Online counselling service for relationship counselling, abuse counselling, advice on substance use and much more.... Now entirely online
Kim Smith warmly welcomes you to    

Established 1988
The Fellow Traveller Online Counselling Service

 

Problems covered

 

Bereavement & Grief

FREE COUNSELLING

As an online service you might imagine how many requests I get for free work. It's a lot. I wish I could respond but as one man supporting his family this way, unfortunately, I just cannot.

HOWEVER there are some options available.

www.counselling.ltd.uk is friendly and fair UK-only organisation for qualified counsellors.  Some of their many thousands of members offer their time for free TO THOSE ON LOW INCOMES. The counsellors are all qualified professionals.

In the UK your GP has the power to refer you to a counsellor for free.  Such counsellors are often top quality people with a big caseload.

If you need a friend fast you wont find a better one than a Sam. I've worked alongside these skilled and dedicated people and they're brilliant.  In the UK see www.samaritans.org or in other parts of the world at www.befrienders.org the UK service can also be used by email to jo@samaritans.org

But remember...

Not too long ago there were no counsellors. Somebody just applied some science to it all and professionalised a job that has been done successfully for thousands of years by relatives, friends, trusted elders and holy people from all religions.

It's better to talk to someone.  This has a lot of emotional uses believe me.

I'm familiar with all the "categories" of problems listed below. However, more importantly, whilst it's useful to know about categories it's a lot more important to remember that people themselves are not categories  they are people. If you miss that point you miss the whole point.  Categorising a problem is too easy. Please don't get caught up in the categories as we will be more interested in solutions.

Categories

  • Abuse (emotional, physical, sexual) - violence, bullying or neglect in many forms.

  • Problems that stem from childhood experiences

  • Co-dependence (loving too much, taking too much hurt, not taking enough care of yourself)

  • Work-related stress

  • Depression & Anxiety

  • Drug & Alcohol problems (yours or theirs)

  • Marital or close relationship problems

  • Bereavement and grief and other forms of acute loss

  • Post-traumatic or prolonged stress problems

  • Behavioural problems

  • Being "stuck"

  • Problems without a known cause

  • Indecision

Symptoms

Again, this is only offered as a guide.  All symptoms have a cause, so whilst it can be important (and sometimes easier) to address a symptom, it's often more useful to deal with the cause so the symptoms go away.

By no means is the following a complete list of symptoms and by no means will everyone get all of them, but as a guide, people may be experiencing one or more of...

  • Self-doubt

  • Sleeping a lot or sleep disturbance of some kind

  • Irritability or unexpected "volatile" behaviour

  • Always feeling "down" or pretending to be OK

  • Fear or permanent readiness for trouble

  • Isolation (emotional or otherwise) or separateness

  • Strained relationships (at work or home)

  • Loss of self-esteem or feeling "useless"

  • Feeling empty or flat

  • Weight increase or decrease

  • Excessive drinking or other substance use

  • Jumpiness or easily startled

  • A wish to hurt (others or yourself)

  • Lack of hope, optimism or vitality

  • Intrusive memories or flashbacks

  • Different kinds of phobias

  • Feeling trapped

  • Mood swings or very "black and white" thinking

  • Difficulty in making decisions or trusting intuition

  • Avoidance behaviour (tasks, people or certain situations)

  • Suicidal thoughts

Children

Please note that although I have plenty of experience in working with adults who have accrued problems in their childhood, my experience of working directly with children is almost nil. Such work should be referred to a child specialist and you can ask me if you want some help clarifying what to do or where to go.

For UK children who need help right now ring 999 or TELEPHONE ONLY to Childline on 0800 1111 It's free and does not show up on the phone bill. Your computer does show where you go in the history section of the browser but if that's not important you can leave my website and go to theirs by clicking here.

 

 

 

 

 

Over the next couple of months I will be producing a small booklet about bereavement and grief.  This will be free and downloadable from this website.  The booklet is in response to the increasing numbers of people who visit here looking at how counselling can help during these sad times.  The booklet will look at the structure of grief in it's many forms and will include understandings of simple and complex grief.  If you would like me to notify you when this is complete just drop me an email and I will - Kim

Click  here for the best free UK self-help directory on the net.

 
An interesting rediscovered article by the UK Guardian newspaper reporter Sue Webster can be read here
Legal disclaimer - All the writings provided on my websites are to be used purely for "information" purposes only, like an opinion rather than a fact (though you are assured much thought and study has gone into all this). Because I am not "on-site" with you I cannot accept responsibility for any actions that you take yourself. Websites are constantly changing, being up-dated or for test purposes, and this means that, although offered in good faith, you should check all information with me before relying on it.
   

To see this site optimised for US English click http://www.online-counseling.co.uk