How does grief counselling help? A guide for families and carers

Grief counselling is a structured form of emotional support. It helps people process loss, make sense of their feelings, and rebuild daily life. It is available through trained counsellors, psychologists, and allied health professionals. 

In Australia, some grief counselling services are free. Others are subsidised by Medicare or funded through government programs such as My Aged Care and the NDIS.

Grief is not limited to death. It follows the loss of a partner, a diagnosis, a role as a carer, or a move into residential aged care. For older Australians and their families, grief often begins long before a loved one passes away.

What is grief counselling?

Grief counselling gives you a safe, structured space to explore the emotional, physical, and social impact of loss. A trained bereavement counsellor helps you understand what you're feeling and why grief unfolds the way it does. They also help you build practical ways to cope.

Grief and bereavement therapy covers a wide range of experiences. These include the death of a spouse or close family member, a new or terminal diagnosis, and the loss of independence. It also covers the move into aged care and the grief that builds as a loved one declines.

Grief counselling doesn't aim to make grief disappear. Instead, it helps you carry it without being overwhelmed.

What does a bereavement counsellor do?

A bereavement counsellor listens without judgement and helps you make sense of complex emotions. They also guide you through evidence-based techniques.

Sessions can be one-on-one or in a group, and delivered in person, online, or by phone. Your counsellor will assess your grief and tailor the support to your needs.

Bereavement counsellors are trained to tell the difference between normal grief and more complex forms of grief. For instance, Prolonged Grief Disorder, which needs specialist support.

Who provides grief counselling in Australia?

Grief counselling in Australia is delivered by trained professionals, including:

• Psychologists
• Social workers
• Counsellors
• Nurses

Some services are offered through non-profit organisations like Grief Australia and Griefline. Others are delivered through:

• Aged care providers
• Palliative care teams
• Allied health services
• GPs and general practice clinics
• Hospices and hospital bereavement services

What are the different types of grief?

Grief takes several forms, and each one may call for a different kind of support.

Take a closer look at what each type of grief involves and when it typically occurs:

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Anticipatory grief

Anticipatory grief is grief that starts before a loss. It often begins during a period of declining health or cognitive change.

A Flinders University study found that grief in aged care families is a long, evolving experience. It can start the moment a loved one enters residential care, well before death is near.

Families often grieve the loss of their caregiving role, the familiar relationship, and the person their loved one used to be. Recognising this as grief, not just stress or anxiety, is the first step to getting the right support.

Prolonged Grief Disorder

Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD) is a clinical condition where grief doesn't ease over time. It significantly affects daily life.

Common signs include:

• A persistent longing for the person who died
• Difficulty accepting the death
• Emotional numbness
• A sense that life has lost meaning

PGD can be diagnosed when grief continues most days for at least a year after the death (six months for children).

A national Australian survey of 633 bereaved adults aged 65 and over found that 21% met the criteria for PGD. Compared to the general older population, they reported a much lower quality of life and higher levels of loneliness.

PGD is now officially recognised in both the DSM-5-TR and ICD-11. This means it's diagnosed and treated as a condition in its own right.

Traumatic bereavement

Traumatic bereavement follows a sudden or violent death. This includes suicide, accidents, and other unexpected losses. It can disrupt the natural grieving process. It also raises the risk of PTSD and Prolonged Grief Disorder.

People bereaved by suicide often carry heavier feelings of rejection, shame, and self-blame. They usually benefit from specialist support.

Is grief counselling effective?

Yes, especially for people experiencing complicated grief or Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD).

Research shows that targeted grief therapy works. On the other hand, general preventive approaches are less effective. The strongest results come from treatments for people already struggling with significant grief.

Some key findings include:

• Complicated Grief Therapy (CGT)
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
• Online bereavement support

Complicated Grief Therapy is a structured 16-session program. In a clinical trial, it had an 88.2% response rate, compared to 60.9% for those who didn't receive it.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for grief shows small-to-moderate benefits compared to no treatment.

