Grief counselling provides a safe, supportive space to explore the emotional, physical, cultural, and spiritual impacts of loss. It helps you understand your grief, make sense of your experience, and find ways to cope, heal, and honour your baby and your story.

Grief after baby loss is deeply personal. You may experience sadness, anger, guilt, numbness, confusion, relief, or a mix of emotions. There is no “right” way to grieve and no timeline you must follow. Counselling helps you understand your unique experience and find ways to navigate it safely.

Sessions usually include:

• Talking about your experience at your own pace

• Exploring emotions, thoughts, and physical responses

• Understanding trauma responses if relevant

• Honouring your baby and your story

• Identifying supports and coping strategies

• Navigating relationships, whānau dynamics, or returning to work

• Exploring cultural or spiritual practices that support healing

You choose what feels safe to talk about.

Yes. Baby loss affects the whole whānau. Partners, parents, siblings, or support people can attend if you choose. Some people prefer individual sessions; others prefer shared sessions. Both are welcome.

Many people come to counselling unsure of what they want to talk about. You don’t need a plan or a clear goal. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, stuck, isolated, or unsure how to cope, counselling can help you find clarity and support.

There is no set timeframe. Some people come for a few sessions; others come over months or return at different stages (e.g., anniversaries, subsequent pregnancies). You can pause or end counselling at any time.

If you are in immediate danger or experiencing a mental health crisis, emergency services or crisis support are the safest options. Counselling sessions are not designed for urgent crisis response, but we can create a safety plan together to support you between sessions.

Yes, with a few exceptions required by law or safety. Confidentiality may be broken if:

• There is serious and imminent risk of harm

• A child or vulnerable person is at risk

• A court order requires information

• Information is shared in professional supervision (your identity is protected where possible)

You will be told whenever it is safe and appropriate to do so.