Bereavement & Grief Counselling
Walking with you through loss
Grief is a natural response to loss. While the pain of grief can be complex and overwhelming, it is a normal part of the healing process.
The experience of grief is unique to each person — there is no right or wrong way to grieve, and no fixed timeline.
Types of loss I work with
Grief is not only for bereavement. Any significant loss can leave the same weight — and respond to the same, careful work.
Death of a loved one
Parent, partner, child, sibling, friend — sudden or long-anticipated. Space to say the things that were not said.
Miscarriage & infant loss
Pregnancy loss, stillbirth and neonatal loss — often quietly carried. You do not need to justify the depth of it.
Relationship endings
Separation, divorce, estrangement — the grief of a life you thought you were going to have.
Anticipatory grief
Terminal diagnosis, palliative care, dementia. Support before, during and after — for both patients and carers.
Life-transition losses
Redundancy, retirement, empty nest, loss of health or independence. Real losses that are often dismissed as 'change'.
Traumatic & sudden loss
Accidents, suicide, unexpected death. A slower, gentler pace, with attention to trauma alongside grief.
When is it time to reach out?
There is no threshold you have to cross to justify grief counselling. Common signals include: sleep that has not returned to normal, exhaustion that rest does not fix, difficulty being around other people, work performance slipping, using alcohol or food to soften the evenings, or a sense that you are pretending — that you are 'fine' for the world and quietly not fine at all.
Complicated or prolonged grief — where the intensity has not shifted at all six months or more after the loss — responds especially well to structured therapeutic support. Reaching out earlier is not a sign that something is wrong with you; it is often what makes the later months possible.
How Grief Can Manifest
Emotional
Sadness, anger, guilt, fear, loneliness, or a sense of numbness.
Physical
Fatigue, changes in appetite, sleep disturbances, physical aches and pains.
Cognitive
Difficulty concentrating, memory problems, feeling overwhelmed or confused.
Behavioural
Withdrawal from social activities, changes in routine, difficulty functioning.
How I Can Help
I provide a safe, supportive, non-judgmental space to work through your grief at your own pace. Whether you have lost a loved one, experienced relationship breakdown, job loss, or any other form of loss, grief counselling can help you to process your emotions, find meaning, and begin to heal.
I have particular experience supporting clients through bereavement, palliative care situations, and the grief that comes with ageing and life transitions.
Attend from wherever you are
In person at the Gorey practice (free parking, step-free), by secure video, or by phone — whichever is kindest to you this week. Sessions can be moved between formats without losing continuity of care.
Common questions
How soon after a bereavement should I start grief counselling? — There is no single right time. Some people come within days because they need somewhere private to put the weight down; others come months or years later when everyday life quietly stops working. Both are valid. If it is on your mind, that is usually reason enough.
What is the difference between normal grief and complicated grief? — Grief usually softens and shifts over the first year, even when it never fully leaves. Complicated (or prolonged) grief is when the intensity does not ease at all — persistent yearning, difficulty accepting the death, feeling stuck in the days before or after the loss — six months or more on. Both respond well to therapy; complicated grief especially benefits from structured, professional support.
Do you only work with bereavement, or other kinds of loss too? — Both. Grief is the response to any significant loss — a relationship ending, a diagnosis, a miscarriage or infant loss, redundancy, the loss of independence with age, or the loss of a life you thought you were going to have. The therapeutic work is the same shape.
Can I attend online or by phone if I cannot face travelling? — Yes. Many grieving clients start online or by phone in the first weeks because the effort of getting dressed and driving is simply too much. Sessions are equally effective and equally confidential in every format.
How many sessions will I need? — Grief work is not a fixed programme. Some clients feel meaningfully lighter after 6–8 weekly sessions; for others — especially with sudden, traumatic or multiple losses — it takes longer and moves at its own pace. We review together, often, and you stay in control.
How much does grief counselling cost? — Please get in touch to confirm current session fees. Concessions may be available in cases of genuine hardship. Many Irish insurers reimburse counselling with an IACP-accredited therapist — a dated receipt is issued on request for your claim.
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