A Gentle Grief Journal for Clients During and After Bereavement Counselling
A Place in my Heart
I created the "A place in my heart" grief journal to help those who are bereaved to find the new space within their heart where their loved one will live forever.
This journal is a self-led reflective writing resource that can sit gently alongside therapeutic work, giving clients space to write privately and at their own pace.
Request sample copies
If you are a counsellor, therapist, bereavement specialist or support professional, I’d be happy to send sample copies for you to review.
A Gentle Resource for Bereavement Support
This grief journal has been designed as a gentle companion for people navigating grief. With thoughtful prompts and plenty of blank writing space, it offers somewhere private to reflect between sessions, release thoughts and feelings, and maintain a continuing connection with their loved one after counselling or therapy has ended.
This journal is not intended to replace counselling, therapy or professional support. It is a self-led reflective writing resource that may complement therapeutic work by giving clients a private space to continue gentle reflection at their own pace.
A little about why this work matters so deeply to me.
We hear the devastating words "I'm so sorry, there's no heartbeat" for our firstborn baby. Our worlds change forever and we begin our lifelong journey of grief.
I set up a website blogging, and creating keepsake gifts for bereaved parents who have also lost a baby. At the time, no UK website dedicated to baby loss gifts exists.
I begin a local peer-to-peer support group for bereaved parents. Myself and others work together, fundraise and provide resources to hospitals for bereaved parents.
Drawing on my previously unknown creative streak, I start a Graphic Design course to make a complete change in my career (previously a Family Mediator).
I work for an expectant parent safety charity with a focus on working with previously bereaved parents, health professionals and expectant parents to help save future babies' lives.
At the end of 2019, I burn out. I step away from all things grief related for a while, as the anniversary this year hits me harder than ever and I realise I'm not coping well.
I reflect on my burnout, my grief and set to rebuilding my life in a way that helps me to carry and honour my grief in a much healthier way and having gratitude for all I have.
I set up my business with a focus on writing for self-care. It naturally falls towards helping with grief. I reflect on my grief journey and design my first guided journal for grief.
After being contacted by Kelly Harris, a specialist working in bereavement support, I create a baby memorial version of my grief journal with her support and encouragement.
There are lots of amazing workbook style grief journals out there, but I wanted to create something a little different. I know that my own personality type would resist/avoid a more structured journal, but would be drawn to a gentler resource, with the mindset of “spending time with” rather than “working through” if that makes sense; and that’s where my grief journals differ.
There are two versions of my grief journal
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My original “A Place in My Heart” grief journal includes gentle writing and memory prompts suited to the loss of an adult loved one.
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With bereavement midwife, Kelly Harris' support, this version of my grief journal has been altered/created to be specific to the loss of a baby.
I have been careful, intentional and inclusive with the language used inside my journals. For example, I have ensured that the baby loss version of my journal would be suitable for both parents and same sex couples.
What my gently guided grief journals contain
Inside the guided grief journal, you will find:
What makes these grief journals a helpful companion during bereavement counselling?
There are no set tasks or rules that might interfere with therapeutic support, just gentle prompts to encourage ongoing reflection and connection.
Encouraging writing can build that bridge needed to feeling brave enough to speak something previously unsaid out loud.
Offering this journal for use during and after therapy may help reinforce that bereavement therapy is never about erasing grief.
Carefully thought out to spark ideas and continue to bring reflection after bereavement therapy has ended.
An ongoing connection through letter writing can gently reinforce that it’s okay to feel emotions and release them, no matter how much time has passed.
Offer for bereavement therapists
If you would like to keep my journals in stock at your practice or for me to regularly post them out to online clients as and when needed, I can offer a 25% discount from the RRP.
I would love to send you a sample. Simply complete the form below.