bereavement counselling

paul2louise

I have read the other post about NHS counselling services. I lost my 30 year old brother before christmas and it is still a shock. I have been offered through work a "life coach". At first this seemed ok but all i seem to be talking about is work. I dont have any knowledge of help available through the nhs but i wonder if i need more specific bereavement counselling not life coaching. I am worried about the costs involved if i had to pay.

i suppose i should go and see my doctor i just wondered if anyone knew of any alterantive methods that donot cost too much that are specific to the loss death of someone close.

thank you

Louise

patchwork_cat

Hi
Try Cruse - just put Cruse in the address bar and their website comes up. Your Dr may well refer you to a counsellor. Locally we have a service called CHibs (Calderdale help in bereavement services) You may have something similar in your area.

When my parents died I asked my Dr for counselling and he said You've just had it!(Needless to say that Dr has been struck of - not because of me and it was 10 yrs later, but his attitude caught up with him!) However another Dr did refer me to their Psychologist - it didn't help me, but it does help some.

Good Luck and hugs - Time does help
patch

goldentouch

I'm sorry to hear about your loss.

A visit to your gp is a good idea. They are very clued up these days on bereavement services. He/she will point you in the right direction.

Cruse is also good as patchwork suggested.

Take care.

Rikki

I lost my sister just before Christmas two years ago aged 36 so I understand how you feel.
Can you not share his life experiences with other members of you family that knew him and loved him as much as you? Why do you feel you need to talk to someone outside the family?

tru

My doctor's surgery has just taken on a counsellor, appointments are free but if you want any books, CDs etc you have to pay for them (someone I know is seeing her for anxiety attacks, they bought a book though they didn't have to, it's really helping them). Ring your doc, maybe they offer the same?

sparklymessygirl

Hi Louise,

So sorry to hear about your brother - here is the website for cruse
http://www.crusebereavementcare.org.uk/

I have done some training as a life coach and used them myself - it isn't the same as counselling so wouldn't really help with that issue (I think it is fab for other things)

Sending you hugs - I hope it gets easier for you and that you get to a point where you are able to talk freely and positively and happily about your brother.

Sparkly
x

Fleago

Rikki wrote:

I lost my sister just before Christmas two years ago aged 36 so I understand how you feel.
Can you not share his life experiences with other members of you family that knew him and loved him as much as you? Why do you feel you need to talk to someone outside the family?

Rikki, I'm so sorry you lost your sister. I am not meaning to be critical of what you said in any way at all but I would like to say that sometimes people do feel a need to go outwith the family, simply because other loved ones can be too close, if that makes sense Often family members are at different stages of grieving or are dealing with it in a way that doesn't sit with another wanting to talk. In these instances a neutral person, such as a Cruse counsellor, can be of enormous help to a bereaved person.

Sharing memories and grieving with family can be enormously helpful, but sometimes others need some outside intervention.

Fleago