Loss and Bereavement Counselling
in Belfast,
Counselling for Anxiety, Stress, Depression, Self-esteem, Trauma, Grief and Loss, Work Stress, Couples and Relationships and more.
Providing Services
over 30+ Years
Introduction
Building Stronger Connections Through Couples Therapy
So much of what hurts us in life is loss, whether through bereavement or the ending of relationships or marriage. Therapy provides a space for you to safely experience the pain and grief of your loss and to allow you to explore the different feelings that you are coping with, all the while working towards healing the wounds that trauma can leave behind.
When someone significant in our life dies the emotions that inhabit us can be overwhelming. Losing your partner, spouse, friend, parent, family member or child is a devastating experience. When we have experienced loss we can be unprepared to deal with the sheer force and nature of emotions that follow the loss of a loved one. It can feel like nothing will ever make sense or feel right again. It can be difficult to express or share your grief with those around you as they may be grieving too or you may feel they do not understand what you are going through.
- Postgraduate Diploma in the Psychodynamics
- Certificate in Hakomi Body Centred Psychotherapy
- EMDR Level 1 and 2
- Registered Member of the British (BACP)
- I work to BACP’s code of ethics for good practice
- I hold a M.Sc in Guidance and Counselling (University of Ulster)
Key Information
Coping with Grief
Everyone Grieves Differently:
The death of a loved one can be devastating and bereavement affects people in uniquely different ways. There’s no right or wrong way to grieve. Grieving can be impacted by gender or cultural identity. Grief is a natural response to loss. It’s the emotional suffering you experience when someone you love dies. The more significant the loss, the more intense the grief will be.
Get Support
Talking and sharing your feelings with someone can really help. You don’t have to go through this alone. For some people, relying on family and friends is the best way to cope. For others being part of a faith community or having spiritual beliefs can be sustaining at this painful time. The work of psychotherapy and counselling is to help individuals process the pain of loss and to assist them to go on living effectively in the world.
- Postgraduate Diploma in the Psychodynamics
- Certificate in Hakomi Body Centred Psychotherapy
- EMDR Level 1 and 2
- Registered Member of the British (BACP)
- I work to BACP’s code of ethics for good practice
- I hold a M.Sc in Guidance and Counselling (University of Ulster)
Loss and Bereavement CounsellingLoss and Bereavement Counselling can help with
Loss and bereavement can leave us feeling overwhelmed and isolated, as the pain of losing someone close to us can deeply affect our emotional and mental well-being. Counselling provides a safe, supportive space where you can process your grief and find ways to navigate the difficult emotions that come with loss. It helps you understand that grief is a natural, yet complex response, and that healing is a personal journey. Through therapy, you’ll gain the support to express your feelings, cope with the intensity of your emotions, and learn to adjust to life without your loved one. With time, you can begin to find meaning and healing, and move forward at your own pace.
-
Managing the Emotional Intensity of Grief
Loss and bereavement counselling provides support to help you process overwhelming emotions such as sadness, anger, guilt, and confusion.
-
Coping with Life After Loss
Therapy helps you navigate the challenges of adjusting to a life without your loved one, offering strategies to manage daily routines and responsibilities.
- Finding Meaning and Healing
Counselling can help you find meaning in your grief and guide you toward healing, helping you remember and honor your loved one while gradually moving forward.
The Process
Processing the Deep Emotions of Loss
Grief can be overwhelming, often bringing with it a whirlwind of emotions that can feel impossible to manage. Sadness, anger, guilt, confusion, and even relief are common reactions, and they may shift unexpectedly. It’s common to feel that these emotions are consuming, leading to difficulty in focusing or carrying on with daily life. Loss and bereavement counselling offers a safe and supportive environment to explore these emotions in depth. The therapist will provide a space for you to express what you're feeling without judgment, helping you make sense of the complex emotions that often come with loss. Together, we can work on managing these feelings in a healthy way, acknowledging their intensity, and allowing you to gradually move toward acceptance and healing.
Finding a New Path Forward
After the loss of a loved one, life can feel completely different. The routines and dynamics that once existed are now disrupted, and the adjustment can be difficult, even overwhelming. This transition period can involve feelings of loneliness, uncertainty, and confusion about how to move forward. Counselling helps you cope with the adjustments that come after loss, such as managing everyday tasks, maintaining relationships, or facing the absence of a loved one. Together, we’ll explore how to gradually integrate the changes into your life and develop new coping strategies for your evolving reality. This space will support you as you find new ways to live, love, and move forward, even as you hold the memory of your loved one close.
Moving Through Grief to Find Peace
The journey of grief is unique for everyone, and while it’s often painful, it can also lead to personal growth and healing. Finding meaning in your loss doesn’t mean forgetting the person or minimizing the pain; rather, it’s about discovering new ways to live and appreciate your loved one’s impact on your life. In counselling, we’ll work together to honor the memory of your loved one and explore ways to incorporate them into your ongoing journey. This process can help you gradually release the intense emotions surrounding grief while finding a sense of peace and closure. Healing takes time, and with the right support, you can emerge from this process with a renewed sense of strength and meaning.
Every journey starts with a first step, make yours today.
Would you like to explore your mental health wellbeing? Reach out today to start your journey towards healing and personal growth with a compassionate, professional counsellor by your side.
Other Services
Other areas of Counselling,
see how I can help
Counselling offers support for a wide range of challenges, providing a safe space to explore your thoughts and feelings. Whether you’re dealing with anxiety, depression, or trauma, therapy helps you understand your experiences and work towards positive change.
