LOSS & BEREAVEMENT COUNSELING Over the years, clients have brought a huge variety of issues. I have come to understand that many issues are related to loss & bereavement.
WHAT I CAN OFFER? I can offer professional support in coping with death or any kind of loss. Through my experience with and training in bereavement counselling, I gained insight and skills which enable me to support individuals in their understanding of the grieving process, the exploration of feelings and reactions and support individuals while they are working through their loss and 'give it a place'.
LOSS & BEREAVEMENT Loss can involve: - The death of a family member, a relative, a close friend, a pet etc. Loss can alternatively involve: - Losing independence (becoming a partner, a parent, gaining a sibling, losing a job, etc.) - Moving home/ county/ country - Leaving your parental home - Losing a limb - Losing freedom - Losing health - Losing physical abilities - Experiencing disfigurement, abortion, retirement, redundancy, imprisonment, infertility, rape etc. - Losing a dream, expectations, safety etc.
GRIEVING As individuals we are all exposed to different experiences from birth, which we all deal within our own individual way. For that reason, 'the grieving process' is an individual process, which has no set content or length.
THE GRIEVING PROCESS During a grieving process you might feel immobilised, stunned,shocked,restless, nervous. You cannot believe it has actually happened even if what happened was expected. This stage can last for hours, days, weeks, months or years.
It can help to talk about your loss. SUICIDE It can be particularly hard to deal with the death by suicide of someone you know. As well as the usual feelings of bereavement, you may have a number of conflicting emotions.
You may feel: Angry with the person for taking their own life. Rejected what they have done. Confused as to why they did it. Guilty for not having noticed how they were feeling? Guilty for not having been able to stop them, Worried about whether they suffered. Glad that they no longer have to suffer. Relieved that you no longer have to support them. Ashamed by what they did. Reluctant to talk to other people about it. Upset/ angry that people are interested in the drama rather than the person who has died. Worried about thoughts of suicide that you may have had yourself. Isolated
It can help to talk about your loss.
UNRESOLVED GRIEF The pain experienced during the grieving process can be unbearable. Some people however, repress their feelings because they feel the pain is too much. This might result in suffering from physical symptoms such as tights chest, dizzy spells, breathing problems or spells of depression. Sometimes people get stuck and are unable to think of anything else.
