Treetops Hospice Care: Providing Online Counselling to Support Grieving Clients

Article by Treetops Hospice Care.

With its bespoke counselling rooms currently closed to the public, award-winning hospice Treetops has moved to online counselling to support bereaved adults and youngsters, and those diagnosed with a life-limiting condition.

In line with national guidelines, Treetops Hospice Care, based in Risley, Derbyshire, closed its buildings at the start of the Coronavirus pandemic, but quickly sought a solution to ensure clients could continue with their weekly counselling sessions.

Rebecca Shaw, 41, from Derby began counselling at Treetops just before Christmas last year, following the death of her husband.

“When lockdown began, I continued my sessions via Zoom. Practically, it was much easier to attend the sessions - no long drive, no childcare to source and no significant time away from work. Personally, I was more comfortable opening up in my house. I generally took the call whilst sat on my bed as this is my safe space and it was easier to say exactly what I needed to say.”

“Counselling has helped me process what happened. It enabled me to understand my feelings and find a way to live with the pain. It’s reminded me I have the inner strength to get through this dark time but not to hide from the waves of pain as they come. I see my life from now on as living alongside my grief and don’t expect to ever get over what happened.”

Counselling helped me find a way to live with the pain

Michael Stanley, 59, has been a counsellor for Treetops for 3 years. He is currently working from home in Belfast where he was living when lockdown began.

“I provide counselling support to bereaved adults and children, and to anyone who is, or has, a family member with a lifelimiting condition. I provide a confidential space for them to talk about the impacts of their bereavement or illness. Normally we would assess clients and have all their counselling sessions in person. The pandemic has prevented us doing this and some clients have decided they don’t want to have sessions remotely. For others, they have been happy to use remote means and so I am now talking to clients by phone or by Zoom.”

“Virtual counselling was a little daunting initially. I wasn’t sure how I would find it or whether clients would like it, but it has actually worked really well. It is more challenging working in the virtual world. You can get much more of a sense of what is going on for a client when you are sitting with them.”

“That’s more difficult to do when you see them on a screen or when you are just listening to a voice on the phone. Before the pandemic, we could be restricted by not having enough physical space - counselling rooms - to see clients or do initial assessments. One benefit of the online service is that so long as you and your client both have somewhere quiet and private to work, you don’t have the restrictions of room availability, so we can potentially help more people.”

I think this has shown that Treetops is amazing at adapting to change and despite the challenges that the Coronavirus pandemic has brought, we have continued to support our clients, volunteers and staff.

Treetops is doing all it can to continue to support those in most need. However the charity predicts a huge loss in income in the coming months, due to the temporary closure of all their charity shops, and postponement or cancellation of many fundraising events.

The hospice launched an Emergency Appeal earlier this year: www.treetopshospice.org.uk/emergencyappeal.

Our COVID-19 Response Projects need your support

During the Coronavirus pandemic, Treetops Hospice Care is continuing to support those in most need in the local community.

Our Hospice at Home nurses are providing palliative care for patients at home, during the day and overnight.

We’re calling and visiting up to 80 vulnerable patients shielding at home each week.

Our bereavement counselling team is providing support via video and phone calls.

Sadly we predict a huge loss in income in the coming months, due to the temporary closure of our charity shops, and cancellation of many fundraising events.

We are asking for donations to ensure we can continue to provide our COVID-19 emergency response services throughout the pandemic. Donations can be made at www.treetopshospice.org.uk/emergencyappeal.

Treetops provides nursing care and emotional support for adults with life-limiting conditions as well as their families and carers, and those who’ve been bereaved.

Last year, the hospice provided almost 3,000 adult bereavement counselling sessions, over 1,100 bereavement sessions for children and families, and over 600 support sessions for people dealing with a life-limiting condition.

Counselling is available to all users of Treetops Hospice Care services and people registered with a GP practice in Derby city or Southern Derbyshire.

Treetops Hospice Care have to raise over £4.3 million through donations, shops, events and lottery memberships so that they can continue to provide their vital services, free of charge.

These services include Support and Information, Hospice at Home, Therapeutic and Counselling Services, Wellbeing Services and much, much more.

www.treetopshospice.org.uk

0115 949 1264

Registered Charity Number: 519540