Caroline Mills

I work exclusively with grief and loss, whether this is connected to a bereavement or another significant life loss or transition. I work with adults, children and young people. I also facilitate bereavement support groups. Grief is a natural response to loss but can involve confusing and intense emotions, as well as unexpected physical, cognitive, and behavioural symptoms. It can lead to feelings of worry, isolation or frustration that your experience is not understood. I provide a safe, compassionate space  for you to explore your experience, gain more understanding about what is happening and to identify the support and strategies  that are right for you.

Support for adults

There are still many myths perpetuated in our society about how someone who has been bereaved should think, or feel, and how quickly they should 'get over' the loss.  Often those around you may not understand your experience of grief, don't want you to be sad and would like you to get back to how you were before the bereavement. Bereavement counselling offers the opportunity to share how you are really feeling, talk about areas where you may be feeling stuck and to explore the many associated losses connected with bereavement. I aim to create a safe, non-judgemental space where you experience empathy and compassion while feeling heard and validated.

Support for children and families

Parents and carers looking after a bereaved child are often concerned about whether they are providing them with the best support. The way children grieve differs from adults, the child's age, stage of development, understanding of the situation, the circumstances of the death and the type of relationship they had with the deceased all need to be considered. There are often physical and behavioural as well as emotional changes which can be confusing. By looking at this together we can consider how counselling can most benefit the child or young person and enable the adults caring for them to feel more confident in the support they can offer.

Support for adults bereaved as children or young adults

I also work with adults who were bereaved in childhood, adolescence or young adulthood. There are often unrecognisedmay have been no opportunity for counselling or bereavement support at the time or that as life has progressed new levels of grief need to be worked through. There are also times throughout life when we mourn for associated losses, such as, not having had an adult relationship with them, not being able to share big occasions, milestones, successes or the times when we need support. Counselling provides a space to understand, explore and share your grief as well as its impact on identity throughout your life.

Group Support

I also facilitate structured bereavement support groups which offer more knowledge about the grieving process, a safe space to share experiences, worries and strategies. Receiving understanding about what you are going through can be invaluable and can be hard to find in everyday life.

I offer a free 30 minute phone or Zoom call for you to find out more about the way I work, ask any questions you may have, and to see if you think I could be someone you would like to work with.

I charge £45 for online sessions and £55 for in-person sessions.

Bereaved people often talk about the way in which grief hits them in waves and I want to be able to provide support when it is most needed so I work very flexibly.  I see some people weekly and others fortnightly, monthly or when they feel would like a top up session.