Days can feel strangely loud or impossibly quiet.
Ordinary tasks take more effort. Important dates sneak up.
If you’re moving through recent or long-standing loss, you don’t have to do it alone.
Our experienced counsellors offer calm, steady support to help you carry what’s happened and rebuild your life gently, step by step.
When life tilts and nothing feels solid, we slow the pace right down. Simple steps, steady check-ins, and practical anchors to help you stabilise—hour by hour if needed.
Tears, numb spells, anger, the relentless “what ifs.” We make room for all of it, then gently untangle the stories you’re carrying so they hurt less and make more sense.
From sleepless nights to panic in the supermarket aisle, we’ll share practical tools for breathing through it, grounding yourself, and resting.
From returning to work and parenting to anniversaries and holidays, we’ll plan together for hard days and build small, meaningful routines.
Our work is compassionate, paced, and focused on what helps you today and tomorrow.
One conversation is all it takes. We’re here when you’re ready.
Starting can feel daunting. We make it simple.
Tell us about your loss and what you need. We’ll connect you with a counsellor who fits your preferences and pace.
Most people are seen within a week. We’ll guide you from first contact to first session.
Choose from 40+ Sydney locations or meet online — support that fits your life.
How Therapy Can Support You Through Loss
Grief isn’t a straight line. It doesn’t follow neat steps or a set timeframe. One day it can feel heavy and raw; the next it feels far away or not there at all. It can crash in like a wave or come in slow, quiet ripples.
We tend to think of grief when someone dies. But you can also feel grief after big changes in your life, like a divorce, losing your job, getting sick, having a miscarriage, or a falling-out with someone important.
Sometimes, it’s not even about a person or event, but about losing a part of who you were or the life you used to have.
Common symptoms of grief include:
These reactions are normal and deeply personal. No two people grieve the same way. Some feel their grief immediately, while others may not process it for months or even years.
In Australia, it’s recognised that grief isn’t a mental disorder, but it does impact mental health. When grief lingers intensely and starts to affect daily functioning, it may develop into Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD) or complicate existing conditions like depression and anxiety.
But here’s what’s important: you don’t have to “qualify” your grief to seek help. Counselling provides a safe space to understand and work through grief, no matter how it looks.
Grief is often too heavy to carry alone. Counselling gives you a place to talk it through and figure out what to do next. Here’s what you can expect from a skilled counsellor:
Be heard without judgment
Friends and family mean well, but grief can still feel lonely. With a counsellor, you don’t have to explain yourself. Say whatever comes up, big or small, without pressure or judgment.
Get help making sense of it all
Grief can be overwhelming – you might be flooded by sudden memories, tough dreams, and mixed feelings. A counsellor helps you make sense of it all, helping you to settle all of those feelings in a way that you can cope with, and that honours your experience.
Get tools to feel better
The goal of counselling isn’t for you to “just get over it.” It’s practical: what to do on birthdays and anniversaries, how to handle mornings and nights, getting sleep and meals back on track, how you talk to yourself, and who to lean on. These small steps add up.
Not sure if it’s time to talk to someone? Grief shifts day to day, and it’s normal to be unsure about reaching out. People tend to experience one of two types of grief:
Normal grief has no specific timeline: you may feel it intensely for a few weeks or in waves for months or maybe even years. But the trend is one of gradually feeling better. Feelings of sadness, anger, or hopelessness slowly fade, and you start feeling like yourself again.
Sometimes grief stays intense and disruptive for months on end. You may feel stuck, trapped in guilt, or unable to imagine a future. This is known as prolonged or complicated grief, and you may need counselling to help open a path forward.
Complex grief is more likely if your loss is sudden or traumatic, if you are trying to cope with mental health challenges, or if you lack good support.
In short, if the pain eases, slowly but surely, you’re likely moving through grief in a typical way. If it doesn’t let up and daily life stays hard for months, that’s a sign to get extra support.
Sessions are uniquely tailored to you. A counsellor will offer healing tools shaped by your lived experience, not copied and pasted from generic advice.
If recent grief or a loss from long ago feels heavy, counselling can help. You don’t need to wait for a crisis. And you don’t need a formal diagnosis. It’s about having someone trained to sit with grief alongside you and guide you through it.
When you’re ready, contact Associated Counsellors & Psychologists online or via telephone. We’ll match you with the right counsellor with experience in grief and bereavement for an in-person or online session.
If you are feeling overwhelmed, unsafe, or in crisis, immediate help is available. You don’t have to face this alone. The following services provide 24/7 support across Australia:
Call: 13 11 14 Call: 1300 22 4636 Call: 1300 659 467 Call: 1800 55 1800 Call: 000
Choosing the right therapist for couples counselling isn’t just about qualifications. It’s about connection, depth, and real experience.
Our team includes senior psychologists and counsellors who bring empathy, insight, and practical strategies that create lasting change.
We’ve handpicked professionals who are not only highly trained, but also genuinely care about helping people move forward in their relationships.
We'll speak to you and help you find the best therapist for your issues (yes, we're local and real people!). We'll ask about what's going for you, you're location and availability. We'll then describe some counsellors for you to choose from.
You can get started without a referral. If you do have Mental Health care plan from your GP, you may be eligible for a Medicare rebate. Give us a call and we'll run you through the options and how it all works.
Prices vary depending on who you choose to see.Medicare Rebates and private health rebates may also apply. You can read about those in the FAQs at the bottom of this page.
Yes. Studies show that online counselling is as effective as in-person sessions for grief support. The key factor is finding a qualified counsellor who provides a supportive and understanding environment, regardless of the format.
Absolutely. Counselling provides a space to unpack and process complex feelings like guilt or regret, which are common in grief. Through compassionate reflection, you can work towards self-forgiveness and emotional resolution.
Not at all. Many people seek counselling years after a loss when grief resurfaces due to life transitions, anniversaries, or other emotional triggers. Counselling is valuable at any stage of the grief journey.
In a session, your counsellor will provide a safe space for you to explore your feelings without judgment. You’ll work together to understand your unique grief experience, learn coping strategies, and build rituals or practices that support healing.
If your grief feels stuck, overwhelming, or is interfering with your ability to function day-to-day, seeking professional support is a wise step. Counselling is also helpful if you’re struggling with feelings of guilt, anger, or isolation that won’t ease with time.
Yes. Emotional numbness is a common grief response. It’s the mind’s way of protecting you from overwhelming pain. If numbness persists and you feel disconnected from life, counselling can help you process those feelings gently.
There’s no timeline for grief. Some people find their emotions settle within months, while others experience waves of grief for years. It’s not about “getting over it,” but about learning to live with the loss in a way that feels manageable. If grief continues to interfere with daily life after an extended period, counselling can provide support.
Let us answer your questions and help you choose from a range of Psychologists, Counsellors and Relationship Therapists, near you.