The Bereavement Companion
When navigating a loss, it's okay not to be okay!
I am not here to treat grief. I am here to walk beside you while you live through it.
When someone you love dies, life can suddenly feel unfamiliar and overwhelming. While the world around you continues as normal, your own world may feel as though it has stopped.
Grief is not something to be fixed or cured. It is something we learn to live with, one day at a time.
You don't have to face that journey alone.
Finding the right person to support you through a difficult transition is a deeply personal choice. You need to feel completely safe, heard, and comfortable.
To help you decide if I am the right person to walk beside you, I offer a free, 15-minute introductory telephone call.
There is no obligation, no clinical checklist, and absolutely no pressure. It is simply a quiet, private space for us to introduce ourselves, discuss what you are facing, and see if my companionship is the right fit for your needs.
About Me
If you've found your way here, the chances are you're going through one of the most difficult periods of your life. Grief can be overwhelming.
It can leave you feeling lost, lonely, exhausted, angry, confused, or simply unable to make sense of what has happened. Sometimes what people need most isn't advice or therapy. Sometimes they just need someone who will listen, understand, and walk alongside them without judgment.
My name is John, and that is the support I aim to offer. I am not a qualified counsellor or therapist, and I don't pretend to be. My role is different. I am a bereavement companion, someone who can provide a calm, caring presence, practical support, and a listening ear during a time when life may feel turned upside down.
I cannot take away your grief, but I can walk beside you while you carry it.
For 22 years, I worked as a nurse, first within the NHS and later serving for 16 years in the Royal Air Force. During those years, I learned that some of the most meaningful support we can offer another person isn't found in words or qualifications. It's found in simply being there when someone is struggling, listening without judgment, and helping them feel less alone.
To deepen my understanding of loss, I later trained as a bereavement volunteer with Cruse, the UK’s largest grief charity, and spent several months working alongside a funeral director to learn the intricate, practical steps of immediate care. Both of these experiences were incredibly valuable and gave me a profound respect for the different ways we support those who are grieving.
Ultimately, I chose to work independently because I wanted to offer a service completely free from time limits or fixed schedules. I wanted the flexibility to adapt entirely to the individual person, providing an unhurried, gentle companionship that moves entirely at your own pace.
Later, I spent many years as a wedding and portrait photographer. Although very different from nursing, it taught me another valuable lesson: every person has their own story, their own experiences, and their own way of navigating life's challenges. It reinforced the importance of patience, understanding, and treating people with genuine kindness and respect.
Today, I bring those experiences together in my work as a bereavement companion. I work independently, which means there are no long waiting lists, no targets, and no pressure. My focus is entirely on you, your circumstances, and the support you need.
Whether you want someone to talk to, someone to listen, or simply someone to walk beside you as you find your way through grief, I am here to help. You don't have to face it all on your own.
How Can We Meet?
Grief is completely individual, and how we work together should be too. I offer a few different ways for us to connect, allowing you to choose whatever feels safest and most comfortable for you right now.
Individual Sessions
Tailored support sessions focusing on companion support for as long as you need it in the comfort of your own home.
Within Wirral
Group Support
Coming together with a small, intimate group of 3 to 6 people who are experiencing the heavy burden of loss. This is a supportive, compassionate space where you can contribute as much or as little as you feel comfortable with.
Online Meetings
If you prefer your own surroundings or live a bit further away, we can easily connect online for a quiet, private video call from the comfort of your home.
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Free Monthly Bereavement Coffee Mornings
If you're not sure whether one-to-one companionship is right for you, why not join one of our free monthly coffee mornings?
These small, informal gatherings offer a warm and welcoming space where people can meet others who understand grief and loss, share as much or as little as they wish, and simply spend time with people who "get it."
There is no pressure to speak, no expectation to share personal experiences, and no requirement to participate in any particular way. Some people come to talk, while others find comfort simply in listening and being among others who understand.
To help as many people as possible benefit from these gatherings, places are limited to six attendees, and priority may be given to those attending for the first time or who are newly bereaved.
For those who feel they would benefit from more regular or personalised support, one-to-one companionship sessions are also available.
Limited to six places. Pre-booking essential.
Please complete the contact form, and I'll be in touch when the next coffee morning has an available slot.