Dr Kershaw’s Hospice shares expertise for National Grief Awareness Week

Each year, our Hospice helps hundreds of people to come to terms with the loss of a loved one.

Our Bereavement Support service offers tailored support to the families, carers and friends of patients at the Hospice.  

Lisa Hoctor, Senior Counsellor at our Hospice, said: “We have an extensive collection of bereavement books for children, and our Bereavement Walks offer companionship for adults. Grief is a natural response and the combination of many feelings, often profound sadness in response to a loss. It doesn’t always have to be death-related.”

During one-to-one sessions with the loved ones of patients, Lisa often witnesses feelings of guilt. Anticipatory grief, which is feeling anxious or sad before a loss, is also common.

Lisa said: “Often, family members or those with care duties feel like they could have done more. Or they might feel a loss of identity for the role they played in that person’s life. It’s important to allow yourself self-forgiveness and to acknowledge that you did your best under the circumstances.”

Another common theme is people who worry if the way they express grief is ‘normal’.

Lisa explained: “There is no right or wrong way to grieve. We all express emotions differently, depending on our cultural norms and the life we have led. People deserve to offer themselves compassion and permission to grieve in the best way for them.”