Alex*, a young person referred for counselling after visiting the Wellbeing Café at Door 43, found themselves grappling with the loss of their mother two years prior.
Initially guarded and uncertain about the counselling process, Alex gradually opened up during sessions.
Exploring Grief
During an exploratory chat, Alex mentioned that their previous employer had advised them to seek support, suggesting that they might be going through ‘delayed grief’. Gradually, Alex started to share a bit about their past: their mother passed away suddenly a little over two years ago. They revealed that they had been neglecting their own grief while prioritising their family’s well-being.
Through counselling, Alex was able to explore their feelings surrounding their mother’s passing, their struggles with communication within their family, and their use of ‘avoidance’ as a coping mechanism.
Despite their initial reservations, Alex committed to the counselling sessions and used the safe space to delve into their emotions, memories of their mother, and the unique nature of their own grieving process.
Dual Process Model of Grief
The Door 43 counsellor guided Alex through understanding the Dual Process Model of Grief, helping them recognise the ‘oscillation’ (going back and forth) between loss orientation, which focuses on grief, and restoration orientation, which focuses on rebuilding life. This holistic approach recognises that individuals experience grief in different and unique ways.
As the sessions progressed, Alex began to explore their aspirations, social life, and friendships, indicating progress in their ‘restoration orientation’.
Rebuilding
Alex expressed that counselling had been beneficial in providing them with an outlet outside of their family to process their emotions.
The CORE assessment (used by Door 43 counsellors to monitor outcomes) showed improvements in Alex’s ability to seek support, cope with challenges, and manage distressing memories.
Overall, Alex’s journey through counselling highlighted their growth in acknowledging and addressing their grief while working towards rebuilding their life.
Going through bereavement as a young person is incredibly hard. You may feel alone and unsure how to handle the different emotions you’re experiencing. If you need to talk, our Door 43 counselling team are here to help. You can make a referral on our website.
Additional support can be found on the NHS website.
*name changed.