Grief Therapy
Professional, steady support for the complexities of loss, ranging from bereavement and complicated grief to the quiet transitions that shift your world. Gentle, expert care provided online and in person.
Professional guidance through the process of mourning
Mourning is an intricate human response to significant loss, touching upon the foundations of our emotional identity, physical health, and connection to others. There is no right or wrong way to grieve, and there is no predetermined endpoint to the journey. Our London-based counselling provides a grounded space for processing recent losses or attending to long-held sorrows. By engaging in 8 to 16 sessions of tailored support, many individuals find the clarity and emotional capacity needed to integrate their experience and gently reclaim their sense of meaning.
Prevalence
Grief is a universal experience, often occurring at multiple junctures in life.
Gold-standard treatment
Person-centred, interpersonal, and grief-focused therapies are commonly employed.
Typical recovery
Typically 8–16 sessions offer focused support.
No fixed timeline
Grief is natural, but support can help when it becomes overwhelming
Meaning-focused work
Therapy supports both emotional processing and life reconstruction
Universal
Most adults encounter major grief and loss throughout their lives.
8–16
Sessions often provide meaningful relief when grief feels heavy or persistent.
Different
Each individual's grief journey is unique and unfolds at its own pace.
Quick check
Find the right approach for grief
Answer 3 quick questions and we'll suggest a therapy that fits your experience
How long has this been affecting you?
There are no right or wrong answers.
Free self-assessment
Free grief test
Two minutes, confidential, instant results. See where you stand before you book.
Clinically reviewed by
Dr Martina Paglia
Founder & CEO of Mind a Porter
HCPC-registered Clinical Psychologist
Special interests include anxiety, depression, trauma, OCD, burnout, workplace stress, relationship difficulties and high-performance mental wellbeing.
Last reviewed: 13 August 2026
All health information on Mind a Porter is clinically reviewed by our clinical lead. These resources are educational and do not replace professional advice.
AI-ready summary
Grief counselling in London helps people carry the weight of loss, whether bereavement, the end of a relationship, a health change or a major life transition. Grief has no fixed timeline and often moves in waves, mixing sadness, numbness, anger, guilt and even relief. Therapy is not about moving on but about processing the loss at your own pace so it becomes bearable rather than overwhelming. Person-centred grief therapy, interpersonal therapy and compassion-focused work are commonly used, with many people finding meaningful relief within 8 to 16 sessions.
Finding steady ground
Dedicated care for the experience of loss
Loss is the deeply personal emotional and physical response to the absence of something—or someone—that held profound importance in your life. While we often think of bereavement, grief also follows experiences like the end of a long-term partnership, changes in health, professional life shifts, or the mourning of unrealised dreams. Seeking professional support in London becomes vital when the world you once recognised feels fundamentally altered, leaving you to navigate a sense of safety and identity that has been shaken to its core.
The rhythm of mourning is rarely a straight line. It is common to experience rapid shifts between intense sorrow, unexpected numbness, quiet relief, or moments of sharp anger—sometimes even within a single hour. In a bustling environment like London, the pressure to maintain normalcy can be immense, often silencing your internal needs. Therapy provides a sanctuary where external expectations are set aside, ensuring your healing unfolds at a pace that feels genuinely authentic to your own emotional truth.
While counselling cannot reverse the reality of your loss, it offers a way to carry it with more resilience and compassion. Our approach focuses on gently unravelling the knots of grief, decreasing the sense of profound isolation, and providing a stable foundation from which you can begin to reconstruct a sense of meaning, honouring both what has been lost and the person you are becoming.
Understanding causes
What contributes to grief
Grief rarely has a single cause. It usually builds up from a combination of biological, psychological and environmental factors, and understanding your own pattern is an important part of finding the right support.
Biological factors: Genetics, brain chemistry, physical health and sleep patterns can all play a role in how grief develops and is experienced.
Psychological factors: Thinking styles, past experiences, personality traits and learned coping patterns can maintain or worsen grief over time.
Environmental factors: Stress, relationships, work pressure, life transitions and broader social or cultural factors often contribute to when and how grief surfaces.
