Grief counselling (bereavement counselling)

Grief counselling, or bereavement counselling, is support from a trained counsellor or volunteer to help you talk through a loss and the feelings that come with it. It is offered by charities such as Cruse and Marie Curie, and through NHS talking therapies, which adults in England can contact directly without a GP referral.

When it can help

Counselling is there when you are struggling to cope: low mood, anxiety or distress that does not ease after a loss. It gives you a safe, structured space to talk about feelings that can be hard to share, and to understand what grief is doing. You do not have to be in crisis to ask for it.

Where to find it

Your GP can refer you to NHS talking therapies and to local bereavement counselling, free of charge. NHS talking therapies in England also take self-referrals from adults aged 18 and over, or 16 and over in some areas. Cruse Bereavement Support runs a free helpline on 0808 808 1677 on weekdays, with local one-to-one and group support. Marie Curie has a support line on 0800 090 2309 for anyone bereaved after a terminal illness. Specialist charities such as Sands and Child Bereavement UK support particular losses. Private counsellors are listed on the BACP and UKCP registers, at a fee per session that varies by area.

What to expect

The first call is often the hardest part. A counsellor will not tell you how to feel or when to stop. A few sessions are often enough, and going once and not going back is allowed. NHS waits vary by area. If grief has stayed overwhelming for many months, a counsellor can help with complicated grief as well. For thoughts of harming yourself, the Samaritans answer on 116 123, day and night.