I offer counselling sessions to parents/carers, siblings, grandparents, and our Haven House children.

For adults, this is mostly through talking: reflecting; making connections between past and present experiences; thinking about identity and personal growth; unpacking and normalising difficult emotions and reactions. There is also some psychoeducation around trauma, loss and grief, and why our bodies and brains react the way they do in different situations.

For children and young people, sessions may look a little different, depending on the needs of the child and their developmental age and understanding: play may be used, interpreting the metaphors and meanings behind the play; creative work may be helpful, such as drawing how things feel or creating colourful salt jars to represent memories; books and stories can help the child to feel they are not alone.

Sessions can be face to face here at Haven House, online via Teams, or by telephone. Walk &Talk sessions are also available, making use of our beautiful grounds, and the local Higham’s Park and Lake. Flexibility is important, as life is so busy for our families, and things can change suddenly – if counselling sessions need to be cancelled or re-arranged at short notice that can be done. There are many things that Haven House families are not in control of; it is important that they have autonomy over attending counselling sessions how and when best suits them.

Counselling referrals can come directly from Haven House family members, or through care staff who support the family. Reasons for referrals are varied, including anxiety, depression, communication difficulties in relationships, overwhelm, loss and grief.

Pre-bereavement counselling is offered as is post-bereavement. These are gentle sessions giving a space to remember and reflect, to release emotion of all kinds, to communicate the really difficult things that are unable to be spoken to family and friends. Having an ‘other’ to leave these feelings with, who can hold them with empathy and no judgement, can be a relief and give a little breathing space.

A new venture for Haven House counselling is community work – this is in its early stages. Currently, it involves reacting to queries and requests for support and training from schools around bereaved families, and from bereaved parents who are signposted by other professionals. These requests are always considered with awareness of capacity for our Haven House families first and foremost in mind.