For three years I worked as a grief counsellor at a hospice in South East England where I had the priviledge to sit with people who sought help and comfort in processing their loss. People from all walks of life, needing to spend time talking, or not talking, in a space where they were safe to explore their loss.
We live in a world where we often have to keep going even when our grief is still a large part of our daily existence. The pressure of living takes precedent over mourning our loss. The need to pay bills, feed families, be strong, "just get on with it". For those who are employed, one weeks compassionate leave is standard for most companies. Yet often our grief has a much more open ended timeframe. It doesn't end after the funeral and the check ins become less frequent. The loss is still felt and the need to remember continues. Anniversaries can be especially hard as these can bring up precious memories and intense feelings.
In my private practice I continue to provide bereavement support to many clients who need that same dedicated time to honour their loss. Often, through talking and listening we can start to create a reimagined existence where our grief starts to feel more tolerable. Sometimes, I share different models of grief as these can be helpful in making sense of your own grief journey. I also use creative activities as a way to explore your relationship with the bereaved and navigate a path forwards.
If you are or someone you know needs support in this difficult time please feel free to reach out.