Bereavement Support Group

I have been referred to the group by an adviser - what next?

Your adviser or counsellor will add you to waiting list for group. Lynne, the group facilitator, will contact each person to arrange a one to one online meeting, to discuss your general expectations and answer any important questions you may have. This is designed to support you and an opportunity to ‘say hello’ before the group begins to meet. 

What does the group offer?

The group is for students who have had a bereavement and would like to meet with others who are also bereaved. The bereavement may be recent or historical.  You will need to be ready to receive support and participate in a small group.  It will be a closed group of approximately 10 people and will be facilitated by a member of the counselling team.

When will the group take place?

The group will meet in-person weekly for 6 weeks on Thursdays from 19 January 2023, with a comfort break around the middle of each session.

You are strongly encouraged to commit to attending all sessions as this enables you and others to be well supported in a consistent way.

Who is the group for?

This support group is for people who have had a bereavement and who would like to meet together in a small group with others who are also bereaved. There is no time frame for when your bereavement happened; it may be recent or historical. It is important that you have a sense of being ready to receive support in a small group, alongside feeling able to participate in reflection, sharing and activities with others in the group, and you will be encouraged to do this in a way which supports you. You may have discussed some of the above sufficiently with your advisor or counsellor to help you make your decision about joining the group.

Who will facilitate the group?

Lynne, one of the counsellors from the University Counselling Service. Lynne has experience of doing group work and of supporting people who are bereaved. 

Do I need to do any preparation before the group?

No, though you may wish to identify someone or something, which supports you to give yourself ‘something’ which is caring and affirming of you between sessions. Being in a group can be helpful and a powerful source of support. It can also feel a bit exposing at times, especially whilst everyone is getting a sense of working together. As the group will meet in-person, it is important that we work together to create a private space by making sure we all have a private space of our own whilst participating in the session.

How do I join the group and who do I contact?

If you haven't been referred to the group by an adviser, you can still attend the group. To express your interest and begin the process of determining if you are best placed to attend the group, please contact counselling@hud.ac.uk. You will then be contacted by the group facilitator who will arrange a one to one appointment to discuss your expectations and answer any questions.