How to Help Someone Through Loss and Grief

Dr Emma Cotterill is a chartered clinical psychologist with over 15 years of experience. She supports individuals experiencing mental health difficulties, with specialist experience in supporting parents and mothers, and exploring issues of grief, loss and trauma. She uses an individualized integrative therapy approach, drawing on CBT, ACT, CFT, EMDR, systemic approaches and mindfulness. Dr Cotterill is the author of How to Help Someone with Depression, Mental Health Microgains, and Surviving Solo Motherhood.

Part 1: Understanding grief and loss and what the experiences is like for the grieving person 





Understanding grief and loss – theory and education 
What grief can look like – in the short and long term  
Practical consequences of dealing with grief and loss ("grief admin")
Challenges of living with grief for the person grieving / the hidden aspects of grief 
Misunderstanding of what grief looks like and individual differences in this 
When grief becomes intertwined with mental health difficulties (depression, anxiety, trauma, etc.) 



Part 2: How to help someone through grief and loss 





Practical help
Emotional support
Communication and staying in touch 
Individual differences in support needed 
How to talk about the person who has died 
What not to say – unhelpful platitudes 
How to remember the person who has died 
How to keep showing up 
The burden of being present in someone else's grief when it isn't changing 
Considering risk: what to do if your loved one is experiencing suicidal ideation



Part 3: How to support yourself when supporting someone else





Recognizing the emotional toll of being around others' grief 
How to take care of yourself if you are grieving too
Self-care