Month: June 2022

If you have recently suffered a bereavement, or find yourself struggling with another mental health issue of any kind, you might feel like reaching out for counselling in Beaconsfield or online. Having a dedicated place to explore difficult emotions in your own way, in an atmosphere devoid of judgement, helps you process your feelings and reach a better place over time.

However, if you have never received counselling before, you might be wondering whether in-person counselling or Zoom counselling is better. How do you know which one you’re more suited to, after all? Certain personalities may prefer the face-to-face format, while others would naturally side with Zoom. To help you make a decision that is right for you, this blog post walks you through the merits of both formats.

Zoom Counselling 

For someone seeking counselling for the first time, it is natural to feel a bit anxious. If this is the case for you, it could be that starting off by receiving counselling on Zoom is the best way to go. Working with me from the comfort of your own home helps you feel a bit more at ease and talk with greater freedom, which in turn allows us to make more progress in our sessions together. You have that extra layer of privacy, along with saving yourself from travel expenses and the pressure of visiting a new place.

Another key benefit of Zoom counselling is the flexibility that it provides. I know how busy people are, and having to visit a specific place once a week simply isn’t practically possible for many out there. With Zoom counselling, you can do it on your lunch break, or right after work at 5pm or 6pm. You are less likely to miss sessions and, as such, maintain that sense of consistency which is so important for progress in therapy.

In-Person Counselling in Beaconsfield

Some may feel more secure with Zoom counselling, but others will insist that in-person counselling in Beaconsfield is the only real way to make true progress with me. That in-person rapport may be what you require in order to genuinely open up about your feelings. Many people need to see the body language, gauge the vocal tone, breathe the same air – otherwise it just doesn’t feel right and they can’t adequately communicate how they feel.

And while a good number of people may feel more comfortable at home, it is important to remember that a lot of individuals don’t have a peaceful home life. For some, my practice in Beaconsfield feels like their only safe space in the world. Visiting the same place every week, at the same time, can be a crucial constant for someone whose domestic life is unstable and/or abusive.

If you are still unsure about whether to have counselling over Zoom or from my Beaconsfield practice, feel free to give me a call and I’d be happy to talk it through with you some more ahead of us arranging an initial session. 

When someone close to you dies, you are bound to feel a number of difficult emotions. Many feel depressed; others get angry; some people go extremely numb, or simply tune out. Grief comes to people in different ways, and it takes time to make sense of these challenging feelings. Seeing a bereavement counsellor in Beaconsfield, like myself, may feel like the next step – a friendly, confidential space to talk through your grief in a way that makes sense to you.

That said, if you’ve never had any counselling before, you might be wondering whether it’s the right thing for you. You will likely have a number of doubts and questions. This blog post gives you a couple of pointers about how to approach the question of seeking out bereavement counselling.

Give It Some Time 

A lot of people will immediately seek bereavement counselling in Beaconsfield after losing a loved one, but I tend to advise against this. Going to counselling right away isn’t actually the best idea, no matter how bad you may be feeling, because you haven’t given yourself a chance to properly explore the loss and process the feelings associated with your grief.

The healthiest thing to do – and also the hardest – is to let yourself experience the emotions that come up. Doing this gives you a greater understanding of the role these feelings play in your life, at which point we can start to actively look at them together.

Don’t Go Because Someone Tells You To 

People tend to assume that everyone who is grieving goes through each stage of grief – denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance – but this is not how grief works at all. Someone close to you might insist that you have to reach out for bereavement counselling, claiming that you’ll never get past the depression stage, or the bargaining stage, if you don’t. However, every loss brings a different reaction from each person, so the only person who can tell whether you need bereavement counselling is, well, you!

Some people may never feel the need to speak to a bereavement counsellor. Others might be fine for months, only for feelings to start coming up. If you are grieving parents, it could be that one party is ready for bereavement counselling, while the other doesn’t feel remotely prepared for such a thing. Each case is different, and in each one you have to listen to yourself – in particular what your gut tells you.

If you are thinking about seeking bereavement counselling in Beaconsfield or online and have any questions, feel free to give me a call at any time.

As a counsellor in Beaconsfield and online, I have experience in working with parents who have lost their child. I understand that life can never be quite the same after such a loss. You may feel like you have lost a part of yourself, and this is a normal, understandable thing to believe after losing a child. Although you may not feel this way right now, life does improve. We slowly learn to manage. To help you navigate this difficult time, this blog walks you through a few pieces of advice for navigating this particular form of grief.

Establish a Routine 

It may well be that the grief you feel is so considerable that you start to ignore your own health. Many people forget to eat, for example, or stop exercising. Daily responsibilities end up being neglected. Failing to stay on top of these aspects of your life will, eventually, make your situation even worse, and as a result it is important to establish a routine that encourages you to keep practising these good habits. This might entail taking a walk every day, or ensuring that you eat breakfast each morning. Keeping yourself in a healthy rhythm in this way makes an important difference to your mental wellbeing.

Communicate With Your Partner 

You need to accept that the dynamic with your partner will change in some way after losing a child you had together. Sometimes, couples in these situations decide to split up, because staying with the partner might be too painful. On the other hand, you could become even closer due to the fact that nobody else understands the hardship you experienced. Whatever feelings come up, it is important that you share them with your partner. Communication can often break down when both sides are grieving, which only serves to create barriers between the two parties, meaning you feel even more alone.

Find a Support Network

It is common to feel like you are on your own after losing a child. That sense of isolation can be powerful, but it is crucial to remember that you are not alone. So many people have gone through something similar, and sharing your feelings with them can be liberating. There are people further down the path of grief who can provide valuable advice on how to navigate these challenging times, or simply be there to listen and understand. Sharing your feelings with others is such a valuable exercise. Keeping them to yourself certainly doesn’t help.

However, I understand that not everyone has a support network readily available to them. If you are struggling with the death of a child and need somewhere to talk, I provide confidential, personalised bereavement counselling in Beaconsfield and online, giving you a chance to explore your emotions in any way you see fit. Feel free to get in touch at any time.