Grief impacts us for many days and months. Counselling offers a place and a space to talk about the impact of your loss. Clients can access bereavement counselling either quite soon after someone has passed away, or months or years later. There isn’t a right or wrong time, as it is more important that you feel that the time may be right to access some additional support.

Counselling is known as ‘talking therapy’. This gives you a confidential and safe space to come and talk. You don’t have to know what you want to talk about, the counsellor will use different approaches to help and support you.

Often having someone neutral and professionally trained to listen to you, particularly when those around you are grieving, can be beneficial.

This means that the client (you) and the counsellor meet each week on the same day, at the same time.

1:1 therapy

Your first appointment:

Your initial appointment is an opportunity to consider how we may work together and to talk through what has happened in more detail. During this session I will ask some practical questions such as your GP details, contact details, as well as a little information about you, how things are for you in your day to day life at the moment, why you are interested in counselling, and what you would like to be different as a result of coming to counselling. It’s also an opportunity for you to ask me any questions you may have. This will include aspects such as:

• When the person passed away
• What happened
• How you are coping at the moment
• When the person passed away/what is bringing you to counselling at this time

It is also an opportunity for you to find out more about what counselling is and how it can support you.

At the end of the session we will decide what happens next – it may be that:

• You decide that you would like some further sessions and we plan these during the session
• That you wish to have some time to think about whether counselling is right for you at this time
• I believe that another type of therapy, or someone with different skills to me would be better suited to support you.

Pre – loss:

• Life-limiting illnesses.
• Where a friend or family member has acquired a brain injury.

Children and young people:
Of course children and young people grieve too when someone close to them passes away. Depending on the age of the child, they may or may not be able to tell you their thoughts and feelings.

Bereavement support sessions

If you would like the opportunity to meet for a session to talk through something in particular related to your loss but don’t feel counselling is right at this time, a one off support session may be right for you. For example, this may be returning to work, supporting children through their grief or a more general chance to talk and explore some strategies and ways to cope.