trauma

Bereavement counselling and treatment

Bereavement can disrupt the way we expect things to be. Bereavement counselling can help you go through the process of grief by giving you space to talk about your loss and unpack your feelings. A loss can bring up various feelings ranging from sadness to anger, anxiety, guilt, loneliness, and yearning. Bereavement is part of our life and something that we all have to go through; yet sometimes the pain of a loss can feel overwhelming or shake us to our core. We may feel that others around us cannot understand us or that life has changed drastically after a loss and we lose control. It is also common for people to look for shortcuts to grief hoping that this will make the grief finish earlier. This is very understandable, but the reality is that grief takes time and there is no set time limit.

In complicated or traumatic grief , an integrative approach to therapy may be needed. Techniques from trauma-focused therapy may be helpful here as traumatic grief can lead to symptoms similar to PTSD and shatter our beliefs about ourselves and the world. Treatment for complicated grief may also draw on treatment for depression, especially if the grief has affected our ability to function or has created intense guilt. Some coping skills may be necessary for the traumatic stress to cool down before facing the sadness and grief. A complicated relationship with the loved one who died may need to be revisited and finding ways to say goodbye through rituals, letters, or a memory box can soothe the pain.

Breaking free from trauma and grief

If you are ready to take the first step towards tacking your trauma and grief, then book an appointment or contact us to arrange a 15-minute consultation. We have a high level of expertise in trauma-focused therapy and bereavement counselling and together we will find the best approach for you.

To treat PTSD or traumatic grief safely, we may need to work in partnership with a psychiatrist.

Dr Venetia Leonidaki talks to the British Heart Foundation about how to cope with a loss.