Holding space for life’s challenges, endings, and the path to growth.
Welcome to Heartwood Guidance!
Working with individuals and families across Canada, I am here to walk alongside you as a steady, compassionate guide through your deepest transitions, heaviest grief, and final chapters.
Heartwood Guidance is an open-minded, deeply inclusive space. I warmly welcome and affirm individuals and families from the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, as well as various relationship dynamics and structures.
How I can support you:
Life Coaching
Navigating change and finding your grounding.
Life is full of shifts that can leave you feeling untethered or uncertain of your next step. Together, we will slow down, explore your core values, and set meaningful goals. I provide deep, active listening and actionable tools to help you:
Set and maintain healthy boundaries in your daily life.
Improve communication and foster mutual understanding in your relationships.
Navigate the unique emotional joys and challenges of parenting.
Clarify your values and design a life that honours your goals.
Grief Coaching & End-of-Life Doula Care
Honouring the sacred thread of loss, transition, and final chapters.
Grief is not a sickness to be cured, and the end of life is not just a medical event. They are profound, sacred thresholds that deserve a safe, non-judgmental space to land. I offer a gentle container of emotional, spiritual, and practical support to individuals, families, and caregivers. Together we can work on:
Processing loss at your own pace from death, divorce, diagnosis, or life shifts.
Integrating grief into your daily life rather then trying to “get over it”.
Advanced care planning including personal legacy projects.
Support at the end of life for individuals and their circles.
Bring a Workshop to Your Community
I facilitate interactive, heart-centered workshops both online and in person at events and community centers. If you are hosting an event in Quebec or Ontario (particularly in the Estrie, Montreal or Ottawa regions) or looking to host a virtual gathering, I would love to collaborate. We can tailor a meaningful session that works for your event or community.
Upcoming Events & Workshops
Healing and growth happen best in community. Join me online or in person for upcoming workshops, grief circles, and educational sessions.
The Mandala of Remembrance
When: Mid August 2026 (exact date & time to be confirmed)
Where: Curran, Ontario (At the Firelight Gathering festival)
What: Come join us for a gentle exploration of grief through various pathways. We will create individual nature mandalas to balance the weight of grief with love, memories, and insight. Open to anyone carrying any form of loss.
Upcoming Monthly Virtual Grief Support Group
When: Once a month (Dates will be announced soon)
Where: Online through Zoom
What: A dedicated, gentle space to drop in, share, and sit with others navigating the landscape of loss. There is no need to carry this alone.
Some Past Events & Workshops
Understanding Women’s Grief at the Lennoxville Women’s Center, Quebec
Motherhood & Grief at the Lennoxville Women’s Center, Quebec
Ancestors & Spiritual Expression in Loss at Druid Fest in Inkerman, Ontario
Understanding, Expressing & Honouring Grief at Firelight Gathering in Curran, Ontario
Why Choose Heartwood Guidance?
Choosing someone to walk with you through life’s deeply personal moments is a significant decision. When we work together, you can expect a space built on deep open-mindedness, warmth, and full inclusivity. You never have to alter who you are to fit into my practice; you are safe to show up exactly as you are.
My approach focuses on presence over prescription. I am not here to fix you or push you through a rigid, one-size-fits-all timeline. Instead, I offer a steady, gentle container where we slow down and explore your path at a pace that feels right for you. Every emotion you bring - whether it is joy, confusion, sadness, or anything in between - is valid and has a safe place to land. Because my practice is mostly virtual, you can access this consistent, compassionate care from the privacy and comfort of your home, anywhere across Canada.
If you are looking for a calm, non-judgmental ally to walk right beside you, I would love to connect. You don’t have to navigate these heavy or complex moments alone. Reach out today, and let’s take the first step together.
What people are saying:
“My time with Deirdre was a wonderful experience. She listened and asked questions that helped me uncover my actual goals and helped brainstorm ways to achieve them.
The added level of accountability that came from reporting back each session helped motivate me and kept me focused, leading to immediate success.
She is very personable, approachable, and created a safe space to be vulnerable. I highly recommend Deirdre as a life coach.”
-Jamie, Waterloo
“ I cannot speak highly enough of Deirdre and would definitely recommend her as a life coach! I wasn’t sure what to expect, but Deirdre made me feel totally comfortable and was so great at helping me talk through some issues I was having. I really appreciated her flexibility and general demeanour. If you are interested in life coaching, definitely check her out!
-Amanda Lee
Try a free discovery call and see if it’s right for you.
There’s no commitment, pressure, or obligation.