At St Catherine’s we often talk about the patient journey and in the counselling team this refers to the different emotions that are experienced during the course of the illness.   Some patients and their families experience intense anger and frustration, others extreme sadness and even depression.

When a member of the family or someone close is very ill, talking to children truthfully and honestly is important and can relieve the anxiety of their not knowing or misunderstanding.

It can be difficult for a family to support each other at such times, no matter how close they are or how well they get on together.  

By being completely separate from the family and yet able to relate to the distress, the counselling team can provide that additional support that can improve the quality of the time that families have together.   Also, where patients have few family members around for them, a member of the counselling team can provide the support that is needed.

Support from the counselling team is available from when someone is first referred to the hospice, until long after bereavement.