Navigating Bereavement: A Counsellor’s Personal Journey Through Loss and Healing
Originally published in Counselling Matters Magazine June 2024
I became a counsellor as a result of bereavement. I was winding down my teaching career, wondering what was next for me. I occupied myself with retirement projects like converting a camper van but knew that doing nothing in retirement was not an option.
During the heatwave in July 2018, my world fell apart. A brief phone call had us racing to London in the knowledge that our daughter had taken her own life that afternoon. My grief process began with me slipping into my active role. It felt very natural to comfort her friends, make logistical phone calls, and introduce stability and calm into a chaotic and desperate space.
Within two weeks, I had signed up to train as a Counsellor, a three-year journey. The Tutor had reservations because I had recently been bereaved, but a face-to-face meeting convinced him of my readiness. I needed to give something back and find a purpose for my retirement years.
I was simultaneously trying to find counselling for myself. This was also met with resistance. Bereavement Counselling charities suggested I wait three months before starting anything. My response was to ring Samaritans regularly and…
