Following the devastating loss of a loved one, life may seem impossible and overwhelming.

When someone we love dies, it 's difficult to imagine how life can continue without them. Many people I have worked with have struggled to see a future, or have experienced uncomfortable and sometimes unexpected feelings such as guilt, anger, regret, sadness and questions about what did, or did not, happen.

You may find yourself going over conversations, wishing things had been different, or wondering if you could have done more. You may feel angry at the person who died, at yourself, at other people, or at the circumstances surrounding the death.

There is no right or wrong way to grieve.

Bereavement can bring many challenges and changes. It can affect your relationships, routines, confidence and sense of who you are. You may feel alone, lost or isolated, even when you have people around you. Sometimes it can feel as though everyone else is carrying on while you are struggling to work out how to carry on yourself.

Grief is different for everyone, it does not follow a pattern or a timeline, and can change from one day to the next.

It can affect your mind, body and heart, leaving you feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, numb, unable to concentrate. Certain places, dates, songs or memories can bring feelings back very suddenly. You may also have moments when you feel okay, laugh or enjoy something, and then feel guilty for doing so.

Counselling can help you find a way to live with your loss by offering you a safe and supportive space to talk about what has happened and whatever you are experiencing.

You don't have to make sense of everything before you come. We can gently explore the thoughts, feelings and questions that may be difficult to talk about with family or friends, at a pace that feels right for you.

The aim isn't to forget the person you've lost or to simply "move on". Instead, we gently and slowly build life around your loss, on your terms.

This might mean finding ways to live with the grief while continuing to hold onto the memories, relationship and meaning that remain important to you.

See my Article How to Cope With Grief After Bereavement on The Counselling Directory

Losing a much-loved pet can leave a huge space in our lives.

A beloved pet can be a trusted companion and an important part of the family. When they are no longer there, the absence can feel enormous. Everyday routines change, the home can feel strangely quiet, and we can miss the companionship and connection they gave us.

Having lost my own much-loved pets, I have felt the heartache that comes with that loss.

Pet loss can also bring feelings of sadness, anger, guilt and loneliness, and sometimes open up other wounds or losses from the past.

According to the Dogs Trust, “over half of dog owners felt the grief they experienced after losing their dog was similar or worse to the loss of a family member.”

Yet pet bereavement isn't always understood by others. You may have been told to “get another one” or felt that you should be coping by now.

Your grief is real. You've lost someone very important from your life, and it is OK to grieve that loss.

Counselling can offer you a safe, compassionate space to talk about your pet, your loss and what you're experiencing, without judgement and at your own pace.

See my Article Why pet loss is real grief on The Counselling Directory 

Your relationship doesn't have to be at breaking point before you ask for help.

Most relationships go through difficult times. You might be arguing more, struggling to communicate, feeling disconnected, or simply wondering what happened to the closeness you once had.

Sometimes there isn't one big problem. Things have just become difficult between you, and you're not sure how to move forward.

Couples counselling offers you both a space to slow things down, understand each other better and explore whether your relationship can feel different.

Couples therapy isn't about taking sides or deciding who is right and wrong however, we will create a safe, calm space for you both to be heard and understand the patterns that have developed.

You might be dealing with:

• communication difficulties or frequent arguments

• feeling distant or disconnected

• loss of trust

• changes in intimacy or affection

• resentment or unresolved issues

• relationship difficulties following a major life change

You may simply have reached a point where you know your relationship isn't doing as well as it could be. That's enough reason to seek support.

Loss, Life Changes & Identity

Loss isn't always about bereavement. Sometimes life changes in ways that leave us grieving for something we once had, hoped for or imagined.

Loss can take many forms. It might be the end of a relationship, children leaving home, a change in family life, loss of health or independence, changes at work, or feeling that you've lost your sense of identity or belonging.

These changes can bring feelings of grief, sadness, anxiety, uncertainty and loss of confidence. You may find yourself questioning who you are, what you want, or what life looks like now.

Sometimes the hardest part is that other people don't recognise these experiences as a loss. You may feel that you should simply be able to move on, even when something important has changed.

You don't have to try to work it all out on your own. Counselling gives us time to sit with what has changed, talk through what you're experiencing and begin to understand what you need now.

Together, we can make sense of your experience, consider what matters to you now, and explore what you might want your life to look like from here.

You don't have to have everything figured out. Counselling can give you the space to find your way, and to begin building a life that feels more like your own.