Counselling for Adults

Hospice care is all about what matters most, and includes your emotional and psychological health. Our counselling service is available to anyone with a life limiting diagnosis, and their loved ones regardless of whether you are known to hospice services.

Counselling is available at any time in the journey through hospice care, whether you have a diagnosis and want to explore your feelings about dying or are a loved one who wants to talk through challenging feelings about bereavement and loss.

Counselling for people with a life-limiting diagnosis

Living with a terminal or life-limiting illness is a different experience for everyone. It can be a complex tangle of emotions which may be difficult to communicate with those closest to us. Counselling provides a space where you can explore your feelings, beliefs and fears and talk about what is important to you in a safe and supportive way, with someone who is trained to do it sensitively.

Complete self-referral form

You may also want some help with practical planning or doing some legacy work which our social work team can support you with.

Pre-bereavement counselling

Pre-bereavement is also called anticipatory grief. This feeling of loss can occur before a loved one dies and may involve sadness, anger, fear, loneliness and many other complex feelings. Often, one day might be flooded with difficult emotions – though the next you feel emotionally empty. This is normal, but often when anticipating the death of someone important to us, we do not prioritise looking after our own emotional health.

Talking about these feelings can allow you to express feelings that may not otherwise be spoken, and begin to process the emotional pain and prepare for the loss in a safe, non-judgemental space.

Complete self-referral form

You may also want some help with practical planning or legacy work, which our social work team can support you with.

Bereavement counselling

When someone important to you dies, both when predicted or unexpected, it can be incredibly difficult. Everyone reacts to their loss in their own way, it is as unique as the relationship you had with the person you have lost. Grief can be very painful, and you may experience thoughts and feelings that you don’t expect.

And while feelings of sadness, guilt, relief or anxiety about how life will change are all normal, they can feel difficult to manage alone. Some people find it helpful to talk about their loss, and our trained counsellors are here to provide a safe space to give you the opportunity to explore these feelings.

You may also have some practical or financial concerns after someone close has died. The social work team can support you with this.

Counselling FAQs

Counselling is a space where you can explore your personal feelings, beliefs and thoughts – in a structured, safe and supportive way, with someone who is trained to support you sensitively and professionally. Counselling helps us to cope better emotionally, especially at difficult times, when feelings are often confusing and overwhelming. We generally can offer up to 6-8 sessions.

Counselling can help you to deal with emotional distress, be it feelings of anxiety or panic, stress and hopelessness, depression, sadness, grief and loneliness and self-worth and fears around illness and mortality. There is no wrong way to experience loss or grieve, and your counsellor will provide a space to talk about the emotions and answer any questions that are often more difficult to voice.

Sometimes people are anxious when they start counselling, so this is to help to understand what will happen. The first session will cover the following

1. Introductions

Your counsellor will spend a few minutes introducing themselves and explaining how they work. You can ask them about their qualifications and experience, your therapy or anything you’re not sure about. Your therapist will ensure you feel at ease by sorting out things like where you would like to sit, and whether you use first names or are more formal.

2. The counselling contract

Your therapist will agree the terms, or contract, of the work with you, which will include the regular appointment time, information about confidentiality (detailed below) and some practicalities such as how to get in contact, for example to rearrange appointments.

3. Confidentiality

What you talk about in your counselling sessions is confidential and this will be discussed with your counsellor at outset. Your counsellor will keep brief notes outlining key areas of discussion, but this will not be accessible to any hospice staff outside the counselling team.

There are exceptional circumstances when counsellors may need to talk to another professional, for example if there appears to be a serious risk of harm to you or to others. This is usually done with your agreement.

Your counsellor will offer you the personal space the opportunity to think and talk about yourself and your concerns in a way that you often can’t do with family and friends. A place and time that is just for you to talk about those things that you need to. They will listen to the way you feel and how this affects you and accept the way you are without judgement or agenda. If appropriate, they will help you to make the changes that you would like to happen.