Integrating Grief Program - free telehealth counselling and support
Griefline's Integrating Grief Program is a free service funded by the NSW Government, offering specialised care for people across NSW.
Bereavement is the experience of grief and mourning following a death. As the bereaved, it can feel like time is standing still, like you are stuck in memories of the one that’s passed away, rather than looking to a future without them.Â
For some of us, our grief might not lessen, even after time passes, and it can significantly disrupt our daily functioning, affecting jobs, relationships and how we interact in the community. The Griefline Integrating Grief Program is aimed at helping individuals struggling with their grief. The program helps people come to terms with the loss, restoring a sense of purpose to their life.
Need help signing up?
Call (02) 8043 4965 or email [email protected]
If you are registering another person for the program, you must first obtain their consent. They will be contacted by Griefline before they enter the program.
Who is this program for?
- People aged 18+ living in NSW
- Individuals grieving the death of a loved one or someone significant, whether recent or many years ago
- Individuals finding daily life more difficult than usual (sleep, routine, concentration)
- Individuals feeling strong emotions such as sadness, anger, guilt, worry or numbness
- Individuals wanting support to adjust to life after loss
How the program works
The process shown below is based on a client that has confirmed consent and agrees to participate in the program.
*After you register online, we’ll call you to explain the program and book a supportive telehealth triage session. During this call, we’ll ask a few questions to check if the program is right for you, and you can ask us anything in return.Â
**After triage, depending on your needs, we’ll either add you to our waitlist for sessions or help to connect with other support if grief counselling isn’t the best option right now.
***If you don’t continue with the program, we may refer you to another professional, and you’re always welcome to use our free Helpline, online forums, and grief and loss resources.
"I have found the Griefline sessions to be so incredibly helpful in dealing with the prolonged debilitating grief I was experiencing after my father passed away. My counsellor helped me create the space to process my grief and work towards moving on and making the most of my life. Prior to my sessions, I was crying every day almost two years after he passed away but I have now been able to process my emotions and my overall mood has greatly improved. I am now able to look forward to the future and experience joy again. The online sessions were easy and convenient and I would highly recommend Greifline to anyone struggling with grief."
Benefits of the program
- Receive free counselling sessions with a qualified counsellor who has undertaken specialised training in grief and bereavement
- No medical referral is required, so you don’t have to visit a doctor or mental health practitioner first
- The service is available via telephone or online via video conference from Monday to Friday 9 am to 5 pm AEST (closed public holidays)
- Receive help to resolve the complications in your grief process and learn how to integrate the loss into your life
- Develop coping strategies and increase self-awareness
Need help signing up?
Call (02) 8043 4965 or email [email protected]
If you are registering another person for the program, you must first obtain their consent. They will be contacted by Griefline before they enter the program.
Frequently asked questions
The process outlined below is based on a client that has confirmed consent and agrees to participate in the program.
The Griefline Intake Counsellor will receive the registration from the website and make an initial phone call to confirm consent, explain the program process, and invite the client to participate. The client confirms consent and agrees to participate.
An intake call with the client will then take place which will take about 30+ minutes to complete an assessment with the client. It is at this point that the best course of action in collaboration with the client is determined. Â
If it is determined that the client would benefit from participating in the free counselling program, a Griefline counsellor will be appointed. Alternatively, the client may be referred to other free Griefline support services and resources or a third-party professional practitioner.
Griefline counsellors providing support under the Integrating Grief Program have a Bachelor Degree in Counselling, Social Work or Psychology (as the minimum qualification).Â
All have experience providing support for individuals experiencing grief and loss, and have completed additional training in Griefline’s Understanding Prolonged Grief training program and providing therapeutic interventions for individuals experiencing prolonged grief.
Prolonged grief disorder (PGD) is when feelings of grief don’t ease over time and start to affect everyday life.
Someone with PGD might:
- constantly think about the person who died or how they died
- feel an ongoing, deep longing for that person
- struggle to make sense of what happened
- blame themselves too much for the death
- avoid reminders of the person or the loss
- feel like life has no meaning without them
- continue to experience intense grief for longer than a year
When grief becomes prolonged, it can take over a person’s thoughts and feelings. Life may feel empty, the future may seem hopeless, and the person may feel very alone.
PGD is sometimes also called Complicated Grief or Persistent Complex Bereavement Disorder.
(Source: The Center for Prolonged Grief, Columbia School of Social Work)
A member of the Griefline intake team will ask you a number of questions during the intake process to find out the type of support that might suit you best.
The decision is always yours as to whether you proceed, and you are able to opt-out at any time.
Your personal and health information is confidential, meaning it will not be shared with anyone not directly involved in your care and support. Relevant information is shared with the Griefline counselling team to enable appropriate care to be given to you. De-identified information may be used for planning and reporting purposes by Griefline.
Other Griefline services
If you are experiencing crisis, or are worried about yourself or someone else, please contact Lifeline by phoning
13 11 14 or by texting 0477 13 11 14
Kids Helpline is available 24/7 to support young people aged between five and 25, call 1800 551 800
