Bereavement and grief therapy in London and online

What grief can feel like

Grief is a natural response to loss, but that does not make it any easier to live through. After someone dies, you might feel overwhelming sadness, disbelief, anger, guilt, fear or a strange numbness. Feelings can swing from one hour to the next. Grief also shows up in the body, as exhaustion, poor sleep, aches or a sense of being in a fog.

There is no timetable. Some people feel the full weight months after a death, once the practical tasks are done and others have stopped checking in. Grief can be complicated by a difficult relationship with the person who died, a sudden or traumatic death, a loss that others do not recognise, or several losses close together.

Grief is not only about death. People also grieve the end of a relationship, a pregnancy loss, a diagnosis, the loss of a home or country, or a future they had imagined.

Families and cultures also grieve in different ways. You may feel caught between the rituals you grew up with and the expectations around you, or be grieving someone far away whose funeral you could not attend. All of this can be brought into therapy.

How I work with grief and bereavement

I do not see grief as something to fix or move through in neat stages. My role is to stay alongside you and make room for whatever you are feeling, however messy or contradictory it seems.

Space to talk about the person you have lost

Many people find it a relief to talk freely about the person who died: who they were, what they meant, and the memories you want to hold onto. Taking a person-centred approach, I offer warmth and steady attention so you can do this without worrying about upsetting anyone.

Making room for the harder feelings

Grief often brings feelings that are hard to admit, such as anger at the person who died, guilt about things said or unsaid, or relief after a long illness. Drawing on psychodynamic ideas, we can gently explore these feelings and how your loss may echo earlier experiences in your life.

Finding ways to carry on

Over time, many people find ways to stay connected to the person they have lost while slowly rebuilding a life around that loss. We might think about practical things, like anniversaries, returning to work or how to talk to family, and I can draw on CBT-informed ideas if you find yourself stuck in cycles of worry or self-blame. If the loss was sudden or traumatic, I bring a trauma-informed approach, and you may find my page on trauma helpful.

What to expect

We start with an initial consultation to talk about what has happened, in as much or as little detail as you like, and whether therapy feels right now. Some people come soon after a death, while others come months or years later. Both are completely valid. You can find out more about your first session and my fees.

Sessions take place online across the UK and internationally, or in person in Farringdon, Central London. You are welcome to bring photos, letters or anything else that helps you talk about the person you are missing. There is no need to prepare. Some sessions may be full of words and memories, others quieter, and both are part of the work.

If your grief has turned into a persistent low mood, or you are struggling to function day to day, please also speak to your GP.