Getting counselling help for loved ones

Friendo23 8 years ago

2 replies

Hi all,

I wanted to ask if anyone knows about free counselling services that are available to those dealing with their loved one's terminal illness.

My nan is terminally ill and my grandfather needs help dealing with this as, at the minute, he's not coping very well and I want to get him some help.

He and my nan have been married for an amazing 71 years, and they are each other's world. My granddad has been to his GP about the fact that he's not coping very well, but all they've offered him so far are pills to deal with the anxiety he's feeling. He doesn't want anti-depressants. And I don't think these are the solution. He needs counselling to deal with the current situation and potentially for what may happen in the coming months. My family and I do as much as we can but as we don't live nearby, it never seems enough. No doubt, my granddad is feeling lonely and lost frequently.  Many of my grandparents' friends have passed on, so there's not very many people he can talk to face-to-face.

Can anyone point me in the direction of a service or group that might be able to offer counselling? As part of the palliative care that my nan receives, can my granddad get the counselling through this?

Any help you can offer much appreciated.

Support 8 years ago

Edited by admin 8 years ago

Hi Friendo23,

I am so sorry to read of your Nan's illness and can appreciate how hard this is for all of your family but particularly for your grandad. It is great that he is speaking to his GP, can his GP arrange some counselling for him? Who provides your Nan's palliative care? - do they offer any support for family and friends? If you could call us at the Support Line with more details about your Nan's illness and the area that your grandparents live in, we could look to see what support we can find locally in your area. We're not qualified counsellors on the Support Line but are more than happy to provide you or your grandad with a listening ear and emotional support at any time when we are open.

If you would like to talk to us on the Support Line we are here Monday-Friday from 09:00am -17:00pm T. 0800 090 2309.

Brigette

abbeygordon82 7 years ago

Hi I'm looking for either help for myself to help my son cope of his fathers passing or maybe counselling for him. His now 7 he was 6 when he passed it was so quick. He was my ex partner but we did get on to the point he see his son pretty much all the time. My son has said he wants to die to see daddy again ect.. And his now saying he doesn't remember his face. I've had pictures of them both printed and framed and also a memory book but I'm not sure its helping. He asks me doesn't daddy want me to be with him I reply he does but bot till your older and your lived the life you want to. I'm finding it so hard to explain to him and how to approach it. But as I wasn't his partner/wife at the time as he remarried no help was offered to our son and the waiting lists are long. I just don't want him to do anything silly as his mentioned he will jump off my roof to see daddy again. He said mummy you had me for Xmas as we used to take it in turns each year so he said ill visit daddy as I had him for Xmas. Id love any advice id really appreciate. It