Compassionate support to help you navigate grief and loss
Bereavement counselling in Melbourne
Grief is a deeply personal and often overwhelming response to losing someone or something significant. Grief can affect many parts of your life, including your emotional, physical, and mental health. It can come from losing a loved one, ending a relationship, losing a job, losing a pet, or facing a significant life change.
Everyone experiences grief differently and there is no right or wrong way to grieve. However, when the intensity of grief feels too much to bear, or you’re struggling to adjust to life after loss, seeking professional support and counsellling can make a real difference.
Grief counselling provides a safe, compassionate space where you can express your emotions, explore the impact of the loss, and begin to process your experience in a way that supports healing and resilience. Our experienced grief psychologists in Melbourne are here to walk alongside you, whether your grief is recent or long-standing.
We provide face to face grief counselling in Melbourne and offer online grief counselling options if you live further away. If you’re navigating loss and grief, know that you don’t have to do it alone. Professional grief and loss counselling can support you in finding comfort, clarity, and hope as you move forward.
Common reactions to grief and loss
Everyone grieves in their own way, but some common reactions are often shared. Understanding these can help normalise your experience.
Sadness or tearfulness
A natural and often overwhelming emotional response to loss.
Shock or disbelief
Difficulty accepting that the loss has occurred, particularly in sudden or traumatic circumstances.
Anger or frustration
Feelings directed at the situation, others, or even the person who has passed away.
Guilt or regret
Arises from lingering thoughts about what could have been done differently or words that were left unsaid.
Anxiety or fear
Worry about the future or coping alone without the person you’ve lost.
Numbness or detachment
A sense of disconnection from yourself or others as you try to process your grief.
Changes in appetite or sleep
Difficulty eating or sleeping, or sleeping excessively, to escape emotional pain.
Difficulty concentrating
Trouble focusing or remembering things because of the emotional weight of grief.
Signs you might need professional grief support
Grief is a natural process. However, there are times when support from a grief counselor or psychologist is important for wellbeing. The following signs may indicate a need for grief and bereavement counselling, particularly if they persist or worsen.
Prolonged sadness
Persistent feelings of sorrow or hopelessness that don’t ease over time.
Social withdrawal
Avoiding family, friends, or usual activities because of overwhelming emotions or fatigue.
Loss of interest in life
Feeling disconnected from the things that once brought joy or meaning.
Trouble functioning
Difficulty maintaining routines, caring for yourself, or completing daily tasks.
Intense guilt or self-blame
Ongoing thoughts of being at fault or not doing enough.
Anger that feels unmanageable
Rage or resentment that causes relationship strain or distress.
Physical symptoms
Chronic fatigue, headaches, or other stress-related health issues.e.
Suicidal thoughts or self-harm
Feeling like life is not worth living or engaging in harmful behaviour.
How a psychologist can help with grief
A grief psychologist provides evidence-based support services to help someone make sense of their loss and develop coping strategies. In grief therapy, psychologists provide a safe and caring space. Here, people can explore tough feelings, deal with guilt or trauma, and adjust to life after a loss.
Grief and bereavement therapy can help someone find meaning in their experiences. It can also help them return to life with more emotional balance. Whether you’re facing recent bereavement or long-term unresolved grief, grief counselling can support your healing process.
Treatment options and therapies for grief and loss
There are various grief therapy options. We tailor treatment to your needs and the type of loss you experienced.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
Helps you challenge unhelpful thoughts and change negative thinking patterns. CBT also builds practical coping strategies for managing grief.
Complicated Grief Therapy or Treatment (CGT)
Specifically designed for prolonged or complex grief that disrupts daily life. CGT helps someone slowly adjust and reconnect with the world.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Encourages acceptance of painful feelings while helping individuals take meaningful steps aligned with their values and personal goals.
Narrative therapy
Helps you explore the story of your grief, express its impact, and reshape your understanding of the loss within your life narrative.
Mindfulness-Based Therapy
Teaches present-moment awareness to reduce anxiety and emotional distress.
Group therapy or support groups
Connects you with others going through similar experiences.
Family or couples counselling
Assists loved ones in navigating shared grief and improving communication.
Frequently asked questions about grief and bereavement counselling
How do I know if I need grief counselling?
Grief after the death of a loved one is one of the most intense emotional challenges a person can face. You might benefit from grief counselling if you’re feeling overwhelmed, stuck in your grief, or struggling to manage daily life. A grief psychologist can help you process complex emotions, develop healthy coping strategies, and support you in making sense of your loss in a safe, non-judgemental space.
How many sessions with a grief psychologist would I need?
The duration of grief counselling varies for each person. Some find a few sessions helpful, while others benefit from longer-term support. Factors like the type of loss, personal history, and current coping strategies all influence how long therapy may last. Your grief counsellor will work at your pace.
What happens during a grief counselling session?
Sessions provide a supportive space to explore your emotions, talk about the loss, and identify challenges you’re facing. Your grief psychologist may help you understand your grief response, teach coping techniques, and guide you through personalised grief and loss counselling strategies that support long-term healing and recovery.
Can a grief counsellor help with losses that happened years ago?
Yes, unresolved or delayed grief can resurface even many years later. Grief counselling can help you process past losses, address lingering emotions like guilt or regret, and move forward in a healthy way. It’s never too late to seek support from a grief counsellor or bereavement psychologist.
Is complicated or prolonged grief the same as depression?
In prolonged grief, sadness and longing are focused on the deceased, often with reminders like their belongings or voice recordings, while depression involves general, persistent sadness and loss of interest in life. Guilt in prolonged grief centres on regrets about the loved one, whereas depression brings broader feelings of worthlessness. People with prolonged grief may avoid specific reminders of their loss, while those with depression tend to withdraw from life altogether. A psychologist can help you distinguish between the two and provide appropriate treatment – whether that’s grief therapy, depression counselling, or a combination of both.
Do you offer online grief counselling?
Yes, we offer secure, confidential online grief counselling for people across Melbourne and beyond. Online support can be just as effective as in-person sessions and offers flexibility, privacy, and access to professional grief support when leaving home or travelling to appointments feels too difficult.
Can you help with non-death-related grief, like divorce or job loss?
Absolutely. Grief isn’t limited to bereavement. We support clients facing losses such as divorce, job changes, estrangement, or illness. Our grief and loss counselling helps you process the emotional impact of these events. It can also rebuild your sense of identity, meaning and emotional balance following significant life changes.
Can you assist with managing the loss of a loved pet?
Losing a much-loved family pet can be a devastating experience. We can form very strong and special bonds with animals and it is very common to experience prolonged sadness and grief. Our pets become part of our family and psychological treatment can help support us through this loss.
How MCCP psychologists can assist with grief
At MCCP, psychologists are trained in grief and bereavement counseling. They provide support to help you understand, express, and cope with your grief. Using evidence-based approaches, a psychologist can help you navigate painful emotions like sadness, guilt, anger, or numbness.
If you have faced a recent loss or are dealing with unresolved grief, a psychologist at MCCP can help. They can guide you in coping, building emotional strength, and restoring balance in your life. Through individual grief counselling, online support, or grief and bereavement therapy, you can begin to heal and reconnect with life at a pace that feels right for you.
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