Family Support Service
Our Family Support Service exists to promote emotional, psychological and spiritual wellbeing.
When someone is diagnosed with a long-term condition, everybody in the family is affected. We will try to meet you wherever you are in your journey; taking the opportunity to provide timely and appropriate support, to listen and to get the best possible outcome for you.
We work with patients, families and friends, both pre- and post-bereavement, both adults and children. Patients with an identified need who are not known to the Hospice can be referred by a healthcare professional. Patients known to the Hospice and their family, friends and carers can self-refer to Family Support Services by calling 01462 679540 (option 7).
Please note: We are currently unable to accept new referrals for children and young people.
Group Therapy for Bereavement
The Bereavement Therapy Group is a closed, non-judgemental and confidential therapy group where you will be able to express your feelings and thoughts to help process your grief. The aim is to provide a facilitated shared space for people who have suffered a bereavement, to speak with and listen to others and share how they have faced certain challenges. The shared experience of others can feel supportive, can help normalise some painful and challenging feelings, and allow you to identify areas that you may still need to process yourself, all part of the bereavement process. The group is an opportunity to be open and vulnerable, giving and receiving support by your presence within the group.
You will understand that everyone's journey is different and that is okay. Knowing that your own experiences are a natural response to grief is very important. The space will also allow for an understanding that bereavement is a rollercoaster, and people may experience periods or events where they feel up or down and that grief is not linear. A bereavement is something which people can learn to live with and will grow around, whilst continuing to have bonds with their loved one.
Our support is there for people at any stage of their grief. We are very keen for the group to be led by the participants and for you to bring along topics of conversation that feel important for the stage of grief you are in. Trained counsellors will be present at each meeting to facilitate and support the group and the individuals within in.
Sessions will be 90 minutes long and will run for 8 sessions over consecutive weeks - commitment to all sessions is important as groups will be limited in size.
For further information please email familysupport@ghhospicecare.org.uk or call 01462 679540 (option 7).
Emotional and spiritual care
Meeting the emotional and spiritual care needs of patients and family members is as important as the physical and practical care that we offer.
We can help by giving you space and time to reflect and make some sense of your situation, to talk through some of the questions raised, to sort things out and to restore a sense of balance and peace.
Some people will have specific requests relating to their religion or culture. For others, spirituality describes anything that gives value and meaning to their lives. All aspects can be covered within spiritual and emotional care.
Counselling and supportive calls
Facing the death of someone we love, or facing our own death, raises many thoughts and feelings. We may feel shocked or numb and it can take a while to sink in. We may feel nothing. It can feel very difficult to cope and we can worry about how we can ever feel 'normal'.
Counselling gives you a better understanding of how you are feeling. Talking confidentially to someone other than family or friends can be helpful. We offer short term pre- or post-bereavement counselling and one-off calls when you need us. We also offer supportive calls on a regular basis, to help you through particularly difficult times.
Children and young people's service
Please note: This service is temporarily unable to accept new referrals.
We have a dedicated service providing advice and emotional support for families with children and young people. Parents and care givers are usually best placed to help their children. We can help the adults in the family to support the children in their bereavement.
Our service can also provide individual support to children and young people when it is needed, enabling the young person to express themselves through talking, creative activities, play and storytelling.
Our trained team of staff and volunteers offer support to children, in a safe, confidential environment, helping children to express their thoughts and feelings. We also work collaboratively with Schools in North Hertfordshire and Stevenage and other external organisations.
Social work
Our social worker is available to assist you with social and practical issues. This can include sourcing help at home, accessing other services, advice around benefits, help with housing and support with any family concerns.
Lights of Life
Another way that we support bereaved people is by holding events which provide time and space to remember. People can feel less alone to be alongside others who have gone through loss. A regular event each year is Lights of Life. This is a special service held at the Hospice during the run up to Christmas.
Family Support resource library
Our support resource library provides an extensive list of other companies and charities who provide support to children and adults facing a bereavement. You will also find a short video below with tips from Liz Pybus, our Family Support Services Manager, on how to talk to someone who is recently bereaved.
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