knew then that she was the one. She is direct, honest, knowledgable, friendly and professional, all at the same time. I don't know how I would be today had it not been for the support and help provided by Natalie. I admire and respect her.
Sonia Cholakian
> Very professional and thorough. She has helped me work through some very heavy issues in a short amount of time. Kind and free-spirited. An excellent resource.
Jason Nieczyporowski
> Natalie,
It is important to have a place to turn to in times of distress. We need more people like you who care and want to do good for the community. God bless you in your goals.
With much love,
Christine
> Natalie,
I want to thank you for your incredible skills and understanding which really helped me when the roadblocks of life got in my way.
I am so very grateful for your wisdom.
Thanks so much!
Myra
> I am so grateful for being part of a 6-session grief and loss support group this May and June, run free-of-charge by the non-profit Good Grief Central, founded by thanatologist Natalie Segall:
https://www.goodgriefcentral.com/
I highly recommend her work and these supportive sessions as they start again in the fall. Also, for donating to help groups like this be companions and guides as people navigate the land of grief.
It was the 40th anniversary of my mother's death in May, and it was an important time to check in about that loss and its ongoing impact - it was healing and freeing. Thank you to Natalie and all those who were in the group with me.
Meg Roberts
> I was very grateful that I was able to connect with Natalie Segall, to be on Zoom, in her Grieving Support
Group, on the recent loss of my dear husband.
I want to acknowledge Natalie, with her advice and guidance, her sessions helped me cope with my loss.
Listening to Natalie's feedback with the other group members, was comforting.
Thanks Natalie, for your support
Bluma M.
> I highly recommend Good Grief Central's six week support group facilitated by Natalie. It was incredibly validating to be in the company of others also experiencing profound loss. It reminded that what I am going through is neither outside the human condition nor wrong. Thanks to Natalie's wise counsel, skilful facilitation; her willingness to share from her own experiential encounters with loss, I felt so much less alone. The depth of her authenticity, integrity and genuine care for others is humbling to witness. I wish dearly loved ones didn't have to pass but if so--rather, and it is painful to write this--when so--what gifting to know that Good Grief Central and Natalie are there. Thank you Natalie and Good Grief Central for your generosity, kindness, professionalism and wise stewardship. I think of you as a safe harbour I can return to just by remembering what was shared in these past sessions. And, no longer shy to join another group session or ask for individualized help when the waters of grief become too much! I cannot express my gratitude enough. Thank you!
S.B.
>…I would like to say thank you. You were such an amazing presenter. You were just very real about everything you said and your confidence highlighted how passionate you are about your work. I loved it and I think the rest of our staff did as well. Your strength will continue to inspire me.
'Anonymous'
> Thank you Natalie for helping and guiding me through the process in understanding and accepting my losses. With your help I have found an inner peace.
Anna O.
>"FIVE OUT OF FIVE STARS"
Donna Bertie
> I would highly recommend Natalie to anyone who needs a grief councillor! I was very lost after the death of my son Anthony, and had stumbled upon her name as a councillor who specializes in grief. I had no idea what to expect upon booking my first of many sessions. Within minutes of meeting Natalie, I knew I was in excellent hands. Natalie is a wonderful, intelligent, warm, and charismatic person, and I immediately felt at home with her in this most horrific time of my life. The hour flew by every session, and if I could have booked her twice or three times a week, I would have. I cannot imagine how I could have survived the four months since Anthony died, without seeing her every week and then later every other week. I felt a sense of relief and gratitude after each session. She gave me helpful tips and tools to use to guide me through difficult times and I will be forever grateful that I was her patient. Natalie has such a unique way of mixing professionalism with a warmth that makes you never want the hour to be over! I am forever grateful that I chose her to be my grief councillor.
Sylvain Renaud
> J'ai eu la chance de rencontrer Natalie à un moment très critique dans ma vie. La douleur que l'on ressent est tellement intense que l'on croit que l'on s'en sortira jamais!