Benefits
The benefits of Grief Therapy
A clearer understanding of what is keeping your grief going and why
Practical tools from person-centred to manage triggers and setbacks in daily life
Reduced intensity and frequency of grief symptoms as the work progresses
Better sleep, focus and energy as grief stops dominating your day
More confidence in social, work and relationship situations
A therapeutic relationship you can return to whenever things feel harder
Recognising the impact of sorrow
Common expressions of the mourning process
Grief exerts a physical and psychological weight that affects every facet of life. These responses are human, expected, and worthy of patient exploration in a clinical setting.
- Intense sadness, frequent crying, or waves of profound yearning
- Emotional numbness, shock, or a pervasive inability to feel anything
- Feelings of guilt, regret, or anger directly related to the loss
- Disturbances in sleep patterns, appetite, or concentration
- A sense of detachment from daily life or other people
- Avoidance of reminders of the loss, or conversely, an inability to disengage from them
- A loss of meaning, direction, or a fundamental shift in one's sense of self
- Experiencing judgment or feeling rushed by societal or personal expectations around grief
When to seek help
When is it time to seek therapy for grief?
It is worth reaching out when grief is starting to affect your daily life, relationships or wellbeing. You do not need to wait until things feel unmanageable. These are the signs that professional support could help.
- intense sadness, frequent crying, or waves of profound yearning
- emotional numbness, shock, or a pervasive inability to feel anything
- feelings of guilt, regret, or anger directly related to the loss
- disturbances in sleep patterns, appetite, or concentration
- a sense of detachment from daily life or other people
- avoidance of reminders of the loss, or conversely, an inability to disengage from them
Recognise any of these signs?
You don't have to figure it out alone. A 15-minute £1 discovery call can help you make sense of what's happening and what kind of support might help. Therapy for grief is available online or in person in London.
Diverse forms of bereavement
Varied experiences of loss requiring support
Recognising the unique character of your loss allows us to provide a more nuanced approach, particularly when dealing with complicated feelings or experiences that feel less visible to others.
Bereavement after death
Dedicated support for navigating the profound absence of a partner, family member, friend, or someone who held a central role in your life.
Explore this areaComplicated or prolonged grief
Guided assistance when the intensity of sorrow remains persistent or disruptive for an extended period, preventing you from moving forward.
Explore this areaAnticipatory and caregiving grief
Providing a space for the complex emotions that arise while caring for someone who is declining or during a period of terminal illness.
Explore this areaNon-death loss
Help for navigating significant life changes, including divorce, separation, health changes, or loss of identity, which carry their own deep emotional impact.
Explore this areaClinical methods for processing
Therapeutic pathways for meaningful healing
Healing is a subjective process, and your path forward may require different tools depending on whether you need emotional ventilation, trauma resolution, or help adapting to a new life chapter.
Person-centred grief counselling
A deeply empathic, non-judgmental environment that allows you to fully express the complexity of your loss without feeling rushed.
Learn moreInterpersonal therapy
Focused work to help you navigate shifts in social roles, family communication, and the changes in relationships that inevitably follow a significant loss.
Learn moreComplicated grief and trauma work
Specialised therapeutic support for situations where the loss was sudden, traumatic, or where the emotional impact remains consistently overwhelming.
Learn moreCompassion-focused therapy
A supportive framework designed to soothe the inner critic, particularly when grief is shadowed by feelings of guilt, shame, or self-reproach.
Learn moreFees & booking
Transparent pricing for grief therapy
Clients never pay more with us than going direct, and our therapists offer their best rates.
What to expect
What does a first grief counselling session look like?
A first grief session usually starts by understanding the loss you are carrying and where you are in relation to it. Your therapist will ask who or what you lost, how long ago, what the relationship was like, what the circumstances were and what has helped or not helped since. You will not be pushed to recount more than feels manageable.
You may also talk about how grief is showing up day to day, including waves of sadness, numbness, anger, guilt, sleep disruption or a changed sense of identity. The session often touches on whether the loss was sudden or traumatic, and whether other people around you have been able to make room for your grief.
By the end of the session you should feel more understood and less alone with the loss, with a clearer sense of what kind of support would help, whether that is grief-focused therapy, trauma-informed work or simply a steady space to mourn at your own pace. There is no pressure to move on or feel better by a certain date.
Ready to take the first step?
