To discuss and access emotional and spiritual support call us directly on our LivingGrief & wellbeing enquiry line:
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Emotional wellbeing enquiry line Monday - Friday, 9am-4pm 0300 303 5196
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Alternatively, you can email the team here
I would like to refer myself or on behalf of someone
One to one counselling & support
Our highly skilled team of counsellors, social workers, priests and other professional workers can help you:
- Explore the emotional impact of living with an illness
- Help you learn to accommodate the changes that progressive disease brings
- Work with you to strengthen relationships
- Help you discover what it means for you to live well with illness
Work is open ended and centred in what you want to get from the sessions. After an initial assessment by telephone you will be allocated a therapist who will discuss with you what you want to get from the sessions and how often to meet. Many families need flexibility around appointments and changing needs. We understand this and can work flexibly with you to help you get the most out of your sessions.
Sessions are by phone or online video call via Zoom. As restrictions due to COVID-19 change we will be working to provide a limited number of face to face appointments. Face to face sessions will become available in line with government guidance on social contact.
Other creative methods
Working supportively with a counsellor, sand tray therapy allows a person to construct their own microcosm using miniature toys and sand. The scene created acts as a reflection of the person's own life and allows them the opportunity to resolve conflicts, remove obstacles and gain acceptance of self. Working creatively in other ways, such as story telling, metaphor or art can be extremely beneficial.
A creative approach
Our team includes professionals trained in creative counselling, art therapy and music therapy. Working creatively offers additional ways to explore issues that may be troubling you by engaging with the creative and unconscious parts of the brain and with the body. For some people, working in a non-verbal way can be extremely beneficial and deeply rewarding.
Art therapy
Many feelings, difficult or even impossible to express in words, can find release through picture making or sculpture. This may include shock, fear, anger, loss or sadness or equally hope, faith, gratitude, courage, love and joy. Together with the art therapist you can create images which may help you process the things that are troubling you. You do not need to be an expert in art to engage in this therapy – just a willingness to be creative.
When restrictions allow, art therapy sessions take place in the art therapy room, in the person’s home or bedside. We are also able to offer art therapy via Zoom if appropriate.
Music therapy
Music therapy is about the use of music to help and support people. Particularly when people are not able to communicate through words, music therapy can be an extremely valuable way of connecting in a meaningful way with others.
The aims of music therapy may include increasing communication and expression, providing emotional release, relaxation and comfort.
Our music therapist has access to a range of accessible instruments including a piano, xylophone, drums, guitar and various percussion instruments which are available for patients and families to use.
Our music therapist is able to work in a range of ways including providing live music as relaxation, improvising music with or for the patient, song writing, choosing and listening to music with the patient, life review through music and making CDs.
When restrictions allow, our music therapist can provide individual or group sessions in a variety of settings such as the patient's bedside or in a family member's home.
During the restrictions caused by the coronavirus pandemic, music therapy is necessarily a limited service.
Support for carers
We understand that being a carer for someone in your family brings many challenges. The emotional wellbeing team is here to support you with the emotional impact of being a carer.
One-to-one session are available for you to:
- have a space to focus on how you are
- process the losses and changes to your life and relationships that may occur when becoming a carer
- help you build resilience in this difficult situation
- support you if you have difficult choices to make
When restrictions allow, we can offer you sessions at the hospice, at home or via telephone or Zoom.
Therapeutic work with couples and family groups
Living with loss affects not just the individual with the illness but everyone in the family. By working with your whole family together we can help you:
- share with each other
- better understand what is difficult for each other and discover what you can do to help each other
- plan for the future
- keep communication going as old ways of being family shift into new patterns
Spiritual care
Our spiritual care workers are integrated into the emotional and spiritual wellbeing team and work closely with patients and families during illness and in bereavement.
Many people draw strength and comfort from their spiritual practices or faith in difficult times. It is common for illness and death to raise questions about mortality, spirituality and meaning which can challenge old ways of thinking and being.
We welcome contact from people of any faith and none. Please be in touch – we are here to help. We have good links with faith groups in the community and can put you in touch with religious leaders locally if needed.
Whilst we are unable to offer face to face contacts during the coronavirus pandemic we would be very glad to talk to you via telephone or video call. With the support of clergy in the community we can offer:
- Supportive conversations within a spiritual framework
- Prayer
- Communion
- Last Rites
- Sunday worship services
- Resources
To discuss and access emotional and spiritual support call us directly on our LivingGrief & wellbeing enquiry line:
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Emotional wellbeing enquiry line Monday - Friday, 9am-4pm 0300 303 5196
-
Alternatively, you can email the team here
Out of hours phone lines
If you are trying to access the emotional wellbeing enquiry line outside of its operating hours, the hospice OneCall service can take messages and signpost in an emergency. Call the team on 0800 567 0111.
Access local NHS mental health support
Call 111 and select option 2 to access support for urgent mental health needs. The 24/7 service is for people of all ages in Suffolk & Norfolk requiring mental health care, advice and support.