Joanne Reed Free to be me Counselling Services

Joanne Reed Free to be me Counselling Services Grief can turn your world upside down. It can leave you feeling lost, overwhelmed and unsure how to carry on. You do not have to face this pain alone.

Grief & Loss Therapist / Compassionate, specialist counselling for when the unthinkable happens / Online sessions / Based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire / Evening appointments available / Call, text or email to arrange an appointment or to learn more The emotions that come with loss often feel confusing and unpredictable; sadness that feels endless, anger that takes you by surprise, guilt that we

ighs heavily, or a deep sense of abandonment and loneliness. When the loss is through suicide, these feelings can run even deeper, leaving you searching for answers you may never find. I am a Grief and Loss Counsellor, specialising in supporting people who are living with bereavement, with a particular focus on those affected by suicide. My role is to walk alongside you, offering a safe, compassionate space where your feelings can be spoken about openly and without judgement. Together we can begin to make sense of your grief, ease the weight of guilt and self-blame, and find ways to cope with the hardest days. Through our work together, many people begin to feel less alone, more understood and more able to find moments of peace. Over time, you may notice a shift as you start to see a path forward, not about forgetting your loss, but learning to carry it while reconnecting with life in a way that feels meaningful again. With the right support, it is possible to feel lighter, more open and more hopeful about the future. I create a warm, open environment where you can really be yourself, say what you need to say and take the mask off, even if just for a short time. If you are ready to start work together please get in touch. I am an Accredited Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). I am a recognised provider for Aviva, WPA & Vitality Health. Google My Business:
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For a lot of people, “coping” becomes the goal.Getting through the day. Keeping things together. Managing well enough.Bu...
23/06/2026

For a lot of people, “coping” becomes the goal.

Getting through the day. Keeping things together. Managing well enough.

But there’s a difference between surviving and actually feeling okay.

It’s reasonable to want more than just getting by.

More ease. More clarity. More space in your mind.

Wanting that doesn’t mean you’re ungrateful. It means you’re aware something needs to change.

You’re allowed to expect more from how life feels.

I have availability, just get in touch.

Best wishes

Joanne Reed
Grief and Loss Counsellor, Huddersfield and Online
Free To Be Me Counselling

Email: [email protected]

Telephone: 07594 720245

Well first of all, it’s not usually dramatic. It’s subtle.You notice your thoughts don’t spiral as quickly. You begin to...
22/06/2026

Well first of all, it’s not usually dramatic. It’s subtle.

You notice your thoughts don’t spiral as quickly. You begin to feel slightly less on edge. You respond differently in moments that used to overwhelm you.

Things still come up but they don’t take over in the same way.

You start to understand yourself more clearly. Rather than questioning everything you feel.

That’s often how change looks. Not a complete transformation overnight but a steady shift in how you experience things.

Small changes like this build into something significant over time.

Best wishes

Joanne Reed
Grief and Loss Counsellor, Huddersfield and Online
Free To Be Me Counselling

Email: [email protected]

Telephone: 07594 720245

Father’s Day can feel incredibly complicated when you’re grieving.For some, it’s a painful reminder of the dad they’ve l...
21/06/2026

Father’s Day can feel incredibly complicated when you’re grieving.

For some, it’s a painful reminder of the dad they’ve lost. For others, it brings up the father they never truly had. For some, it’s about the ache of being a father without their child here.

Days like this can feel isolating because the world around you often expects celebration, while you’re quietly trying to get through it.

You might notice:
– A heaviness you can’t shake
– Anxiety building as the day approaches
– The urge to avoid social media altogether
– Guilt for finding the day difficult
– Sadness appearing out of nowhere

All of that is understandable.

Grief has a way of resurfacing around significant dates, even when you think you were coping “well enough”.

Sometimes what hurts most is not just the loss itself, but everything connected to it:

The memories.
The regrets.
The things left unsaid.
The longing for one more conversation.

If Father’s Day feels difficult for you, you do not need to minimise that experience or push yourself to perform your way through it for other people’s comfort.

You are allowed to find today hard and protect your peace where needed.

You are allowed to grieve in whatever way feels true for you.

Best wishes

Joanne Reed
Grief and Loss Counsellor, Huddersfield and Online
Free To Be Me Counselling

Email: [email protected]

Telephone: 07594 720245

When you hear statements from clients like:“I feel like myself again… but not the same”That's a sign of progress in ther...
19/06/2026

When you hear statements from clients like:

“I feel like myself again… but not the same”

That's a sign of progress in therapy.

Not “back to normal”.
Not “fixed”.

But more steady.
More able to cope.
Less consumed by everything they have been carrying.

Therapy doesn’t take away what happened but it can changed how you live with it.

That makes a difference to everything else.

Change doesn’t mean going backwards. It means moving forward differently.

