Bereavement is a very taboo subject to speak about.

It can also include a traumatic experience, loss doesn’t just have to be bereavement – a loss can also be experienced through a break up in a relationship or separation.

 Bereavement counselling is about gaining your understanding on what's going on for you.

I offer a calm approach to bereavement counselling and over the years I have learnt that every bereavement journey is different and no experience is the same.

This is why it is really important that if you require counselling that you stick with it and attend week after week to get the best outcome for you. Although it will be tough, bear with it.  This is a hard time for anyone dealing with the loss of their loved one(s).  It is a very normal feeling.

I use diagrams and pictures as sometimes it’s easier to express how your feeling with the use of visual aids.

Part of the process of living is adjusting to change, the loss of a loved one can cause intense distress and drastically impact our lives, forcing us to question everything we relied upon.  Adjusting to the loss involves a healing process that we recognise as grieving.  Grieving is the time we spend adjusting to our loss and adjusting to change.

Each individual grieves in his or her own way and in their own timeframe. For some the process takes longer and for others there will always be a sense of longing.

If you are in the process of mourning you may be experiencing feelings of anger, a sense of numbness or fear.  You may be feeling that life is pointless and has no purpose.  You may even be feeling shame or guilt, as if you could have done something to prevent the loss of your loved one.  All of these feelings are a part of the grieving process and it is normal to be feeling this way.

Grieving is very much up and down, moving in and out of the stages of grief.  There is no definitive order in which we need to experience these stages.

Through bereavement counselling you will be able to share your grief and have the time and support you need to come to terms with how you feel about your loss. Becoming aware of the triggers that can happen in everyday life, learning when they happen and how to deal with them.