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Maternity bereavement counselling

We support people who have had a miscarriage, still birth or medical termination of pregnancy and received care at The James Cook University Hospital.

How can counselling help?

Attending counselling is an opportunity to receive support to help you navigate your grief, explore your feelings and develop coping strategies.

We offer a person-centred talking therapy that focuses on your unique experiences, feelings and perspectives.

How do I access the service?

Self-Referral

You can self-refer by emailing [email protected]
In the email your will need to include

  • Your name
  • Mobile number
  • A short message about what you would like support with, how the
    bereavement has impacted you.

Professional referral

With your consent your Midwife or Doctor can refer you via Badger using the ‘Maternity Bereavement Counselling Referral’.

What happens next?

Once we receive your referral, our counsellor will phone you within 14 working days to arrange an initial conversation.

This takes approximately 45 minutes and is done over the phone. We will then arrange your first counselling session or refer you to another service if more suitable.

When can I access support?

Support can start from approximately six weeks following your bereavement.

We go at your pace, there is no rush to decide if you want counselling immediately, as you can access our counselling service anytime in the 12 months following the loss of your baby or babies.

How is support offered?

We provide counselling for women and men, individually or as a couple following the loss of their baby. Sessions will be tailored to meet your needs.

Sessions can be delivered:

  • Face-to-face
  • Online
  • Telephone

Sessions can be:

Weekly or every other week.

The number of sessions:

This will be agreed with you, based on your individual requirements.

If you have any questions about our counselling service,
or you would like to self-refer please do not hesitate to email
[email protected]

Feedback from families who have accessed our counselling service.

  • “Had a huge impact on enabling me to forgive myself and move on with my life without feeling the guilt.”
  • “Just talking and having everything voiced and out in the open made me feel so much better.”
  • “It allowed me to work through my own thoughts without judgement and helped me explore what I was feeling.”
  • “I feel a weight I didn’t realise was there had been lifted.”