Bereavement Counselling in Bolton

When someone dies, grief can reach into every part of life. I offer private bereavement counselling for adults: a quiet, unhurried space at Douglas House in Bolton, or online, to talk about the person you’ve lost and how you’re really doing.

There’s no right way to grieve, and no deadline for needing support. Whether your loss was recent or a long time ago, you’re welcome to get in touch.

Book a free introductory call WhatsApp me

Free introductory call
£50 for 60 minutes
In person, online or outdoors

Grief

There’s no right way to grieve

Grief affects people in different ways. Feelings can come and go, and sometimes arrive when you least expect them. You might notice:

Numbness, or a sense that it hasn’t really sunk in
Waves of sadness that arrive out of nowhere
A tiredness that rest doesn’t seem to fix
Anger, or guilt about things said or left unsaid
Looking after everyone else and putting your own grief last
Keeping busy so you don’t have to feel it
A sense that you should be “over it” by now
An older loss that never quite got talked about

None of these means you’re grieving the wrong way. Counselling doesn’t put grief on a timetable; it gives you time and space to talk, at a pace that suits you.

Being heard

When the people around you stop asking

“Your therapist is there to listen, to hold you in that moment, to validate your feelings.”

Andrea Long

Friends and family can be a real comfort. But grief often goes on longer than other people expect, and the people around you aren’t always able to keep listening, especially if they’re grieving too.

Counselling is different. The hour is about you and the person you’ve lost. You can return to the same memories, questions and feelings when they still feel important, without worrying about being a burden.

Not sure counselling is what you need yet? I’ve put together a guide to grief support in Bolton, including free local services.

Andrea’s perspective

When feelings get pushed down

“You put all your feelings underneath a patio pavement and you pop it down, but weeds will still grow in that dark place.”Andrea Long

Many people who come to me struggling with grief have become very good at hiding how they feel: masking it, keeping busy, pressing everything down so they can carry on.

For some people, that habit began long before this bereavement. They may have learned early on that feelings were something to keep to themselves. In Transactional Analysis, this can be described as a “don’t feel” message. Not everyone has that experience, and grief can be hard to express for many different reasons.

Counselling is a chance to lift the slab gently, at a pace that feels safe, and look at what has been growing underneath.

How Transactional Analysis Therapy works

Looking back

Earlier losses can be part of the story

A bereavement can sometimes bring older losses back to the surface. If it feels useful, we can look back together at your first experience of a death in the family:

How were you told?

How did you feel in that moment?

How did you learn to cope?

“One little topic of conversation can really open up into a very deep conversation.”Andrea Long

This isn’t something you have to do. We’ll only go there if and when you want to, and you decide what feels manageable.

A first step

Talking about it can start with a short call

If you’re thinking about bereavement counselling but aren’t sure you’re ready, the free introductory call is a gentle way to find out. You can tell me a little about who you’ve lost, ask any questions and decide whether working together feels right.

Arrange a free introductory call

Prefer to write first? WhatsApp me

Free introductory call
No obligation to book
Sessions are £50 for 60 minutes

Ways to meet

Where we can meet

In person · Bolton BL1

Face-to-face counselling in Bolton

A private room at Douglas House on Belmont Road, away from home, with free parking nearby. Press button 3 when you arrive.

Visiting the room

Andrea’s therapy room at Douglas House in Bolton, with two armchairs and a window

Anywhere in the UK

Online Counselling

If getting out feels like too much right now, you can talk from home, at the same £50 fee.

Explore online sessions

Outdoors

Walk and Talk Therapy

Some people find it easier to talk about someone they’ve lost while walking side by side. We agree a location in advance, weather permitting.

Explore walking sessions

Andrea Long, counsellor and psychotherapist

Who you’ll be talking to

I’m Andrea Long

I’m a BACP-registered counsellor and psychotherapist (MBACP 414595). I work using Transactional Analysis and see adults in Bolton, online and outdoors.

Trust matters in this work. That’s why I begin with a free introductory call, so we can both decide whether we’re able to work together before you book anything.

More about Andrea

Questions

Questions about bereavement counselling

For general questions about starting counselling, see what to expect.

Is it too soon to have counselling?

There’s no set point at which you should or shouldn’t start. Some people want to talk soon after a death; others come months or years later. The free introductory call can help you decide whether now feels like the right time.

Can I come if the death was a long time ago?

Yes. A loss doesn’t have to be recent to still matter. Sometimes a newer bereavement brings an older one back to the surface, and we can talk about both if that feels useful.

Do I have to talk about how they died?

No. You decide what we talk about, and when. Some people want to talk about the death itself; others want to talk about the person, the relationship or how life feels now.

How much does bereavement counselling cost?

Sessions are £50 for 60 minutes, in person, online or outdoors, and the introductory call is free. You can pay by card, bank transfer or cash. I ask for 24 hours’ notice if you need to cancel; cancellations with less than 24 hours’ notice and missed appointments are charged at £25.

What type of counselling is best for bereavement?

There isn’t one approach that suits everyone. I work using Transactional Analysis, which can help you understand how you’ve learned to cope with loss and difficult feelings. The introductory call is a good way to see whether working with me feels right for you.

Is there free bereavement support?

Yes. Cruse Bereavement Support, a national charity, has a free UK helpline on 0808 808 1677.

Can I have bereavement counselling online?

Yes. Online sessions are available to adults anywhere in the UK, at the same £50 fee as face-to-face sessions. More about Online Counselling

What if grief feels overwhelming or I feel unsafe?

Grief can feel overwhelming, and it’s okay to ask for help straight away. Andrea’s counselling service is not an emergency or crisis service, so if you need support urgently, please don’t wait for a reply from Andrea. If there’s an immediate risk to life, or you don’t feel you can keep yourself safe, call 999 or go to A&E. If you feel mentally unsafe or very distressed, call NHS 111 and choose the mental health option; it’s free and available 24 hours a day. You can also call Samaritans free on 116 123, day or night, or text SHOUT to 85258 if talking feels too much.