Mary Bredin

Hello and wishing you a warm welcome. I am an experienced BACP registered counsellor who has specialised in loss, illness, bereavement and end of life counselling. I have worked for over 30 years with people of all ages, in a variety of settings including the NHS, private practice and hospice care. I have also had my own experience of loss and know only too well how devastating and life changing this can be. It is why I believe so passionately in supporting others facing serious illness, loss and bereavement as I know first hand what a difference such support can make.

Bereavement is often something people suffer and cope with alone and it can be difficult to reach out and admit you need help. This is understandable given that we live in a culture that is uncomfortable with talking about death and grief or showing feelings such as anger and guilt that may be less acceptable. Although grief is a natural response to loss, for some it can be a totally overwhelming and lonely experience undermining confidence causing depression, anxiety, and exacerbation of mental and physical health problems. Unresolved grief can also impact on existing relationships, work and everyday life making it difficult to cope in the normal ways. At such times it can be helpful to talk with someone outside your usual circle of relationships, who understands the landscape of grief and its various manifestations, and who can guide, listen and help you to develop coping strategies and resources, so you can live with your loss and find meaning in life once more.

I believe that at the heart of any successful therapy is a relationship that is founded on trust, respect, non-judgment, curiosity, compassion and kindness. 

I offer an integrative approach that uses a variety of therapeutic approaches and that addresses all aspects of self: physical, emotional, cognitive, and spiritual. As well, the relational, cultural and environmental circumstances of a person's life will impact on the way they cope with illness and bereavement and so it is important to take these factors into account during therapy. In recent years I have been involved in vision quest, nature connection work and mindfulness self- compassion practices and I now offer some of these teachings within my work with clients.

I offer an initial free 30 minute telephone conversation to talk and together gauge whether or not I am be able to help you. I can also answer more fully any questions you may have about my therapy and how I work. If mutually we decide to continue, we  would devote some time in your first session to assess your problems, needs and situation, and then create a plan of how we will work together.