De par son écoute sans jugement, ses conseils et exercices, Natalie nous aide durant cette pénible traversée. Elle comprend très bien où on est situé dans notre deuil, le parcours qu'on doit faire et elle s'adapte très bien à nos besoins et elle suit et respecte notre rythme.
Un deuil c'est très personnel et bien que celui-ci nous accompagne toute la vie, les conseils de Natalie m'ont aidé à comprendre et à l'accepter mais surtout, de me donner la force de continuer et c'est pour cela que je lui suis reconnaissante.
Je n'hésite pas à recommander ses services si vous avez besoin d'aide professionnelle. Natalie offre une touche très personnalisée qui la différentie et qui font d'elle une spécialiste de l'accompagnement durant le deuil.
(Translated by Google)
I had the chance to meet Natalie at a very critical time in my life. The pain you feel is so intense that you think you'll never get away!
By listening without judgment, advice and exercises, Natalie helps us during this painful journey. She understands very well where we are located in our mourning, the path we must take and she adapts very well to our needs and she follows and respects our pace.
A mourning is very personal and although it accompanies us all the life, the advice of Natalie helped me to understand and to accept it but especially, to give me the strength to continue and it is for that that I am grateful to him.
I do not hesitate to recommend his services if you need professional help. Natalie offers a very personal touch that differentiates her and makes her a specialist in bereavement counseling.
Linda G
> After losing my beloved dog, sister and best friend last year, it was a huge help to meet with Natalie. From the very first moment I met her, she provided a non-judgemental and safe environment for me to express myself. It was like meeting up with an old friend who gets what you are saying No need to mask anything-the good, bad or the ugly.
Natalie helped me understand the very complicated circumstances of alcohol addiction/abuse and co-dependency. This enabled me to come to terms with the choices my sister made and her shocking, awful death.
Natalie also helped me understand the cancer journey my best friend undertook when many things did not make any sense to me.
I needed to understand "the whys" in both cases as well that the "should haves, could haves, and would haves" would not have changed anything.
After each meeting, I left feeling many pounds lighter as well as enlightened. A healthy healing was able to take hold and peace was slowly taking the place of sorrow, anger and resentment.
Natalie has my very sincere and deep gratitude.
'Penny Lane'
> Thank you Natalie for helping and guiding me through the process in understanding and accepting my losses. With your help I have found an inner peace.
Anna Olivaro
> I highly recommend Natalie Segall for grief and loss therapy and counselling. Natalie is very knowledgeable, insightful, understanding, supportive and compassionate. She is warm and friendly, and at the same time very professional. Natalie is very experienced in her field, and possesses all the the best and necessary qualities to be a really great grief and loss therapist. I made a lot of progress with a situation that I had been stuck in for a long time. I feel very lucky that I found Natalie to help me.
Thank you Natalie.
Susan Issenman
> Natalie was a tremendous help to me after the death of my partner. She is very good at what she does, and I highly recommend her. Thank you Natalie!
H.R.
> I have had the privilege of working with Natalie Segall as a former colleague, former client and as a volunteer. I worked with Natalie at the Royal Victoria Hospital, where we co-facilitated a Coping Skills workshop for patients with cancer. During this time, I was a university student completing my 8-month stage. Natalie was my mentor, and I often sought her counselling in all areas relating to loss and grief.
Raquel F
> I will be forever grateful to Natalie for her support and kindness at a time I was so distraught at the loss of my family.
So overcome by grief, this wonderful person reached out and pulled me thru that period of darkness.
I am so indebted for her help in how to voice my feelings, pain, fears and constantly offering a "SAFE" place I could go to. Helping me find my way back again.
There is no better individual who understands loss/grief more than Natalie. I have referred many clients to her and will continue to do so.
Thank you Natalie for sharing my journey. You exemplify that of a true professional with an added touch of much compassion, tenderness and solicitude for your clients
Barbara Salhany
> I feel extremely fortunate and blessed to have met Natalie Segall. At a time in my life when I was overcome and paralized in my grief, this wonderful human being used her gifts of compassion, humanity and expertise to guide and help in my healing.
