Dear All,
Has anyone found that counselling worked for them?
Aly xxx
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Dear Aly
I have had four sessions out of seven planned counselling. To be honest, so far I don’t feel any better. Apparently, I have suppressed trauma from caring for my dear husband, seeing him deteriorate and dying in my arms. Talking with her in so much personal detail really upset me last week.
I am hoping that eventually I will find some improvement.
Love and hugs in this awful journey xx
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Yeh im having bereavment counselling with sue ryder - waited 4 months for it but its worth it … its helping to clear the fog as i just told @Annaessex … you go quite deep but i think its helping me xx
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Dear Aly,
I started counselling 6 months after my husband died as I realised I needed help to stop my thoughts spiralling.
The counsellor was honest about what counselling could or could not help with, and her honest words from day one of “nothing can make what happened any less shit” are what drew me to her.
I have had 9 sessions so far. The early sessions covered how quickly my husband died after diagnosis and how my thought was always about his last day and him dying in my arms - it was on a constant loop. I was diagnosed with PTSD.
The sessions definitely helped me to restructure my thoughts. I still think of my husband’s last day, but now with thoughts of how privileged I am that he loved me and that he trusted me to be the only one to share his last breath and last heartbeat with.
I find each session emotionally exhausting as they go very deep, but they also give me an opportunity to talk through everything in my life. She is a great sounding board and I can talk about anything without judgement.
Nothing can make what we are now living through any easier, it is a lonely journey but counselling can help with rephrasing your thoughts and let you get all the difficult and dark thoughts out of your head.
Thoughts of peace and comfort to you xx Rachael
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@AlysonandSteve
Hi Aly
I had 6 sessions of counselling. Didn’t think it helped initially as all I did was cry at each session but just having a safe place to talk to someone I think did help.
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Hi all. I have had one counselling session. Didn’t feel any benefit but very early days. I have had to go private for counselling after being on waiting list for weeks with Cruse and MacMillan. I was told there are bereavement cafes where you can meet others for a coffee and cake. These sound great but unfortunately none in my area.
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I saw a private counsellor from week 1. Needed someone to talk to who wouldn’t get upset about what I was saying and really needed to talk and vent and get things off my chest.
I found it great. Did you contact the one whose details I sent you?
Ali
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Thst sounds such a good idea 
bereavment cafes … dont think any near me either but i have found a group nesr me but not sure if i wanna go at moment … x
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still waiting almost a year now but have a mental health therapist and a social prescibet
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I had a couple of sessions which I paid for in advance of my sons wedding. He got married just three months after John died and I needed to push my sadness aside and make the day about him and his lovely wife. She was brilliant talking me through breathing exercises, how to deal with speeches (which obvs mentioned John) and meeting and greeting people. The day was perfect, yes at times I was overwhelmed, but made it to 11 pm before taking my granddaughter to bed. So a BIG yes from me, counselling did help.
Much love
Georgina
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My partner’s son had counselling when his dad (my partner) passed. Now he’s suggesting that I try counselling. I’m just anxious about how deep it will go, and maybe even pull in stuff from when my mother died.
I’m kind of using this on-line site as an in between - not full counselling, but I can get some stuff off my chest.
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Im having beteavment counselling. Has 4 sessions. You just speak about what you need to get off your chest in a safe space thats all. It has made me emotional but im sure those emotional things were there anyway and i was just suppressing them xxx
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@Deb5 are you finding them beneficial? I’ve only had one and got another booked but not sure it’s going to help. I was hoping she would give suggestions of things to try to help but just wanted me to talk. I think I’m looking for miracles to be honest but will plod on. Just wondered if you felt the longer you went the more helpful it was.
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Yeh i think its releasing some tensions and its good to talk about what has happened to us . I think it probably helps to see things clearer . They dont give u suggestions - they sort of guide you to find the answer within yourself x
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@Deb5 thanks for replying. Glad your finding it helpful. Xx
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I had 2 sessions of counselling but stopped as i found them very upsetting the choice is yours of course
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its been a year and had none yet but it may help
as not only lost brian i moved from
a place i called home for 40 years( not the house but place) i will see how it goes x
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I think its good … it is upsetting but makes you understand it more i think … this is first time i been able to say what i really think/feel since my husband passed … without reproach x
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I found that the lady who was very nice seemed to be pushing into things that i was not ready for like getting rid of all of her clothes etc but even though it has been 9 months i still have all of her clothes and other item’s i will probably have them for months to come it gives me comfort knowing they are there if you know what I mean hope that doesn’t sound to weird xx
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No nothing like that for me xx
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