Bereavement & grief

Who this is for

You may be grieving the death of a partner, parent, friend, or someone else who mattered deeply. Or you might be carrying a loss that others struggle to name: miscarriage, estrangement, the death of a pet, or a life you expected that will not happen.

Grief is not a straight line. Some days you function; other days a song, a place, or a date brings everything back. You do not have to be "over it" by a set time to deserve support.

Common experiences we work with

• Recent bereavement and the shock of early grief
• Complicated or prolonged grief that does not ease with time
• Guilt, anger, or relief mixed with sadness
• Difficulty returning to work, social life, or decision-making
• Anniversaries, holidays, and fear of forgetting
• Supporting a family while grieving yourself

How therapy helps

Grief work is not about rushing you to "move on". We make space for what happened, what you lost, and what you still need. Brief, focused therapy can help you process the loss, rebuild daily functioning, and find ways to carry the person or life you lost without being consumed by pain.

Evidence suggests many people benefit from 6-16 sessions for grief-related difficulties, though this varies widely. We review pace and goals together rather than following a fixed script.

Signs it may be time to seek help

Grief is a natural response to loss; most people gradually adapt with time and support. Therapy is recommended when grief remains intensely debilitating, feels stuck, or includes prolonged yearning and preoccupation with the deceased that interferes with daily life for many months. The ICD-11 includes prolonged grief disorder; DSM-5-TR describes persistent complex bereavement-related symptoms when reactions are unusually severe and enduring.

You may also seek help for losses that others minimise: miscarriage, estrangement, or the death of a pet. Your pain does not need official recognition to be valid.

• Difficulty accepting the death or believing the person is really gone
• Intense emotional pain most days, more than six to twelve months after the loss
• Avoiding reminders of the person or, conversely, unable to engage with life
• Feeling life is meaningless or wishing to have died with them
• Inability to return to work, care for children, or manage daily tasks
• Persistent guilt, anger, or bitterness about how the person died

What the evidence suggests

Research on grief interventions shows that structured psychological therapy can reduce complicated grief symptoms and improve functioning, particularly when grief is prolonged or traumatic. CBT-oriented grief therapy helps with unhelpful beliefs ("I should be over this") and gradual re-engagement with life. Person-centred and emotionally focused work provides space to process the relationship and meaning of the loss.

There is no fixed timetable for "normal" grief, but when distress remains severe and disabling, evidence supports seeking professional help rather than waiting indefinitely.

What a session looks like

Sessions are 50 minutes, unhurried but purposeful. We may talk about the person who died, what you miss, what was unfinished, and what daily life requires of you now. There is no pressure to perform recovery; we work toward functioning, connection, and a relationship with memory that you can live with.

If the death was traumatic or sudden, we pace carefully and may draw on trauma-informed methods when appropriate.

Accessing therapy at Door to Therapy

Grief counselling at Door to Therapy is provided by Dr. Santiago de Ossorno, HCPC-registered counselling psychologist, online across the UK and Spain and in-person in London. There is no minimum or maximum time since the loss to book.

A free 15-minute consultation can help you decide whether therapy is right now or whether another service (cruse, faith community, GP) should come first. If you are thinking of harming yourself, contact 999, Samaritans (116 123), or your GP urgently.

Standard sessions are £80. Typical grief-focused courses often fall in the 6–16 session range in research literature; we agree a flexible plan with you.

What progress can look like

Progress in grief is not linear. It may mean crying less often, returning to work part-time, or remembering the person with warmth as well as pain. Complicated grief therapy aims for restoration of capacity in daily life while honouring the bond.

You may always miss the person; therapy targets suffering that prevents living, not love itself.

Grief, culture, and complicated mourning

Grief expressions vary across cultures and families: some encourage open weeping, others value stoicism. Therapy respects your way of mourning while noticing when isolation or rumination has become stuck.

Complicated grief therapy and similar approaches use techniques to process the loss, restore connection with others, and rebuild a life that includes the deceased in memory without constant acute pain. EMDR may help when the death was traumatic.

Anniversaries, legal tasks after a death, and supporting children while grieving add layers. Brief therapy can target the most disabling symptom first (sleep, panic, inability to work) while longer work unfolds if needed.

Your first appointment

There is no "right" interval after a death to book. A free consultation can help you decide if now is the time or if peer support or time is better first.

The first session explores the loss, your relationship with the person who died, current functioning, and what would feel like meaningful progress. Pace is gentle; you will not be asked to "move on".

If grief is complicated by trauma (sudden death, suicide, violence), we discuss whether trauma-focused methods may be needed alongside grief work.

Related resources

• Therapy pricing & ROI calculator →

  Session fees, typical course lengths, and what untreated grief may cost in work and wellbeing

• Emotional Mastery self-help programme →

  Working with difficult feelings and building emotional vocabulary, to complement therapy, not a substitute for live support

Approaches we use

Where we work

Frequently asked questions

Is it too soon after a death to start therapy?

There is no universal right time. Some people need support in the first weeks; others wait months or years. If grief is disrupting your life or feels stuck, that is reason enough to talk.

What if my grief doesn't look like sadness?

Grief can show up as numbness, irritability, exhaustion, anxiety, or feeling "fine" in public and falling apart alone. All of these are valid reasons to seek help.

How much does grief therapy cost?

Standard sessions are £80. For bereavement, evidence-based ranges often sit around 6-16 sessions, though we agree a plan that fits your situation. See our pricing page to estimate costs and explore the ROI calculator.

What is prolonged grief disorder?

It describes grief that remains intensely impairing for an extended period, with persistent yearning and difficulty re-engaging in life. It is a recognised clinical pattern; therapy can help when natural adaptation seems stalled.

Can children or family be discussed in grief therapy?

Yes. Supporting others while grieving, explaining death to children, or managing family conflict after a loss are common topics. We work with your responsibilities while protecting your own capacity.

Does grief therapy mean forgetting the person?

No. The aim is to reduce disabling pain and rebuild daily life while maintaining a meaningful connection in memory. Continuing bonds with the deceased are normal and can be part of healthy adaptation.