Bereavement

Lead a meaningful life.

When to seek help

If these feelings persist and do not improve over time, it could be a sign that you are struggling with complicated bereavement. Therapy / counselling can help with complicated bereavement. If you suffer from complicated bereavement you are likely to experience some or most of the following symptoms for at least six months after the loss:

An intense belief that you are responsible for the death or loss or that could have prevented the death or the loss
Bitterness or anger related to the death or loss
Confusion about one’s role in life, or a diminished sense of one’s identity
Difficulty in engaging with social or other activities and a reluctance to pursue interests
Difficulty in experiencing positive memories about the deceased or the loss
Difficulty trusting other individuals since the death or loss
Excessive avoidance of reminders of the loss (e.g., avoidance of individuals, places or situations associated with the deceased)
Experiencing disbelief or emotional numbness
Feeling alone or detached from other individuals
Feeling that life is meaningless or empty after the death or loss, or the belief that one cannot function
Inability to experience a positive mood
Marked difficulty accepting the death or loss
Persistent preoccupation with the death or loss

Dr Maria Pournara, Chartered Psychologist, offers bereavement counselling and can help you process different emotions assisting you to go through the bereavement process.

Bereavement describes the sense of loss of an important person close to us. Bereavement also describes the process we go through to adjust to this significant loss.

Grief is a normal and healthy response to losing someone important to us. If you have recently experienced a loss of an important person close to you might experience some or most of the following feelings:

Overwhelming sorrow, pain and sadness
Numbness and shock
A sense that life has no meaning or purpose
Angry and/or irritation
Feelings of guilt
Tearfulness most of the time
Feeling tired and/or exhausted
Loss of pleasure in daily life
Mistrust of others
Not accepting the loss

My approach

I am a highly trained and experienced Psychologist with more than 10 years in clinical practice, offering evidence based psychological treatment tailored to your unique needs. My approach allows me to draw from different therapeutic models and skills to offer a thoughtful therapeutic service and the best psychological care.

My qualifications

I am a Chartered Psychologist HCPC, BPS and BACP registered with more 10 years of experience in the NHS, third sector and private practice. I am a highly trained and experienced practitioner psychologist providing evidence based psychological services to individuals and couples. I apply my clinical expertise in a wide range of psychological and emotional difficulties offering a psychological service tailored to your unique needs. I aim to help you develop insight into your difficulties, acquire healthy coping strategies in order to lead a meaningful life and build meaningful relationships.