Grief & Bereavement Counselling
When someone you love dies, life can feel unrecognisable.
The death of a loved one can affect every part of our lives.
You may feel overwhelmed by sadness, numbness, anger, guilt, anxiety or even relief. You may find yourself struggling with everyday tasks, finding it difficult to concentrate, or wondering why life continues around you when your own world feels as though it has stopped.
There is no right or wrong way to grieve.
Every relationship is unique, which means every experience of grief is unique too.
I provide grief and bereavement counselling for adults in Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire and online across the UK, offering a compassionate space to explore your loss and find your own way forward.
Grief doesn't follow a timeline
One of the most common concerns I hear is:
"Shouldn't I be feeling better by now?"
The reality is that grief rarely follows the neat stages we often hear about.
Some days may feel manageable; others can feel as raw as the day your loved one died.
Anniversaries, birthdays, special occasions or seemingly ordinary moments can unexpectedly bring powerful emotions to the surface.
This doesn’t mean you are grieving incorrectly. It means you are human.
Common experiences of grief include:
Feeling numb after a bereavement
Anger following a loss
Guilt after someone dies
Anxiety after bereavement
Difficulty sleeping
Loss of motivation
Feeling disconnected from friends and family
Anticipatory grief
Delayed grief
Grieving years later
Anticipatory grief
Many people begin grieving even before a death occurs.
This is often known as anticipatory grief and can occur when a loved one is living with a life-limiting illness or declining health.
People frequently tell me they feel guilty for grieving while their loved one is still alive.
Yet anticipatory grief is a normal and understandable response to knowing that a significant loss may be approaching.
Therapy can help with:
Making sense of difficult emotions
Adjusting to life after loss
Coping with anniversaries and milestones
Managing anxiety and overwhelm
Exploring identity changes after bereavement
Finding ways to honour your loved one while continuing your own life
Taking the first step
One thing I have learned through both professional and personal experience is that loss changes us.
The goal of therapy is not to forget the person who has died or to "move on" from them. Instead, therapy can help us understand how to carry our grief, adapt to life after loss and gradually find meaning, connection and hope again.
Seeking support after a bereavement can feel daunting.
Whether your loss is recent or happened many years ago, therapy can offer a space to talk openly about your experience without fear of judgement or expectation.
If you're wondering whether grief counselling is right for you, I offer a free introductory call where we can discuss your needs and whether working together feels like the right fit.