Online bereavement counselling with GriefChat
"Where can I get bereavement counselling?" is a question we hear frequently. As the circumstances surrounding each bereavement are different, there is no 'one-size fits all' approach to grief counselling. At Simplicity, we’re dedicated to helping you through what will likely be an emotional time in your life. That’s why Simplicity works with the National Bereavement Service (NBS), a not-for-profit organisation, to help our customers and their families when they experience the death of someone close. Simply visit our Grief Support page to get chatting with a trained advisor. Find out more about your bereavement support options below.
Bereavement support in the UK
The first bereavement support service in the UK was founded almost 60 years ago, aimed at breaking down the taboo surrounding death and to provide support groups to widows and their children.
Bereavement counselling has come a long way since then. Now, there are a number of UK-wide bereavement charities offering their services to both adults and children who have experienced the death of a loved one, as well as many locally based church groups and organisations who all do their bit to help those suffering.
Unfortunately, the demand for bereavement counselling and counselling in general has always outstripped resource. It is possible to obtain professional bereavement counselling if you are fortunate enough to live somewhere where there are professional bereavement counsellors who have availability, but you will have to pay for it and it doesn’t come cheap.
If you need to use one of the charitable or community bereavement services that rely on volunteers to provide free bereavement counselling, then you will almost certainly have to wait. This was true ten years ago and it certainly remains true today – that there is simply too much demand and not enough people to respond to it.
What to expect from bereavement counselling now
Counselling has changed enormously in the last 20 years. Services used to be almost exclusively delivered face to face, where people would travel to meet with a counsellor in their premises and attend a regular appointment. In the last 15 years, we have seen the use of bereavement support helplines increase enormously and it is now common for people to receive counselling over the telephone. Some charities now offer counselling by webcam and also computerised therapy – CBT for depression, anxiety and phobias is often now delivered via computer programmes. The evidence suggests that there is very little difference in the effectiveness of face to face versus online/computer-based therapy.
Online therapy is still relatively new and online bereavement counselling via a chat service, is emerging as an effective and efficient way of providing support. Convenience, flexibility, anonymity and cost are all key factors in the decision to seek counselling and therapy, whether for bereavement or for life's other difficult issues.
Discover our online bereavement support service
An NBS advisor will listen to you and give you immediate support. They will talk with you about whether you would find on-going support helpful and explain all the options available to you. This includes both the type of help there is and which of the many organisations available will be the best match for your needs. This includes formal counselling, but many people find just talking with someone independent gives them the information about the experience grief that they need, and is extremely reassuring.
The service is available Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm and Saturday 10am to 2pm and you can benefit from it by clicking on the chat box at the bottom of this page.
If you're struggling to cope with the death of someone close to you, speak to a professional on our online bereavement counselling service today. For help arranging a funeral for a loved one, contact us today.