Book a £1 discovery call, or browse therapists near you for grief therapy. Online and in-person sessions across London.
Why Choose Us
Why choose Mind a Porter for your journey
Individuals turn to us for grief support that balances clinical rigour with human warmth, ensuring your experience of loss is met with the depth and respect it deserves.
Compassionate approach
Therapy combines clinical structure with warmth, validation and respect for your boundaries.
Qualified clinicians
BACP, HCPC and UKCP-registered therapists with strong trauma training and a calm, careful approach.
Flexible sessions
Online, in-person, early morning and evening appointments across London.
Personalised care
Support is tailored to your history, nervous system, goals and pace of recovery.
Grief Specialists
Online via Google MeetMrs Emily McmullanCounsellor
I am a BACP-registered counsellor holding a Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling and Psychotherapy. With five years of clinical experience, including extensive service within the NHS, I provide professional, confidential support to teenagers aged thirteen to seventeen and adults. My practice is focused on online therapy, delivered via video or telephone, providing an accessible space for those navigating complex emotional challenges. I bring depth of experience to issues such as bereavement, depression, burnout, and profound life transitions, alongside supporting clients managing codependency, perfectionism, and workplace stress. I am equally adept at helping individuals navigate the intricacies of relationship issues, including trust, jealousy, and abandonment. Throughout my five years of practice, I have remained committed to providing a calm, professional, and consistent environment where individuals can explore the nuances of their personal experiences. Whether you are addressing long-standing imposter syndrome or immediate feelings of loneliness, I offer a steady, informed presence to support your journey.
Dr Esther MordantPsychotherapist
I am a psychotherapist registered with the BACP with over 11 years of clinical experience. Holding an MSc in Counselling Psychology, I have provided professional support across NHS, charity, and private practice settings. My clinical background is grounded in delivering both individual therapy for adults and specialised therapeutic support for adolescents aged 13 to 17. Throughout my career, I have developed a deep expertise in supporting clients through complex life transitions, bereavement, and the profound challenges associated with grief and loss. I am particularly dedicated to assisting those navigating recovery from depression, divorce, and the long-term impact of domestic and narcissistic abuse. I offer my services in English, Hebrew, and Russian, ensuring a broad accessibility for those seeking a compassionate and highly qualified practitioner. My practice is built upon a firm commitment to ethical standards and a clinically rigorous approach to helping individuals find clarity and resilience.
Ms Aanu Jide-ojoClinical Psychologist
I am an HCPC-registered Clinical Psychologist with seven years of professional experience. My academic background includes a B.Sc. in Psychology, an M.Sc. in Clinical Psychology, and an M.Sc. in Organisational Psychiatry and Psychology. I provide a comprehensive range of clinical services, including individual therapy, couples and family counselling, and autism assessment. My practice is informed by an extensive breadth of modalities, such as CBT, ACT, DBT, Internal Family Systems, the Gottman Method, and Somatic Therapy. I work with a diverse client base, supporting teenagers, adults, and seniors through complex challenges including PTSD, personality disorders, neurodivergence, and relationship dynamics. By integrating trauma-informed and LGBTQ+ affirmative approaches, I offer a tailored, professional space designed to address the unique intersections of identity and life experience. My clinical commitment is to provide expert, evidence-based psychological support that empowers you to navigate significant transitions, workplace pressures, and personal growth with confidence and clarity.
Mrs Roberta CrescenzoCounsellor
I am a BACP-registered counsellor with 15 years of experience supporting adults across the private and voluntary sectors. I hold a PGDip in Attachment-Based Therapy and an Adv. Dip. in Humanistic Integrative Counselling, providing me with a robust clinical foundation to support clients navigating complex personal, emotional, and relational challenges. I offer both short-term and open-ended therapy, welcoming adults from diverse backgrounds to my practice in South West London and online. My clinical expertise spans a broad spectrum, including bereavement, trauma recovery from domestic abuse and gaslighting, infertility, and various forms of anxiety. I am particularly adept at helping individuals manage the pressures of life transitions, low self-esteem, and relationship complexities. Whether you are dealing with the impact of past experiences or current life stressors, I provide a professional, thoughtful space where we can work together to understand your history and cultivate greater resilience in your everyday life.
