The death of a loved one can be one of the most difficult or painful experiences we face in our lifetime, and when we are bereaved there are many common responses to our loss including cognitive and physical reactions:

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shock; disbelief; denial; anger; sadness; anxiety; relief; guilt; despair; loneliness; longing or yearning; depression; sleep problems; poor concentration; changes in appetite; lack of emotion or heightened emotion; headache and/or pain in the body.

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Although these are common reactions it is important to know that we all experience bereavement differently and react in different ways when someone close to us dies.  There is no right or wrong way to grieve.  The object of our grief is also not right or wrong - it may be the death of a beloved pet that triggers a strong grief reaction.

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Sometimes, whether or not we have the support of family and friends, there is a need for professional help, so that we can explore our feelings and thoughts about our loss to someone who is not involved in our daily lives, and who can help us work through issues about the death of a loved one that continue to trouble us.

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Sometimes, grieving can be complicated, depending on the nature of our relationship to the person who died, and on other factors such as the circumstances surrounding the death, or if more than one person died.  Sometimes a recent death can trigger feelings associated with a bereavement from long ago, possibly a loss that was difficult to work through at the time.  Understanding how historical or current events may be interfering with our grieving process can be an important insight and a step towards healing ourselves and making our lives meaningful.

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Another form of grief - anticipatory grief - is the grief of losing a loved one before they have died. In society today, there are many families caring for relatives or loved ones with life-limiting conditions.  This might be a child, a partner or an ageing parent who is not going to recover from their illness, and for family members, prior knowledge of deteriorating health and eventual death is often emotionally painful.  Being able to express and explore feelings and thoughts about our loved ones, can help us make sense of our experiences, and often generates new ways of being and insight about how to communicate meaningfully with those around us.

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As an experienced bereavement therapist, I work with my clients using a variety of therapeutic techniques to help them work through the issues they are struggling with. I work sensitively, providing my clients with a safe space in which painful thoughts and feelings (as well as joy and hope) can be shared and explored.

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If you would like to contact me to book an initial session or to make further enquiries, please Call: 07915 291852 or send an email to: dr.c.a.nixon@gmail.com.  Alternatively you can check availability for an initial session and Book Online.