Catch your breath in grief. Find a way through the pain and isolation so often experienced during grief.

Meet Dr Cory Middleton

Psychologist

Dr Cory Middleton is a compassionate and warm-hearted Psychologist, providing solace and support to individuals navigating the complex emotions and challenges that arise from the experience of loss. With an empathetic approach and a wealth of expertise, Dr Cory Middleton has become a beacon of hope for those seeking healing and transformation in the face of grief.

What you'll experience working with Dr Cory Middleton:

  • a great listener who understands the unique experiences of grief and loss

  • a professional psychologist who expertly guides you through your experience of loss - helping you find a way forward

  • the ability to describe the research on grief and loss in easy to apply ways

  • someone in your corner - a professional who ‘gets it’ and walks with you through complex feelings

  • a dual-focus on A) coming to terms with a loss (i.e., accepting loss, working with the thoughts/feelings/behaviours of grief) and B), Restoration (i.e., rebuilding life after death and loss, finding a constructive and enduring connection to the deceased, creating moments of peace, joy and meaning in a life moving forward)

  • a professional and trusted service

Dr Cory Middleton’s therapeutic approach blends evidence-based grief techniques with a humanistic perspective. He firmly believes that every individual's grief journey is unique and deserving of personalised care. With his warm and non-judgmental style, Dr Cory Middleton creates a safe space for his clients to express their emotions openly and honestly.

Whether someone has experienced the loss of a loved one, the end of a significant relationship, or any other form of profound loss, Dr Cory Middleton provides unwavering support and guidance through the healing process.

Dr Cory Middleton empowers clients to navigate the complex emotions of grief, fostering resilience, self-compassion, and personal growth. He helps individuals develop healthy coping strategies, gain a deeper understanding of their emotions, and find meaning and purpose in their lives once again.

Approach to Grief Counselling

  • There are several evidence-based and practise-based models for working effectively with the experience of grief. Dr Cory Middleton’s work with you is guided by:

    -the McKissock ‘Infinity Model.’ This model guides the therapeutic conversion to explore both past and future topics of focus, in a pendulum way (back-and-forward from past to present). For example, in grief, the client might benefit from exploring all that was (past) and all that would have been (future) on multiple topics (e.g. parenting, professional ambitions, marriage, friendships, support). This pendulum approach allows one to uncover important aspects of their grieving experience.

    -Thomas Attig’s model - How we Grieve: Relearning the World. This model helps clients understand the temporarily shattered web of familiarity in life. In practise, clients learn to move from a position of helplessness to one of an active participant in accommodating change and in relearning a new life ahead.

    -Transactional Analysis (Ego-States). Here we see individuals and the counsellor taking on one of three ‘ego-states’ - Parent role, Adult role and Child role. In grief, common initial reactions often include a regression back to child-like state. This includes feeling lost, helpless, vulnerable, afraid and with outbursts of strong emotion. The initial role of counsellor begins the ability to empathise, to create safety (emotional and physical), to guide, to nurture through these tough experiences. As therapy continues the client becomes more empowered and begins to be active in the process.

    -Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. Physiological needs, safety, belongingness, love, self-esteem, independence and self-actualisation.

    -Acceptance-Commitment Therapy (ACT). A core premise of ACT is that all human emotions are valid and to be accepted. This of course includes the vast array of emotions and thought processes experienced in grief. Rather than pushing grief to the side, how can we learn to bring grief into and out of focus. What are the thoughts and emotions you could appreciate more in this process? What commitments for self-care and development could you take, even if small steps, at times of grief? ACT provides a powerful way to help you adjust to the significance of the loss in your life.

  • Dr Cory Middleton’s personal values guide the way he works with clients. His 3 core values are Compassion, Authenticity, Creativity.

    Compassion - Dr Cory values a deep and genuine compassion for people and their lived experience. He is able to bring understanding and comfort through is supportive and compassionate approach to working with you and your inner-most thoughts and feelings.

    Authenticity - Dr Cory has enough life experience to effectively speak in real-terms with you. He goes beyond the text book, to talk about what you find most meaningful and helpful. He is able to meet you where you are at in your experience.

    Creativity - Dr Cory embraces that every person is an individual and has unique perspectives. Cory is able to work creatively with you to find ways to do the work of grief but in a way that suits you and your personal preferences.

  • Initial session: 90-minutes. This session is to hear your story, learn about the significance of your grief, and to understand the lived experience of grief for you today.

    Frequency of follow-up sessions dependent on the intensity of the current experience, the extent it can be unsettling other aspects of your life, and your motivation to work directly with your grief.

Get Started

Grief Counselling Sydney CBD

cory@relationship-talk.com.au

Suite 804, 185 Elizabeth Street
Sydney, NSW 2000