Ready to give it a try? Just message me

Best wishes

Joanne Reed
Grief and Loss Counsellor, Huddersfield and Online
Free To Be Me Counselling

Email: [email protected]

Telephone: 07594 720245

A client once paused mid-sentence and said:“I’ve never said that out loud before.”It wasn't dramatic, it was honest.Some...
18/06/2026

A client once paused mid-sentence and said:

“I’ve never said that out loud before.”

It wasn't dramatic, it was honest.

Something they’d been carrying quietly for a long time.

That moment, where something shifts from being internal and stuck,
to spoken and understood is often where change begins.

It is not instant but it is meaningful.

You don’t have to keep everything in your head. Imagine how it would feel to find your voice.

Best wishes

Joanne Reed
Grief and Loss Counsellor, Huddersfield and Online
Free To Be Me Counselling

Email: [email protected]

Telephone: 07594 720245

17/06/2026

You're still getting up every day.

Going to work.

Looking after other people.

Doing what needs to be done.

From the outside, it probably looks as though you're coping and in many ways, you are, but coping can come at a cost.

The cost of never talking about how you're really feeling.

The cost of carrying grief, anxiety or overwhelm on your own.

The cost of always being the one who keeps going.

I've worked with many people who waited months, sometimes years, before reaching out. Not because they didn't need support, but because they believed they should be able to manage it themselves.

The shift often starts when you stop asking:

"Can I keep going like this?"

And start asking:

"Do I want to keep carrying this on my own?"

You don't have to wait until you're overwhelmed, burnt out or at breaking point.

You don't have to prove how much you're struggling before you're allowed support.

Sometimes the bravest thing isn't carrying on alone.

It's allowing someone to help you carry what feels too heavy.

Best wishes

Joanne Reed
Grief and Loss Counsellor, Huddersfield and Online
Free To Be Me Counselling

Why “staying busy” only works for so longDistraction can be useful. It can take the edge off and help you get through th...
17/06/2026

Why “staying busy” only works for so long

Distraction can be useful. It can take the edge off and help you get through the day.

But when it becomes the only way you cope, it starts to backfire.

Because the moment things slow down it all comes back.

Often stronger.

Not because you’ve failed but because it hasn’t been given space to be processed.

Avoidance isn’t a weakness. It’s a protection. But it’s not a long-term solution.

There’s a difference between coping and actually working through something. I have availability and would love to support you in your grief. Drop me a message.

Best wishes

Joanne Reed
Grief and Loss Counsellor, Huddersfield and Online
Free To Be Me Counselling

Email: [email protected]

Telephone: 07594 720245

Loneliness is more common than people realise, particular after a bereavement. It can also have an impact on your physic...
17/06/2026

Loneliness is more common than people realise, particular after a bereavement.

It can also have an impact on your physical and mental health. I work with clients who are experiencing loneliness, to understand and process their grief, improve self-esteem and find ways of developing connections with others.

Best wishes

Joanne

16/06/2026

Su***de Loss: What People Don't Tell You

There are things about su***de loss that many people never talk about.

The relentless questions.
The search for answers.
The guilt that can linger even when you know, logically, that you are not responsible.
The shock that can remain long after everyone else expects life to return to normal.

Su***de bereavement is often more than grief alone. It can bring confusion, anger, self-blame, shame, trauma and a deep sense of isolation. Many people find themselves replaying conversations, looking for signs they might have missed, or wondering if there was something they could have done differently.

In this video, I talk about some of the realities of su***de loss that are rarely discussed openly, and why these experiences are far more common than many people realise.

If you are grieving a death by su***de, I hope this helps you feel a little less alone and a little more understood.

I am Joanne, a UK-based grief and loss counsellor specialising in bereavement, su***de loss, traumatic grief and complex grief. My work helps people navigate the emotional impact of loss with compassion, understanding and practical support.

If this video resonates with you, please consider following for more content about grief, bereavement and emotional wellbeing.

Best wishes

Joanne Reed
Grief and Loss Counsellor
Free To Be Me Counselling

***deLoss ***deBereavement ***deGrief

When you're tired of talking about it... but still need to.Have you ever felt caught between wanting to talk about your ...
16/06/2026

When you're tired of talking about it... but still need to.

Have you ever felt caught between wanting to talk about your grief and wanting to avoid it completely?

Many grieving people do.

Part of you wants someone to understand. Part of you feels exhausted by explaining.

You may worry about upsetting people, repeating yourself, or being seen as stuck. So you stay quiet, but silence doesn't always make grief easier. Sometimes it just makes it lonelier.

The reality is that grief often needs somewhere to be expressed, witnessed and understood.

Not because talking magically fixes it, but because carrying it alone can be incredibly heavy.

If you're struggling to find a place where you can talk, take off the mask and share what's really going on I can support you with that. Just get in touch.

Best wishes

Joanne Reed
Grief and Loss Counsellor, Huddersfield and Online
Free To Be Me Counselling

Email: [email protected]

Telephone: 07594 720245

Address

Huddersfield

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+447594720245

Website

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