Kirsten Owen

We all can experience emotional pain and struggles in one form or another, which impact on how we relate to and interact with ourselves, others and the world around us. This is part of being human. Having a safe, confidential and non-judgemental space where you can work through whatever difficulties you are having now or have experienced in the past can help to increase your understanding of yourself and others, your resources and coping skills, and the quality of life you lead.

You might have a clear idea of what's troubling you, or perhaps you have a sense that something just isn't quite right in your life. Counselling can give you the room you need to explore what's going on for you, and to find a way forward to the place you want to be.

As an experienced counsellor, I have worked with adults from all walks, ages and stages of life. I work in a flexible way, so I will collaborate with you on what it is that you want to get out of our sessions. You can expect me to be honest and accepting, to treat you with respect and dignity, and as the individual that you are. Deciding to address those things that challenge your well-being can be a daunting task, so I will work at a pace that feels safe and comfortable for you. 

Counselling for bereavement and loss

Experiencing a bereavement can feel a bit like your whole world has been turned upside down. You might find that you are unable to recognise yourself, maybe you are feeling, behaving and reacting in ways that feel out of character. You might even begin to question Am I losing my mind? (you’re not, by the way). Alongside this there can be a pressure to move on from the loss, to get back to normal, when life feels anything but normal. As time passes you might wonder Shouldn’t I be feeling better by now?

Having worked with people around many different losses, I recognise that sometimes it can be difficult to talk about grief with the people in your life. Perhaps you worry about burdening others with your feelings or feel that those around you don’t get it or you may even feel that you aren’t allowed to grieve. But it’s OK to feel as you do, and counselling can help you to attune to your unique grief.  

Grief counselling isn’t about moving on from bereavement, instead it is a space to support you in living with your loss. Counselling can help you to understand your feelings and connect with your needs. It can also be a place to talk about the person you have lost and the experience of losing them, and to explore the possibilities of finding meaning in life again.

We can also experience grief in other aspects of life. This could be, for example, through the ending of a relationship, losing a job or retirement, a house move, health issues, trauma, a loss of identity... Grief shows up in lots of ways and situations. If you are affected by grief in any shape or form, please contact me to explore if counselling might be helpful for you.

The majority of my work is online, and while remote counselling is in some ways different to being physically in the room together, the foundation remains the same – we are there in that online counselling space for you to be heard and to explore whatever it is that you feel is important to explore, at a pace that feels right for you.