It can also address issues like workplace stress, relationship challenges, or personal growth. Whatever you’re facing, counselling provides tools and guidance to build resilience and move forward with clarity and confidence.
- Workplace Anxiety
- Childhood Trauma
- Depression
- Social Anxiety
- Relationship Breakdown
- Grief Support
- Self-Esteem Struggles
- Nature-Based Therapy
- EMDR for Healing
- Body Image & Eating
Every journey starts with a first step, make yours today.
I offer flexible counselling options, including both in-person and remote sessions, allowing you to choose the format that best fits your lifestyle and comfort level.
In-person Sessions
In-person counselling provides a unique opportunity for connection and support in a comfortable environment. Meeting face-to-face allows for deeper emotional exchange and fosters a strong therapeutic relationship. Together, we’ll create a safe space to explore your challenges and work towards healing in a supportive atmosphere.
Remote Options
Remote counselling allows you to connect from home via phone or the video platform Zoom. This flexible option makes it easy to fit sessions into your schedule while ensuring meaningful therapeutic conversations in a convenient setting.
Client reviews
-
Depression
"I lost my relationship and my job and was at an all time low, I had gone to see many counsellors, many of whom didn’t help me. Jean did. She was real with me, she listened, she recognised my pain, I felt she was with me in my pain and wasn’t scared of it. Quite simply I wouldn’t have turned my life around without her. She was only one I could trust and who gave me the care and support I needed."
J, 54
-
Depression
"I was scared going to my first counselling session but Jean was warm, welcoming and professional. She put me at ease and I was able to say things to her that I had never told anyone before. I was able to understand my behaviour and my pain so much more and to gradually change my life. I was able to put old ghosts to rest and enjoy my life again."
B, 39
-
Anxiety
"Going to counselling was so helpful. I was really anxious, couldn’t concentrate, couldn’t settle, was wakening up every night and felt so vulnerable. I felt I had lost everything and didn’t know where to turn. Through being listened to and heard, I came to understand some of why I was behaving the way I was and through Jean’s gentle probing I was able to look at my attitudes and behaviour and see how it was making things worse. I am so grateful that I had the courage to pick up the phone and make an appointment. Money well spent."
A, 41
-
Anxiety
"I have had many problems through out my life and seeing Jean has been a lifesaver for me. I never thought I could change my life around in the way I have. Counselling was painful at times, looking at things that had happened in the past, but Jean supported me and was my ally during this process. She allowed me to express my painful emotions, give me hope that I could survive and I did."
L, 60
-
Body Centred Psychotherapy
"Jean really helped me to feel my emotions, I had cut off from my body and was living in my head. I was just like an automaton, going through the emotions. My relationship had broken down and I was devastated. Jean sat with me and gradually I was able to come into my body and to feel again and eventually connect with friends again and not feel so alone or separate. Jean allowed me to feel safe enough to feel some of my emotions and to feel my fears. I never felt judged, I felt heard and valued and gradually came to believe again that it was safe enough for me to speak what I was feeling and that I could survive what I had experienced. "
K, 53
-
Couple Counselling
"I feel excellent progress has been made in our relationship and wish I had considered the counselling earlier. Although difficult and painful at times, having a neutral and honest assessment of our needs was extremely beneficial "
J, 33
-
Couple Counselling
"Jean is such a good counsellor, she gives an excellent service. We had just got civil partnered and thought it would be the happiest days of our lives, but we were struggling in our relationship. Though counselling we learned how to sort out our differences without hurting each other and we have grown closer together. We would go and see Jean if the need arises but we are able to talk things out now and realise how we wind up each other. We are now practicing how to put what we have learned into practice. Thank you"
M, 36 and D, 38
-
Couple Counselling
"My husband and I still loved each other but couldn’t find a way through. We had stopped communicating with each other and were living separate lives and were pretty much done. For the sake of the children we thought we would go and see a counsellor. We went to see Jean and it really helped us, we got to understand at a deeper level what the problems were, how we had stopped supporting each other and most importantly how to fix. We are still married and the children are thriving."
E, 39 and W, 43
-
Food and Body Image
"I hated my body and went to see Jean to lose weight. I got so much more than that. I was surprised at what I found out. I got to understand why I was eating and how food was an emotional crutch for me and how it was easier to hate my body and myself, rather than deal with some of the hateful and horrible things that had happened to me in my life."
C, 44
-
Food and Body Image
"My life looked perfect on the outside but had crumbled on the inside. I was feeling desperate and just couldn’t cope any more. I was binge eating and hating myself. It was a long and tough journey but with Jean’s knowledge, skills and understanding I have stopped striving for the perfect life and the perfect me. Instead I have opened up to friends and family and am much happier."
S, 34
-
Nature
"Jean has a real gift to connect with people and to understand them. I had tried talking to other therapists and it hadn’t helped. When I spoke to Jean she understood this and suggested that we see each other outside and and be in nature. I found this so healing and less intimidating. It allowed me to feel my breath, to feel my legs, to feel the earth beneath me, I felt less alone. Jean and nature helped soothe me and allowed me to heal"
T, 53
Jean McMinn Therapy
Counselling & Psychotherapy in Belfast Holywood - Counselling for Anxiety, Stress, Depression, Self-esteem, Trauma, Grief and Loss, Work Stress, Couples and Relationship and more.
Bangor - Cultra - Newtownards - Carrickfergus - Belfast City Centre - Donaghadee - Lisburn - Dundonald - Groomsport - Larne - Cookstown - Omagh - Gortin - Carrickmore - Pomeroy in Co Tyrone - Derry - Monaghan - Holywood - Comber