Grieving Your Child
If you are reading this because your much-loved child has died, we are so very sorry for your loss. I understand the devastating impact their death can have on you and your family. In fact, Pure Counselling and Psychotherapy was born from personal lived experience of this unique type of grief. ‘Pure as the driven snow’ was the meaning of my daughter’s name.
I offer confidential support to any family member or professional (12 years and up) affected by the death of a baby or child. Bereavement counselling and psychotherapy is here when you need it. For some, your bereavement may be recent, for others it might have been many years ago.
What can I expect from bereavement counselling?
You will be given a safe and confidential space to grieve and remember your child.
If your bereavement was very recent (less than 6 months):
Many charities and organisations are unable to provide bereavement support before the 6-month mark due to funding and limited availability. If they can only see you for six sessions it makes sense for those sessions to be at a time when they hope their work will be optimal.
However, as bereaved parents, we know that in the early stages of bereavement that even six minutes can feel like an intolerably long time! Some bereaved family members crave the opportunity to speak to an understanding other who can provide sanctuary for their thoughts, feelings, experiences, and emotions, away from the pain and sorrow of their family and friends. I will provide this helpful space for you to feel understood and heard in your early days of grief.
Beyond 6 months, when the time is right for you:
We will begin to explore your grief with compassion, knowledge, understanding and hope. Bereaved family members often find it helpful to understand their grief on a simple neurological and physiological level. Knowing why we feel the way we do, can relieve some of the frustration and worry we might feel towards our grief. Our bodies and minds learning to adjust, and this can take time; just like learning a new language, or a new skill, would.
Together we will:
- Build on your exiting coping strategies to help nourish you emotionally and physically.
- Support your relationships with others, and the special ongoing connection you have with your child who died.
- Explore your relationship with yourself: your feelings, thoughts, needs, and behaviours.
- Negotiate challenges, such as changing dynamics, boundaries, roles, and perspectives.
Why Choose Pure Counselling and Psychotherapy
My name is Sinéad, I have had the great honour of supporting hundreds of bereaved family members following the death of their baby or child. I recognise the deep impact grieving a much loved child can bring, and dedicate a huge part of my work improving bereavement counselling services for bereaved families.
I have worked and continue to work with international, national, and local charities and organisations to provide meaningful, bereavement support and psychotherapy for grieving families, when they need it most. I have written many resources for this unique type of bereavement and grief.
I have provided and continue to provide training and workshops for families, volunteers, and professionals both in the UK and overseas. I have appeared on podcasts and written guest articles and blogs for counselling organisations, such as the BACP.
My lived experience offers a deeper level of understanding of this unique type of grief, and what it is to negotiate life love after loss. My continual passion, drive, and experience of working with bereaved families, ensures that the service I provide is current and responsive to your unique needs, without any assumptions about what grief means to you.
With Pure Counselling and Psychotherapy, you are assured pure understanding, pure commitment, pure compassion and pure recognition of the ongoing love you have for your child.
To find out more...