Natalie's professionalism is absolute. Sometimes in life we meet people who leave a beautiful positive imprint in our life, and for me Natalie has done that.
Maura Corrigan
> When I lived in Montreal, being introduced to Natalie was the single most important gift I ever received from a close friend. After countless visits with a variety of specialists, no one had been able to help me cope with my grief issues. I finally met with Natalie, and her unique approach allowed me to get through a very difficult time in my life, and for this I will be forever grateful to her. Natalie’s sessions rose above and beyond my expectations - not only did they provide healing, but she empowered me with the necessary tools to help me cope with my grief and move forward in my life. Natalie’s practice is very professional, but she creates an environment that is warm and inviting. She is extremely gifted, knowledgeable, and professional, and also highly empathetic. Thanks to Natalie, I got my life back!
Dale Kearney
> Natalie was able to provide the guidance and support I so desperately needed during a very difficult and challenging period in my life when I was devastated by two deaths occurring within weeks of each other. She has a unique ability to make one feel completely safe, thus opening your heart and mind to accepting what is, and constructively moving forward. Thank you Natalie! You are a very warm, kind, empathetic soul, and most importantly a wonderful healer; I feel very blessed to have crossed paths with you.
Camilla G
> A friend recommended Natalie to me after I had suffered an overwhelming loss. I found Natalie to be highly skilled and compassionate –a very experienced and seasoned professional. I felt very comfortable with her, and she was exceedingly generous in terms of time and accessibility. Due to her careful scheduling, sessions with Natalie are never 50 minutes...they normally run a full hour. I was always impressed by the continuity from session to session, which allowed me to make significant visit-to-visit progress in my grief journey. Thank you for being there, Natalie!
Melanie M
> Natalie was able to help me during the most difficult period of my life, following the death of my husband after a long illness. She exudes professionalism combined with a tremendous warmth, and is wonderfully sensitive and supportive. Natalie provides an open and honest atmosphere, free of judgement, and is always fully engaged – exceptionally understanding and compassionate. The coping skills Natalie provided have been consistently helpful, and have proved to be indispensable tools in helping me come to terms with my grief issues. Thanks to Natalie, I have finally been able to move forward in my life, after a long period of debilitating grief, apathy, and indecision. Natalie is extremely knowledgeable, kind, and sincere, and it is my pleasure to recommend her services unreservedly.
Eliana S
>...I began seeing Natalie after suffering an overwhelming personal loss, and quickly came to appreciate her warm, empathic, gentle – yet extremely insightful – approach. At a very difficult time, Natalie never pushed too hard, but honoured my pace, while at the same time nudging me towards new insights about myself, and offering acceptance and validation of what I was experiencing in my grief journey. Natalie also suggested very valuable tools and exercises for me to use, and these proved highly effective. Thank you so much, Natalie - I don’t know what I would have done without you. I would readily seek Natalie out again, should my life circumstances (unfortunately) make this necessary. In the meantime, I would not hesitate to recommend Natalie’s services to anyone struggling with grief and loss. Her professionalism, compassion, and personal integrity are of the highest order.
