For some, the grief experienced following the death of a loved one can be overwhelming, whether the loss was anticipated (for example, following a terminal illness), or sudden. This can bring about both emotional and physical effects.
The main purpose of grief counselling is to enable families and carers to:
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accept the reality of the loss
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work through the pain of grief and express any unexpressed feelings and issues arising from this
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readjust to a changed life and learning to live without the person who has died
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let go and say goodbye
The timing of counselling varies but generally it is recommended that grief counselling begins a few weeks after the funeral. But it can be difficult to be able to talk so soon. For this reason, counselling can start whenever the individual feels it is the right time.
We encourage families and carers to contact us so that we can discuss how we can help at this difficult time.
Initially we offer 1-to-1 counselling with a carefully selected volunteer that has gone through extensive counselling training under professional guidance.