Bereavement & Loss

Coping with Bereavement and Loss

Bereavement and loss present difficult, challenging times to most of us. A whole range of thoughts and feelings can be evoked, be that the loss of a loved one, the end of a relationship, loss of a job or role, or indeed the loss of a future we had imagined. These and many other events can evoke feelings of grief.

Everyone if different. There is no ‘right way’. There is no ‘I am being silly’. There is no merit in comparing yourself to others. Your feelings are valid and often deeply personal and at times quite isolating.

Common Symptoms of Grief

Grief can affect every part of us—emotionally, mentally, physically, and spiritually. Some of the most common symptoms include:

• Emotional symptoms: sadness, anger, guilt, numbness, or a sense of yearning
• Cognitive symptoms: difficulty concentrating, forgetfulness, disbelief, or intrusive memories
• Physical symptoms: fatigue, sleep disturbances, changes in appetite, or physical aches
• Behavioural symptoms: withdrawal from others, loss of interest in activities, restlessness
• Spiritual symptoms: questioning beliefs, feeling disconnected, or searching for meaning

These responses are all part of the grieving process. For some, grief may ease with time. For others, it can feel unrelenting and complicated—especially if the loss was sudden, traumatic, or unresolved.

The Impact of Bereavement on Daily Life

Loss can disrupt every aspect of your life. You may find yourself struggling to function at work, connect with others, or find motivation for even simple tasks. You might feel like the world has moved on while you remain stuck in your sorrow.

Grief can also bring up past losses or unresolved emotions, intensifying your distress. You may experience feelings of guilt—about things left unsaid, decisions made, or simply about continuing with life when your loved one is no longer here.

In some cases, prolonged or complicated grief can lead to depression, anxiety, or a sense of meaninglessness. Even if your symptoms don’t meet a formal diagnosis, the pain and confusion of grief can be overwhelming—and you don’t need to face it alone.

My Therapeutic Approach Can Help You

My approach is insightful, experienced and empathetic. It is important to address your sense of loss at your pace and typically this will begin by providing a listening ear to allow you to talk, reflect and process your feelings. Understanding how and why you feel as you do can be helped by theoretical models such as work done by Kubler Ross (the five stages of grief) which can help you normalise your feelings and move on from the acute pain and sadness.

I can help you:

• Make sense of complex emotions like guilt, anger, or regret
• Navigate the waves of grief that come unexpectedly
• Understand how change and loss impact you and how you can adapt
• Move forward in life and relationships without feeling disloyal
• Address any trauma or unresolved issues surrounding a loss or change
• Rebuild a sense of identity and purpose after loss or change

Therapy can also provide tools to manage the everyday challenges that arise when grieving —like dealing with anniversaries, returning to work, or managing others’ expectations.

Grief has no set timeline. Whether your loss was recent or many years ago, it’s never too early, or too late, to seek support.

Why See an Experienced Therapist

I have years of experience in this field. I have also lost people and experienced significant change. On a professional and personal level I understand the impact of bereavement, loss, and change. I offer maturity, understanding, compassion and a grounded approach to working through and navigating the thoughts and feelings you are experiencing.

My training and experience in bereavement counselling allows me to support and guide clients through the nuances of different kinds of loss: sudden or traumatic deaths, disenfranchised grief such as miscarriage, anticipatory grief, and complex or prolonged grief.

Importantly I will never rush your process or judge your experience. Instead, I provide a stable presence—a place where you can speak freely, feel safely held, and begin to move forward at your own pace.

You don’t have to grieve alone. Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or simply in need of someone to walk beside you, therapy can offer support, understanding, and hope. In time, healing is possible—not by forgetting, but by learning to live again with meaning, connection, and heart.

You don’t have to experience loss or change alone. I recognise that loss of a role or ability, loss of a relationship, loss of health or ability can generate complex and difficult thoughts and feelings to process and move forward from. There are strategies and approaches that can help you.