Online bereavement support significantly reduces post-traumatic stress. It also leads to moderate improvements in grief and depression.

The evidence is clear. Grief counselling and bereavement therapy lead to real improvements in how people feel and function day to day. This is especially true for those experiencing high levels of distress.

How to access grief counselling and bereavement support in Australia

Free and low-cost grief counselling is available across Australia through several established services.

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Griefline

Griefline offers free, confidential grief support across Australia. Call 1300 845 745, available 7 days a week. Current hours are listed on the Griefline website. Griefline also runs online community forums, open 24/7, where adults can connect with others who understand grief.

Grief Australia

Grief Australia is an independent not-for-profit offering evidence-based counselling, training, and research. It's open 9 am–5 pm, Monday to Friday, via freecall. It offers individual counselling and group sessions for workplaces, schools, and community groups. Up to 20 participants are allowed.

Your GP and a Mental Health Treatment Plan

Your GP can assess your grief and create a Mental Health Treatment Plan. This covers up to 10 individual and 10 group subsidised sessions per year with a psychologist or mental health professional. Your GP will usually refer you for 6 sessions first, then review your progress before referring you for more (up to the yearly limit).

The Aged Care Grief and Bereavement Support website

The Australian Government offers a dedicated online platform for grief support in aged care. It's delivered through My Aged Care and was developed by Grief Australia. It includes:

• Registration for individual and group counselling
• Fact sheets in five languages (Arabic, Greek, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, and Vietnamese)
• Webinar listings and links to peer support programs

How to find a grief counsellor or support group

The right counsellor makes a real difference, so it's worth taking time to find someone you feel comfortable with.

Start by thinking about what you need. One-on-one or group sessions, in-person or online? Do you want someone who specialises in a particular type of loss (like dementia, suicide, or loss of a partner)?

You can find a counsellor through:

• Your GP, who can refer you under a Mental Health Care Plan
• Australian Counselling Association (theaca.net.au)
• Psychology Today Australia, which lets you filter by grief and bereavement
• Griefline or Grief Australia, which can refer you to qualified counsellors
• Your aged care or palliative care provider

Before booking, ask about their training, experience with your type of loss, fees, and whether they bulk-bill. It's fine to try a couple of counsellors before settling on the right fit.

For support groups, Griefline runs free online forums. Grief Australia offers facilitated groups. Many community health centres and religious organisations also host free bereavement groups.

Warning signs that you or a loved one may need professional grief support

Consider reaching out to a grief counsellor or bereavement therapist if you notice any of these signs in yourself or a family member:

• Intense longing for the person who died that hasn't eased after 12 months and is disrupting daily life (a key sign of Prolonged Grief Disorder)
• Withdrawing from people and losing interest in activities that used to feel meaningful
• Struggling with everyday tasks like cooking, taking medication, or getting dressed
• Thoughts of self-harm or suicide — if this applies, call Lifeline now on 13 11 14
• Physical symptoms with no clear cause, such as ongoing fatigue, poor sleep, appetite changes, or trouble breathing
• Strong feelings of guilt, shame, or self-blame about the death or how care was managed

These signs aren't a weakness. They're a sign that your grief has become complex enough to benefit from professional support.

How grief support works in aged care and disability services

In aged care, grief is treated as an ongoing part of care, not just something that happens after a death. 

ELDAC's Grief and Bereavement: Core Concepts for Clinicians guide encourages early action. Care workers should identify grief risk factors before a resident dies. They should then review these factors as the resident's condition changes.

Residents, families, and carers should be linked to grief support before end-of-life. Information about grief services should also be visible in family and common areas. 

Acknowledging deaths within the care community helps everyone find shared meaning. Memorial tables, guards of honour, and remembrance activities are all recommended.

Support for care workers

Care workers experience grief too, through repeated loss in their work. Self-care practices help them keep providing compassionate care over time. These can include informal debriefing and joining memorial rituals.