Mr Param Singh SahniPsychotherapist
I am a UKCP-registered and BACP-accredited psychotherapist with over a decade of clinical experience, offering a warm, collaborative space for adults seeking meaningful change. My practice is informed by an MSc and a breadth of specialist training, allowing me to support clients through a diverse range of challenges including anxiety, depression, neurodivergence, addiction, and complex trauma. As a British Punjabi Sikh therapist, I bring a unique depth to my work, carefully considering the intersections of culture, race, faith, and identity. My expertise spans individual and online therapy, where I integrate modalities such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Internal Family Systems, and Somatic Therapy to meet your specific needs. Whether we are navigating life transitions, relationship dynamics, or professional burnout, my aim is to facilitate genuine understanding. I am committed to providing an inclusive, non-judgemental environment where you can explore your personal history and current experiences to foster lasting emotional growth and wellbeing.
Mrs Jessi LevyCounsellor
I am a registered counsellor with two years of experience, providing a supportive and professional space for adults to navigate life’s complexities. My practice is grounded in a commitment to helping clients explore experiences including grief, loss, divorce, generalised anxiety, and significant life transitions. I work extensively with those navigating low self-esteem, relationship difficulties, and trust issues. As a practitioner qualified in the use of art within counselling, I offer a unique, integrative approach that blends traditional talk therapy with creative expression. Whether we are working with Person-Centred, Gestalt, or Attachment-Based techniques, my aim is to provide a safe, non-judgemental environment tailored to your specific needs. I am a member of the BACP and NCPS, and I offer sessions in both English and French. My work is dedicated to helping you feel heard, understood, and supported as you gain a deeper perspective on your personal journey.
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Resources
Additional support and resources
These external organisations offer valuable information, helplines, and community support that can complement your therapeutic work.
Common questions people often ask about the process of grief counselling
These frequently asked questions explore the realities of seeking support and help clarify how therapy can provide relief when navigating the weight of loss.
Is there an ideal time to start seeking grief counselling?
Many people find comfort in beginning therapy shortly after a significant loss, while others prefer to wait until the initial shock has passed. The right time to reach out is whenever the weight of your experience begins to feel unmanageable or isolating. Our therapists are ready to meet you at any stage of your journey, providing a safe harbor regardless of how much time has elapsed since the event.
Does it make sense to feel this sad after a year has passed?
Extended periods of sorrow are a normal part of the human experience, and grief often ebbs and flows according to its own internal rhythm. Anniversaries, personal milestones, and quiet moments can all trigger waves of feeling that seem to surface long after the initial loss. Therapy provides a dedicated space to process these enduring feelings, helping you find a sense of equilibrium without any pressure to 'move on' before you are ready.
Can you provide support for losses that do not involve a death?
Many profound losses in life—such as the end of a relationship, the loss of health, or major life changes—carry an intense weight that deserves recognition. We treat these life transitions with the same level of care and clinical expertise as bereavement. Validating the significance of these changes is a crucial step in allowing yourself the space to mourn and integrate the experience.
What happens if I feel a mixture of anger, relief, and guilt?
Complex emotions are an inherent part of the grieving process, and you should know that your feelings are entirely valid. It is common to experience a wide spectrum of emotions that might seem contradictory, such as feeling anger at the circumstances or relief that suffering has ended. Our sessions provide a non-judgmental container where you can explore every facet of these emotions without fear of scrutiny.
Are there options for using insurance to cover my sessions?
Coverage for therapeutic services often depends on the specifics of your insurance policy and how the therapy is categorised. Many providers offer partial or full reimbursement depending on whether the therapist meets their criteria for clinical services. We are happy to provide the necessary documentation to help you explore your potential coverage options.
When should I seek therapy for grief?
It is worth considering therapy when grief is becoming persistent, distressing, or harder to manage on your own, especially if it is affecting work, relationships, sleep, confidence, or day-to-day functioning. You do not need to wait until things feel severe before asking for support. Early therapy can help you understand what is driving the pattern, reduce symptoms sooner, and decide whether focused online treatment, in-person therapy in London, or a broader clinical review is the most appropriate next step.
This page is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you are concerned about grief, please speak with a qualified therapist or your GP. In a crisis, call 999 or Samaritans on 116 123.
The right therapist for Grief Therapy
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