For any loss, recent or long ago, at whatever pace grief takes
Bereavement counselling
Counselling after the death of someone close, whether it was last month or twenty years ago, expected or sudden. A place to talk about the person and what their death has done, without anyone hurrying you towards feeling better.
Grief does not follow stages in order, and there is no right amount of time. People come to us in the first raw weeks and people come years later, when something has brought it back. Both are normal.
In bereavement counselling you can talk about the person who died as much as you like: who they were, what happened, what you did not get to say, the guilt, the anger, the relief that nobody admits to, and the practical chaos that follows a death. Helen has worked with bereaved people for over twenty years, including after suicide, after the death of a child, after a long illness and after a sudden accident. She will not tell you how you ought to feel.
Some people find four or six sessions enough; others come for longer, especially when the death has reopened older losses. If grief has turned into something that is stopping you living day to day after a long time, we will talk about that honestly, and about whether your GP should be involved too. We keep two places a week for bereavement so that the wait is short, and both of those places can be on the sliding scale.
What it includes
- Any loss: partner, parent, child, friend, baby
- After suicide, sudden death or long illness
- Two places a week kept for bereavement
- No time limit and no rush
- Anniversaries and inquests talked through
- Sliding scale available
What it costs
£65 a session, or £30 to £58 on the sliding scale. The first call is free, and we hold two places a week for bereavement. The fees page works out the sliding-scale fee from your household income, and explains cancelling and paying.
Questions about bereavement
Is it too soon to come?
There is no too soon. Some people want to talk in the first weeks; some need time first. In the free call we can talk about whether now is right, and you can always book later.
It was years ago. Is it too late?
No. Grief often waits until there is room for it, or comes back with another loss, an anniversary or a birthday. Old grief is as welcome here as new.
Start with a free 20-minute call.
Talk to the counsellor you would see before anything is booked or paid for. Ask anything, including whether we are the right people. The diary shows the next free call; pick it, or ring and leave a message and we reply within a working day.