Grief and the NDIS

Severe Prolonged Grief Disorder may be recognised as a psychosocial disability under the NDIS. This applies to people living with disability whose grief causes significant, long-term impairment.

A psychosocial disability is a disability that stems from a mental health condition. It can affect a person's ability to set goals, work or study, and take part in social and community life.

If you already have an NDIS plan, your support coordinator can help you see how a PGD diagnosis fits in. Your GP or mental health clinician can supply the clinical evidence needed for access or plan reviews.

Funding grief support through aged care

If you or a loved one is in aged care, there are several ways to access grief support at little or no cost.

Support at Home (which replaced Home Care Packages on 1 November 2025) can fund counselling if it's linked to goals in your care plan. Speak to your care manager to include it.

Residential aged care providers are expected to support residents and families through grief. This can include in-house counselling, pastoral care, referrals, and memorial services. Ask the facility manager what's available.

Palliative care includes grief and bereavement support at no extra cost, often for 12 months or more after a death. Your palliative care team can connect you with counsellors and community programs.

The Aged Care Grief and Bereavement Support website offers free individual and group counselling for:

• Residents
• Families
• Carers
• Aged care workers

You can combine funding sources, too. You could use a Medicare Mental Health Care Plan for psychologist sessions and also join a free Grief Australia group. If you're unsure what you're entitled to, your GP, care manager, or My Aged Care (1800 200 422) can help.

If you or a loved one is in aged care, there are several ways to access grief support at little or no cost.

FAQ

How long does grief counselling take?

Complicated Grief Therapy is a structured 16-session program. Grief‑focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is also delivered as a brief, structured program. It's usually over about 8–20 sessions, depending on the protocol.

Some people benefit from a small number of sessions. Others with prolonged grief disorder need extended support over a longer period. Your counsellor will review your progress and adjust the plan as needed.

Can I access grief counselling through the NDIS or Support at Home?

Yes, both NDIS plans and Support at Home can fund allied health and therapeutic services. These services may include psychology and some counselling. Whether it's covered depends on your approved goals, budget, and provider type.

If grief is significantly affecting your daily life, speak to your support coordinator or case manager. They can help you identify which parts of your funding plan cover counselling.

You can also ask your GP about a Mental Health Care Plan. This gives you up to 10 Medicare-subsidised individual sessions and 10 group therapy sessions per calendar year.

Is online grief counselling as effective as in-person sessions?

Yes. Research shows that online bereavement support reduces grief intensity, stress, and depression. These benefits apply across all formats, including telephone, video, and online groups.

Online group support can be especially helpful. It reduces feelings of isolation and lets longer-term members offer support to those who have just joined.

What is Prolonged Grief Disorder, and how is it treated?

Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD) is when intense grief lasts at least 12 months and disrupts daily life. It is officially recognised in both the DSM-5-TR and ICD-11.

The most effective treatment is Complicated Grief Therapy (CGT), a structured 16-session program. To access this treatment, ask your GP for a referral to a psychologist or specialist grief counsellor trained in CGT.

How Sensible Care supports clients through grief and loss

Sensible Care provides in-home support to elderly Australians. This includes palliative care and dementia care services. These services are delivered by experienced care workers and clinical staff.

Allied health services are available in-house, including:

• Physiotherapy
• Occupational therapy
• Podiatry
• Dietetics
• Community nursing, delivered by qualified nurses at home

Care can then be coordinated under one roof. This supports both physical and emotional wellbeing without the need for outside referrals.

We understand that grief and loss are a natural part of ageing, illness, and end-of-life care. Our team is trained to recognise the signs of grief in clients and their families. We offer compassionate, practical support along the way. 

If specialist grief counselling is needed, we can connect you with trusted professionals. We can also help you access funding through your Support at Home or NDIS plan.

Get in touch if you want to know more.