GRIEF GUIDING
Grief as a journey
Each time a loved one dies or we face a significant loss, our experience will be different – a different relationship and a different set of circumstances. It can feel a bit like arriving in a strange new landscape without a map or set of directions, unsure how to move forwards or how long the journey will take.
Most people cope on their own, usually with the support of friends and loved ones and without the need for professional help. However, even with the best support network, bereavement and loss can be challenging. There may be specific reasons why grief can be hard to manage – to do with the relationship, for example, or other unresolved issues.
After a difficult loss, you may find yourself feeling stuck – unsure how to move forwards with your life, or unable to get past certain thoughts or emotions.
On the other hand, you may have experienced a good ending but have a desire to honour your loved one’s memory or mark the beginning of your next life chapter in some new way.
Wherever you find yourself, it can help to have someone experienced alongside you who knows the terrain and can support you to navigate the journey.
That’s where I come in. As your grief guide, I create a safe space to explore bereavement and loss, helping you make sense of where you are and find a way through. I do that by offering specialist counselling and support, alongside practical resources and compassionate encouragement.
My map
I use a kind of map to help me locate where you are in this landscape of loss. It’s called the ‘Tasks of Mourning’ theory, and it was developed by renowned author and researcher Dr William Worden.
According to Worden, grief is a process that involves working through the following series of tasks:
Accepting the reality of the loss
Processing the pain of grief
Adjusting to life after the loss
Finding an enduring connection while embarking on a new life
These tasks are not linear and may be repeated at different times, in different ways.
I help you make sense of your surroundings as you visit each of these locations and support you to keep moving along the path so you can ultimately reach a more peaceful place following your loss.
My compass
In helping you to navigate your experience, the following four directions make up the compass that helps me guide you:
My own experiences of bereavement and loss
My therapeutic experiences with clients
My specialist knowledge and skills
Awareness of grief as a potential tool for growth
My equipment
The equipment I take on our journey together are the tools and resources I also share with you, so you can use them between sessions or to help you keep navigating on your own once our work has come to an end.
Some of these tools include:
Focusing: a technique that enables you to tune into the sensations in your body to better process your feelings.
Book and podcast recommendations.
Creative activities to help you explore your thoughts and feelings or honour loved ones.
Signposting to various holistic practitioners who offer wider support for the body, mind, and spirit, if that is desired.
Your guide
If you’d like to hear more about how my Grief Guiding approach could help you or someone you know, get in touch for a chat or free initial consultation.