Insights on Grief, Dementia and End of life 

Why Honest Conversations Matter More Than Protection When someone in a family is dying or has died, a parent’s instinct is often to protect their children from the pain. It’s usually always well intentioned — to shield, soften, and hold back the harsh realities of loss. My own work supporting children and teens who are navigating the terminal illness or death of a grandparent, parent, friend, or even themselves, shows time and time again that silence can be more harmful tha

As a trained gestalt therapist, let me be the first to acknowledge that I am biased when it comes to promoting the benefits of gestalt therapy for any issue, let alone grief and loss!   Gestalt therapy is a powerful, yet gentle approach, for working with any key transition in life because it involves so much more than merely talking about emotions – it invites us to experience and integrate them in the present moment. Gestalt therapy does not aim to ‘fix’ anything but instead

Being a caregiver is no easy feat. When caregivers are exhausted, a feeling of hopelessness can creep in. This might be experienced as despair or even numbness for days when a significant change or development has occurred in the care receiver’s journey.      When I talk about hopelessness, I’m talking about that sense that nothing is ever going to be the same again, nothing will get better, a belief that you can’t imagine ever laughing or experiencing joy again because this

What is a Doula? What do Doulas Do? In writing a blog about why people might consider using the services of a doula, either for themselves or to support a family member, I wanted to acknowledge the reasons some people might be reluctant to engage a doula. If you have never heard of a 'doula', you are in good company! Some are troubled by the term, believing a 'doula' sounds a bit ‘woo woo’, or the term may have negative connotations due to someone having had a bad experience

When we talk about serious illness, we often use the words grief and loss interchangeably. But for people living with dementia and other life- limiting illnesses (and their families), they are not the same thing. Understanding the difference can help us respond with greater clarity and compassion. Loss is the event or change itself. It is the moment you realise something is no longer the way it use to be. With conditions such as dementia, losses can occur gradually over month

National Advanced Care Planning Week - March 16 -22, 2026 Your Story, Your Choice. Many families avoid talking about end-of- life wishes because they don't want to upset each other. But silence often creates more distress later. When wishes aren't known: ·       families guess ·       guilt creeps in ·       conflict can arise ·       decisions feel heavier   When wishes are clear: ·       families feel confident ·       decisions feel aligned ·       grief is still present

Having worked for many years supporting adolescents and adults, I noticed a common theme underlying people’s distress when sharing their story. It was, and continues to be, the universal themes of change and loss.   Although a loss is unique to every individual, some mental health and wellbeing challenges can be triggered as a result of our felt loss. For example:     Anxiety, overwhelm and anger – feeling we have lost control or are out of control Depression – the loss of ho