Grief and Bereavement Counselling: Navigating Loss, Honouring Life

Grief is not just about losing someone we love—it’s about losing pieces of ourselves, our identity, or the world we once knew. It’s mourning what could have been, grappling with the life we expected but can no longer have. Whether it’s the death of a loved one, the end of a relationship, the loss of mobility, or a future dream that will never come to pass, grief touches us all in deeply personal ways.

At Listening Ear Counselling & Consultancy, we understand that grief is not a problem to fix but a journey to walk through. Our grief and bereavement counselling sessions provide a safe, compassionate space for you to process your emotions, find meaning, and rebuild your life in a way that honours your loss.

Expanding the Understanding of Grief
Grief is multifaceted and deeply personal. It’s not limited to the death of a loved one; it extends to losses that society might not immediately recognise.

Grief Related to Death

Losing a Loved One: The death of a family member, partner, or friend often feels like losing a part of yourself.
Loss of a Pet: Pets are companions and family members. Their death leaves a void that is deeply felt and often misunderstood.
Sudden or Traumatic Loss: Accidents, suicides, or violence create additional layers of shock and complexity, making it harder to process the loss.
Grief Beyond Death

Relationship Loss: Divorce, separation, or estrangement often bring grief akin to mourning a death.
Loss of Health or Mobility: Chronic illness or disability changes how we see ourselves, leading to profound grief.
Job Loss or Retirement: Losing a career path often triggers grief tied to identity and purpose.
Cultural and Community Loss: Migrants and refugees often grieve the loss of their homeland, traditions, and community.
LGBTQ+ Grief: Mourning hidden relationships, lost visibility, or a past self during identity transitions is a deeply layered experience.
Theories and Models of Grief
Grief is not linear or one-size-fits-all. Models provide frameworks to understand and navigate its complexities:

Kübler-Ross’s Five Stages of Grief

Denial: Protecting ourselves from the initial shock.
Anger: Frustration over the injustice of the loss.
Bargaining: Attempting to undo or mitigate the loss.
Depression: Feeling the weight of what has been lost.
Acceptance: Integrating the loss into our lives.
These stages are not a checklist but reflections of common emotional responses to loss.

The Dual Process Model

Loss-Oriented Coping: Focusing on the pain of the loss.
Restoration-Oriented Coping: Addressing the practical changes brought by the loss.
Disenfranchised Grief (Kenneth Doka)

Grief that isn’t socially acknowledged, such as the loss of a pet, miscarriage, or hidden relationships.
Continuing Bonds Theory

Maintaining a connection with the deceased or what was lost, rather than “moving on.”
Tasks of Mourning (J. William Worden)

Accept the reality of the loss.
Process the pain.
Adjust to a world without what was lost.
Find a connection while moving forward.
Cultural and Spiritual Sensitivity in Grief Counselling
Grief is universal, but its expression is shaped by culture, religion, and traditions.

Rituals and Healing
Lighting candles, performing prayers, or observing cultural ceremonies offer structure and meaning during loss. Counselling helps you engage with these traditions or create new ones that resonate personally.

Multicultural Sensitivity
Singapore’s diverse traditions—whether Buddhist, Hindu, Islamic, or Christian—inform our approach, ensuring your grief is honoured in its full context.

Addressing Spiritual Questions
Grief often prompts existential questions. Counselling provides a space to explore these with compassion and understanding.

Creating Space for Grief
Grief counselling isn’t about rushing you through the process. It’s about creating a space where your emotions are respected, your pace is honoured, and your experience is validated.

Deep Presence
Sometimes, words aren’t enough. Our approach embraces silence, tears, and reflection as natural parts of grieving.

Attuned Support
Grief is unpredictable. We meet you wherever you are, providing guidance and support without judgment or agenda.

Validation for All Losses
Whether grieving a person, a relationship, or an identity, all grief is valid and worthy of care.

How Counselling Can Help
Processing Complex Emotions
Counselling provides tools to navigate feelings of sadness, guilt, anger, or relief, helping you understand and accept them.

Rediscovering Meaning
Loss often disrupts our sense of purpose. Therapy helps you redefine what brings meaning to your life.

Building Resilience
Practical strategies like mindfulness and journaling support you in managing grief’s day-to-day challenges.

Moving Forward
Grief counselling helps you integrate the loss into your life, enabling you to move forward with strength and clarity.

Why Choose Grief Counselling at Listening Ear?
Experienced, Trained, and Registered Counsellor with Life Experience
With years of training and expertise in frameworks like Kübler-Ross, Worden, and Stroebe & Schut, we bring both professional knowledge and the compassion of lived experience to help you navigate your grief.

Cultural Sensitivity
Our sessions respect your traditions, beliefs, and personal context, ensuring a holistic approach to your grief.

A Safe, Compassionate Space
Grief is deeply personal, and we provide a non-judgmental environment where you can explore your emotions freely.

Your Journey to Healing Starts Here
Grief may feel like an insurmountable storm, but with support, healing is possible. At Listening Ear Counselling & Consultancy, we walk alongside you, helping you navigate grief’s complexities and rediscover hope and meaning.

Contact us today to begin your journey toward healing and renewal.

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