R.M. Cummings
>...My original review mainly concerned Natalie’s excellent book, Demystifying Death and Dying in the Classroom through the Creative Arts...I now especially want to call attention to my experience with Natalie’s expertise as a grief counsellor. I feel that Natalie literally saved my life. When I was seven years old, my 48-year-old father died of a heart attack on a Sunday, and I was back in school the next day, believing that the onus was on me to pretend that nothing of any importance had happened. From that blustery Sunday afternoon in March onwards, nobody – my mother, neighbors, teachers, Anglican minister – spoke to me about this traumatic event. Sure, a few people might have bandied about some guarded euphemisms or ‘fairy tales’, but nothing more. Nor did I attend the funeral. Darkness had befallen me, and cast a pall over my life, but I had to ‘keep up appearances’, and appear to be (for my mother’s benefit) the rosy-cheeked boy who felt no pain. In later years, I grappled with alienation, corrosive anger, substance abuse, severe depression, suicidal thoughts, and much dangerous and impulsive behaviour. Such were the consequences for me of traumatic childhood loss of a parent and unaddressed grief. At just short of the age of 50, I was saved through Natalie Segall’s compassionate, insightful, and highly professional grief counselling. Natalie also suggested that I consult my physician regarding the possibility of going on an anti-depressant. My doctor concurred with Natalie, and I will be taking anti-depressants for the foreseeable future. If only a book like Natalie Segall’s, ‘Demystifying Death and Dying In The Classroom through The Creative Arts’ had been available to teachers when I was seven! This book is an eloquent and meticulously researched invitation to the teaching profession to bring age-appropriate death education into their classrooms. It is my fervent hope that educators will embrace and act upon the concepts found in Natalie’s book. My own early experience with the traumatic loss of a parent has given me a hard-won (yet certainly unsought) understanding of this area, so I feel qualified to endorse Natalie Segall’s book whole-heartedly and unreservedly.
Shawn in Montreal
>...I certainly did my due diligence before consulting Natalie, combing through her website, reading her articles, and looking into the wonderful work she does as coordinator of the Good Grief Workshops. One particular piece on her website I found very helpful, ‘Why Consult a Grief Counsellor?’ In fact, I feel the first paragraph is noteworthy enough to quote here: “It is important to understand that a grief counsellor is different from a social worker, psychologist, psychotherapist, or any other type of counsellor or therapist. A grief counsellor specializes in – and has devoted years of study and training to - thanatology, which is the intensive study of loss, grief, bereavement, mourning, death, dying, and palliative care.” By the time a work colleague had recommended Natalie to me, I had already run the gamut of psychologists and psychotherapists, all to no avail. So I came to Natalie encumbered by a lot of grief baggage, hopeful, but with my expectations having been dashed before by ‘professionals’ who truly lacked insight and knowledge in the area of grief and loss. Fast forward to the present: at this point, I have been seeing Natalie for a couple of months. I cannot speak too highly of Natalie’s expertise, compassion, and integrity. With Natalie’s help, I have gained insight into my grief, learned coping strategies, and am finally moving forward in my life, having come unstuck from my place of despair, passivity, and indifference.
Carol L
> As a long-time educator, I am very familiar with the wonderful work done by Natalie Segall and her dedicated volunteers at the Good Grief Workshops. I recently suggested to a grieving family that they attend a Good Grief Workshop. Afterwards, when I enquired how things had gone, the child and her parents couldn’t stop talking about what a positive experience it had been, and how much the Workshop had helped them!
Sarah P
> Natalie helped me move forward with my life when I felt paralyzed by grief. She is exceptionally good at what she does.
Brenda B
> As a health care professional working in social services almost 20 years with Children, Adolescents and adults with disabilities I simply can't speak highly enough of what a valuable resource Natalie is to persons in need of grief support and counseling. Having taken over when Dawn Cruchet (founder of the Good Grief Workshops) retired, Natalie has worked tirelessly to ‘take things to the next level.’ She has brought in many new volunteers, and the latest Workshop had the biggest enrolment ever! Natalie’s team spirit, professionalism, and compassion are greatly appreciated by all of us volunteers. Kudos, Natalie!
Daniel Haque
> I am a volunteer with the Good Grief Workshops for Children and Adolescents which Natalie coordinates. At each Workshop, I experience the spirit of compassion and understanding that emanates from Natalie and her team. It is truly wonderful to witness the positive transformation – so evident in their faces and body language - that occurs amongst parents and their children over the course of the Workshop. I am proud to be involved, even in a very small way, with an endeavour that makes such a truly significant difference in the lives of those who have experienced loss.
John K
> Natalie helped me to address the grief issues that I had been dealing with for a long time. She is extremely knowledgeable, compassionate, and very good at what she does. I feel very comfortable with Natalie, and would highly recommend her.
M. Richardson
> Nat, so proud of you for all the great service you provide.
Betty Bah