Bereavement and loss
Grief has no timetable. Therapy gives you a place to feel it, at your own pace.
Losing someone you love can turn life upside down. Grief can be overwhelming in the early days, and it can also arrive later, or keep returning long after other people seem to expect you to have moved on.
Loss isn't only about death. People grieve the end of a relationship, a pregnancy that didn't continue, a career, their health, a home, or the life they'd expected to have. All of these deserve space.
What grief can feel like
Waves of sadness that come out of nowhere
Numbness, or feeling unable to cry
Anger, guilt, regret or questions you can't answer
Exhaustion, poor sleep or difficulty concentrating
Feeling that others don't understand, or that you should be "over it" by now
Avoiding reminders, or holding on tightly to them
Old losses resurfacing alongside a new one
There's no right way to grieve. Some people want to talk about the person they've lost; others need help simply getting through the days.
How therapy can help
Friends and family can be a great support, but they're often grieving too, or unsure what to say. Therapy offers a space that is just for you, where you don't need to protect anyone else's feelings.
With your therapist you can:
Talk openly about the person or what you've lost, including the complicated parts
Make sense of feelings that seem confusing or contradictory
Find ways to carry the loss while still living your life
Work through grief that feels stuck, or that was never properly acknowledged
Look after yourself during anniversaries and other hard moments
What to expect
You start with a free 15-minute consultation with the therapist you choose. There's no obligation, and you can say as much or as little as you like.
Sessions are usually weekly and last 50 minutes, in person at our office in Nottingham city centre or online. Some people come for a short period; others find longer-term support helpful.
Common questions
Is it too soon to have therapy?
There's no wrong time. Some people want support straight away; others come months or years later. You can start whenever it feels right.
Is it too late? It happened years ago.
No. Grief that was put aside, perhaps because life had to carry on, often needs attention later.
What if the relationship with the person who died was difficult?
That can make grief more complicated, not less. Therapy is a place where mixed feelings are welcome.