The Bereavement Service
Telephone 01202 448096
The bereavement service works as part of the main counselling service in the Cancer Centre.
What is the Service?
The service provides support and counselling for individuals, couples, children, young people and families before and after bereavement
We also provide a confidential listening service staffed by a team of
trained and experienced volunteers who meet people in their own homes.
The volunteers are supported and supervised by the counselling team
Both services are available by appointment from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday
with some flexibility for early morning and early evening sessions
What is bereavement counselling?
Bereavement counselling takes place in a relationship built upon trust, respect and confidentiality to facilitate the processes of normal and complex grief
It is a way of working that enables people to explore their concerns in a safe, supportive and non-judgemental atmosphere and to find the best outcomes for them.
Talking to a counsellor may help people to:
- See things differently;
- Explore feelings in a safe environment;
- Find ways to manage feelings of loneliness and isolation;
- Improve communication with family, friends and health professionals;
- Feel supported;
- Find a level of acceptance and increased understanding of their deepest concerns.
Who can use the service?
The service can be used by anyone who is affected by someone who is dying, or has died from cancer, and has received treatment from Poole Hospital.
Referrals can also be made through the medical and nursing staff, and the hospital and community specialist palliative care teams
We recommend, whenever possible, that the person
choosing to have counselling contacts us directly.
We appreciate that making the first contact may take considerable courage
as it is the first step towards being in the counselling relationship.
This is especially the case if people have not previously talked about
personal issues to someone outside of their friends and family.