An effective bereavement counsellor walks alongside you in your grief and in your process of mourning. As each person’s experience is an individual and complex one, so too will be the counselling journey. In his book, Grief Counselling and Grief Therapy, J. William Worden PhD outlines what he considers to be the principles of grief counselling. These principles are facilitated by the … [Read more...] about The Stepping Stones of Grief Counselling. Helping you understand your experience.
Grief and Loss
Grief Counselling : Grief and Anniversaries
Often after the death of a loved one, the question is asked, how long will the pain last? How long can I expect to feel this way? There is no one universal truth or answer. One perspective given by Therese Rando, in The Treatment of Complicated Mourning (1993) is that acute grief will normally subside, but mourning may continue for years or even forever. Grief and mourning is a fluctuating … [Read more...] about Grief Counselling : Grief and Anniversaries
Grief after loss – There is no one right way to grieve
I see clients in my counselling practice who are feeling judged for how they are grieving. They are not just judged by others, they judge themselves harshly as well. Perhaps they are very emotional and seeking support, or maybe they are coping with their grief by being active. The issue of understanding how you grieve is particularly important when couples, or family members are grieving in … [Read more...] about Grief after loss – There is no one right way to grieve
Caring for carers : Caring for the Dying or the Bereaved
There is a toll to pay for those who care for the dying and the bereaved. Or can carers decide whether to pay the toll? Kenneth Doka PhD in his article Caring for the Carer: The Lessons of Research (2006, pp 4-7) suggests that unless you identify the risks, then caring for the dying or the bereaved can impact your own physical, psychological, social and spiritual wellbeing. Carer’s as … [Read more...] about Caring for carers : Caring for the Dying or the Bereaved
Death of a Parent – Supporting Children in their Journey of Grief
Parents and caregivers worry about what to tell the children after a parent dies. Whether children are asking direct questions or not, they are asking questions of themselves and trying to understand. Without the aid of adults, it is common for misunderstandings and imagining circumstances worse than reality. A child can’t often let you know what they need when they are grieving. Below is … [Read more...] about Death of a Parent – Supporting Children in their Journey of Grief
Grief and Sex
Grief and loss is a part of life, just as sex is. How we grieve is different for all of us. Just as how we approach sex and what it means for us also differs. Sex could be about comfort, physical pleasure, bodily contact, emotional intimacy or the need for connection, or a varying combination of all five. When a partner dies, you grieve their death. But there are also secondary losses, … [Read more...] about Grief and Sex