Bereavment counselling - can anyone recommend a good one for my best friend following her mum's death?

[MyCatIsABiggerBastardThanYours]

That's it really. My best friends mum died 2 weeks ago following a very nasty but short illness. SHe is devestated, obviously, and not coping or sleeping. They were very very close.

I know that it is still very early days and I am doing what I can for her, but I would like to give her some details on decent bereavment counselling so she can take it up if she wants to. Can anyone recommend a good group?

Thank you

Whereabouts is she?

ask the hospital/gp to recommend bereavement support and what they offer for family.

such a shame.she is fortunate to have you

I think 2 weeks after a death councelling is a bit early.

Print off some stuff from the cruse website and give her the helpline number.

counselling can debrief and contain after traumatic event. a skilled counsellor will know how to take this.it is a therapeutic alliance between counsellor and client

Sorry didn't come back to you last night. I had to go an sort out baby DS and was so tired went to bed

Littlefish - She's in the GLoucester area.

scottishmummy - I have told her to see the doctor and he has given her (and her Dad) some sleeping tablets. I will encourage her to talk to him more when she needs to

DrNortherner - I did wonder if 2 weeks was a bit early but I want to be prepared. I had seen the cruse website. Are they good? They did have a leaflet I thought of printing off so I'll do that.

She's feeling numb at the moment, of course, but she is due a major op soon and with Christmas coming I'm sure it is going to be a very hard few weeks and months.

Thank you all for your responses. She has been my best friend for 30yrs, helped me with depression and PND in the past so really, this is the least I can do.

You sound like a lovely friend. Just continue to be there for her. She is only at the beginning of a very long and tough road.

Yep I agree you sound like a really wonderful friend. I can't really add much but just wanted to share my experience. My daughter died in April and I didn't see a counsellor as I didn't think I needed one. I was pretty dtrong about the whole thing and was surrounded by wonderful family. I am nit much of a talker and don't share my feelings very well but that suited me fine. I just had a miscarriage and it made me realise that maybe I haven't dealth with her passing away very well. So, I will consider seeing someone. Maybe let your friend just work through her feelings and oreint herself. She may not exactly know what she is feeling for a few days/weeks.

Was there any involvement with a local hospice as they often offer counselling services to the families of patients? This can be accessed at any stage IME.

A friend of mine saw a counsellor from Cruse which helped her a lot after her father's death.

sh77 - that's terrible for you. I hope you find someone good to help you.

RubysReturn - that's interesting about cruse. SHe has said that she will talk to one of the cancer charities and the consultant to understand her mum's end more (which was not pleasent by any means), which I think is a good idea.

NorbertDentressangle - no, it was a v quick death so no hospice. Your friend obviously had a diff experience with cruse than Ruby did.

I will of course be there for her when she needs to talk or cry or shout or whatever. Her DH is being very very good too. I guess my way of dealing with things is to have as much information as possible at hand so I can understand what she may be feeling and offer different support as and when she needs it.

Thank you again for your thoughts and comments. Very much appreciated.