What is Grief Counselling, and how do I know if it's for me?

Grief is one of the most universal experiences we share as human beings - and yet, when you're in it, it can feel deeply personal, isolating, and even confusing. If you’re navigating a loss, you might find yourself wondering:

Is what I’m feeling normal?

Do I need to talk to someone?

Would grief counselling actually help me?

Let’s begin with something important:

Grief is a normal and adaptive response to loss.

It’s not a mental health disorder. It’s not something that needs “fixing,” nor is it a sign that something’s wrong with you.

Most people find their way through grief over time, especially with the support of family, friends, or community. Counselling isn’t necessary for everyone who grieves - and suggesting otherwise doesn’t honour the natural human capacity to process loss in our own way.

But just because grief is normal doesn’t mean it’s easy.

Everyone grieves differently.

Some people feel the need to talk, cry, share memories, or sit quietly in the sadness. Others cope by keeping busy, focusing on routines, or seeking comfort in action and structure. All of these are valid ways to grieve.

There’s no one “right” way to do it.

And yet, you might feel pressure - to move on quickly, to talk about it more (or less), to be “strong.” When your grief doesn’t feel seen or supported, it can create feelings of shame, confusion, or loneliness.

This is where grief counselling can help.

What is grief counselling?

Grief counselling offers a safe, compassionate space to explore your loss - in your own way, at your own pace.

It’s not about “letting go” or “moving on.” Rather, it’s about making sense of what has changed, learning to live with the absence, and finding meaningful ways to continue your bond with what (or who) you’ve lost.

Grief counselling can be particularly helpful if:

• You feel overwhelmed by your emotions, or stuck in your grief.

• Your grief feels complicated, prolonged, or tangled with other mental health challenges.

• You’re struggling to access support from family or friends.

• You feel isolated, judged, or misunderstood.

• You want a space where you don’t have to protect others from your pain.

• You’re carrying guilt, regret, or self-blame and need a place to be heard.

• You’ve experienced a traumatic or sudden loss, such as a death that was unexpected, violent, or life-altering.

  
  

What happens in grief counselling?

There’s no fixed formula.

Grief counselling is a flexible, supportive space that responds to you - your story, your pace, and your needs. It may involve:

• Talking through memories and creating space to gently adjust to what has happened.

• Exploring the impact of your loss - emotionally, physically, and in your relationships.

• Finding ways to stay connected to what (or who) you’ve lost - in a way that feels personal and meaningful to you.

• Coping with daily life, when the ordinary feels anything but.

• Honouring what’s been left unsaid - things that were never voiced, moments that didn’t get closure.

• Simply sitting with your feelings, in a space where you don’t have to explain or justify them.

  
  

There’s no agenda, no pressure, and no need to be “doing it right.”

Just support for wherever you are - however it looks today.

All emotional reactions are normal in grief.

Grief shows up in many ways: sadness, yes - but also numbness, anger, anxiety, guilt, relief, or even moments of laughter. All of these are valid.

But grief isn’t only emotional.

It can affect how you think, how your body feels, how you relate to others, and how you see the world. It can disrupt sleep, appetite, memory, and concentration.

It may also be shaped by your culture, your spirituality, your past experiences of loss, or your role in your family or community.

None of this means you’re doing it wrong. It simply means you’re grieving.And in counselling, we make space for all of it - not just the emotions, but the full-body, full-life impact of loss.

You don’t need to “get over it.”

One of the most compassionate truths about grief is this:We don’t “get over” the people (or things) we love.

Instead, we learn how to carry them with us in new ways. We integrate the loss into our lives - not by forgetting, but by remembering. Not by disconnecting, but by adjusting.

One of my core beliefs as a grief counsellor is this: We don’t fix grief. We witness it. And in doing so, we often find that it becomes just a little easier to carry.

Grief counselling isn’t about erasing your pain. It’s about helping you live alongside it - and eventually, rediscover meaning, connection, and even joy, without letting go of the love that remains.

When should I seek grief counselling?

Because grief is so deeply personal, only you can answer this question.There’s no timeline. There’s no right or wrong point at which to seek support.

Some people come to counselling in the early days or weeks after a loss, particularly when the loss is traumatic or overwhelming. Others arrive months or even decades later, when they feel ready to tend to a wound that’s long been carried in silence.

Sometimes, grief counselling begins before the loss - in cases of anticipated death or life-altering diagnoses. When a loved one is facing a terminal illness, or when you’re coming to terms with what’s ahead, it can be helpful to have support while you navigate the uncertainty and start adjusting to the emotional shifts already unfolding.

Grief and loss are many and varied.

While we often associate grief with bereavement, it can also arise from other significant life changes - such as:

• Job loss

• Relationship breakdowns

• Shifts in identity or role

• Health diagnoses

• Fertility challenges

• Life not turning out as expected

These losses can be just as painful and disorienting - and just as deserving of care and attention.

Grief counselling offers a space to name and honour those quieter, often unseen forms of grief.

Explore gently. Take your time.

If you’re not sure what you need yet, that’s okay.

You don’t have to walk through this alone. I’m here to offer a gentle, non-judgemental space to explore whatever is showing up for you - at your own pace, in your own way.

I offer free discovery calls because I believe it’s important that support feels right for you. Sometimes that means working together - and sometimes, I may suggest other services that might support your journey too.

Think of it as a pressure-free first step - a chance to test the waters, to feel heard, and to see what might help lighten the load.

Wishing you a gentle path, one step at a time. I’ll be here if and when you’re ready.

Jemima

Grief Counselling services

Grief takes time, and you deserve softness as you move through it.