Bereavement Counselling & Psychotherapy
Don’t be overwhelmed by or stuck in grief. Learn to understand the many emotions that surround loss, and develop coping strategies…
Accepting Bereavement & Loss
Work through your grief and enjoy a brighter future…
Grief is the response we often have to bereavement or loss.
Loss can take many forms ranging from the loss of a job to the death of a loved one.
The grief response can produce many different emotions; anger, shock, denial and despair.
Sometimes we don’t have people to support us through the process, or we might think that nobody wants to talk about the loss anymore.
Counselling can support you as you are dealing with these emotions, giving you space to talk freely about your loss.
If you are having trouble with loss or grief, why not reach out and find out how grief counselling can help you process your emotions. You can read more about this on my blog post about grief counselling.
Contact me today for a free, confidential and no-obligation telephone consultation and we can start the process of working through your issues together.
Please call Louise on 07973 287424
email: louise@refresh-counselling.co.uk
or click the button below to submit an enquiry:
Bereavement Therapy FAQs
What are the stages of grief?
There are several models which refer to the stages of grief, one commonly referred to is the Kübler-Ross model, this outlines the range of emotions that people may experience when dealing with loss or significant life changes. The model includes five stages:
Denial: This is the initial reaction to loss. People may feel numb or have difficulty accepting the reality of the situation. Denial helps to buffer the immediate shock and allows individuals to gradually process the news.
Anger: As the masking effects of denial begin to wear off, the suffering person may be filled with anger. This can be directed towards others, themselves, or the situation. Feelings of helplessness can lead to frustration and resentment.
Bargaining: In this stage, individuals may try to make deals or bargains to reverse or mitigate the loss. They might make promises or set conditions in an attempt to regain control or alter the outcome.
Depression: This stage involves deep feelings of sadness and despair. It may include a sense of hopelessness, withdrawal from usual activities, and overwhelming emotional pain. Individuals may struggle to find motivation or meaning.
Acceptance: The final stage involves coming to terms with the loss. This doesn’t mean being okay with it, but rather finding a way to move forward and adjust to life without the person or situation that was lost.
It’s important to realise that these stages do not always come about in a linear fashion and there can be some movement backwards and forwards amongst the stages. Therapy can help people navigate their grief and can be extremely beneficial if somebody has become “stuck” in one stage.
What are the symptoms of grief?
Grief is a natural response to loss, and its symptoms can affect people emotionally, physically, and mentally. Emotionally, symptoms of sadness, anger, anxiety, fear, guilt, shock, or loneliness are common. Physical symptoms such as fatigue, appetite changes, aches and pains and a weakened immune system can transpire. Cognitively, problems with concentration, memory or even intrusive thoughts are common. Grief or loss can cause changes in behaviour such as withdrawing from social events, frequent crying spells or seeking or avoiding reminders of the people or places related to the loss. Sometimes people suffering from grief will question their own spiritual beliefs and try to search for meaning or make sense of the impact of the loss.
Grief is highly personal, and these symptoms can vary in intensity and duration depending on the individual and the nature of the loss.
What is the difference between bereavement and grief?
Bereavement is a state of loss whereas grief is the response to that loss.
How long does grief last?
There is no set time for grief to last. The nature of the loss will change the impact of the grief. A sudden, unexpected loss can produce a more complicated grief response. Over time the intensity of the grief response will eventually diminish but how long this takes depends upon individual circumstances.
How to support somebody through grief?
Supporting someone who is grieving can be challenging, but your presence, empathy, and understanding can make a big difference. Try to be present and available to listen and let them know that you are there to offer support. Acknowledge their loss, use the name of the deceased and try to avoid cliches. Offer practical help if possible, cook meals, offer lifts or run errands. There are many other ways to support somebody through grief which may go on for a long time. If you feel that they would benefit from some professional help, gently suggest this at an appropriate time.
If you are having trouble with loss or grief, why not reach out and find out how counselling can help you process your emotions.
Contact me today for a free, confidential and no-obligation telephone consultation and we can start the process of working through your issues together.
Please call Louise on 07973 287424
email: louise@refresh-counselling.co.uk
or click the button below to submit an enquiry: