Anticipatory grief is feelings of grief or loss that are felt before a loved one dies. When an individual is facing a life limiting or incurable illness, them and those close to them may have feelings of anticipatory grief. Here are some organisations and resources who can help support you through anticipatory grief.
Ending Life’s Taboo
Ending Life’s Taboo offers rapid access to counselling to adults up to 45 years old who are life limited (whatever the illness). The charity may also support family/carer members when appropriate. The service is open to those living in East Suffolk and North East Foundation Trust areas (CO and IP postal codes). Counselling can be accessed at Colchester Hospital, Cancer Wellbeing Centre and Ipswich Hospital, John Le Vay Centre. Counselling is also available as inpatients, home visits, by telephone and on-line; sessions and regularity of appointments are totally client led.
The counselling service is for people with a terminal illness as well as their family members who are experiencing anticipatory grief.
Referrals may be made by self-referral, healthcare professionals (primary, seconday and hospices), by charities unable to offer rapid access to counselling to those meeting our criteria (18 to 45 years old / have a life limiting illness / receiving palliative care/life expectancy 2 years or less).
The service is generally on a one to one basis. Counselling is available at the Colchester Hospital and Ipswich Hospital. Sessions are available as an inpatient, outpatient, on-line, by telephone or at home. Family/carers can also be supported by ELT.
Phone: 07710628913
Email: [email protected]
St Helena family support
St Helena Hospice provides specialist palliative and end of life care to local people facing incurable illness in north east Essex, supporting them, their families, friends and carers. We provide individual care and total support wherever it is needed; at home, over the phone with our 24/7 advice line, and at the hospice.
St Helena supports the families, friends and carers of local people who face incurable illness. Our goal is to be here every step of the way, helping life to go on in the face of dying, death and bereavement. This support is for all adults and children who have a link with someone who is receiving care from St Helena. The help we offer includes counselling, family support and social work. We can give advice, support and assistance in discussing illness and treatments, and in helping prepare family members for the death of a loved one.
Phone: 01206 890360
Age Well East
We advise and provide practical information, connecting communities to tackle loneliness and encourage mental and physical wellness. We offer support to people in later years experiencing emotional challenges, such as caring for someone at the end of their life or living through bereavement, and we support people and their carers through a dementia diagnosis.
We run local groups and activities across NE Essex, to help people connect with others. We offer expert advice about bereavement and loss, online and in-person support groups for those also experiencing loss. We also run social groups for people to meet like mind individuals and form new friendships.
The one-to-one service is bereavement support but is not a counselling service. A volunteer will be matched with a client to provide a listening ear to talk about the persons grief. Very often, a conversation normalising the client’s grief is part of the call and supporting people in their bereavement.
Phone: 0300 373 3333