Between the Willows Grief Support

Between the Willows Grief Support Supporting adults through bereavement with a focus on Parent Loss.

Volunteer at Prospect Hospice
Compassionate Online UK Grief Support
Trained with David Kessler | Grief.com

Please book your initial Free call via Whatsapp: +44 7584393644 or Email us.

THE FIRSTSafter losing someone you loveBetween the Willows | Grief SupportI’ve been away for a week with friends, and th...
18/08/2026

THE FIRSTS
after losing someone you love
Between the Willows | Grief Support

I’ve been away for a week with friends, and there was plenty of laughter, sunshine, good food and memories being made.

But behind the scenes, one of our group was quietly navigating a lot of "firsts".

A first holiday at a villa they had visited every year since they were young, without their family there.

A first without their father, who sadly passed away earlier this year.

A first seeing someone else sitting in his chair at mealtimes.

A first not hearing his voice - infectious, familiar and very much the centrepiece of the family - filling the house.

There were moments of joy.
And there were moments of remembrance.

Because sometimes grief doesn't mean you can't enjoy yourself.

It can simply mean that, amongst the laughter, something catches you.

A chair. A voice that isn't there. A familiar tradition. A place that suddenly feels different.

A moment when you realise that the person who was always part of this experience isn't going to be part of it in the same way again.

And that's the thing about "firsts".

They can appear when you least expect them.

The first birthday.
The first Christmas.
The first holiday.
The first family gathering.
The first time you return somewhere together.
The first time someone else sits in their place.

So, if you're facing a first this summer, please know that whatever you feel is okay.

If you need to quietly step away for a few minutes, do.

If you need to acknowledge, “This is my first without them,” let yourself acknowledge it.

And if it helps, tell someone.

Have a quiet moment with a trusted friend. You don't need to explain everything. Sometimes simply having someone beside you who understands that "this is a first" can be enough.

You don't have to hide your sadness.

You can laugh, make memories, enjoy the sunshine - and still miss someone terribly.

Grief and joy can sit alongside each other.

And sometimes, that's what navigating the firsts looks like.

Take care,

Emy xx
Between the Willows | Grief Support
DM to book you free 20 min introductory call.

05/08/2026

Clients often speak about the first time they notice they laugh after the loss of their loved one, there can be this sudden pang of guilt.

It doesn't mean you love them less or you are forgetting about your loved ones and your grief.

Joy is not the opposite of grief, they can work alongside each other.

While you are unravelling your grief you also deserve goodness and that could be when you find yourself laughing or enjoying a coffee in the sunshine. Allow yourself that moment without guilt - you deserve it.

helping people understand their grief, so they can find glimmers of joy again - at their own pace, without ever forgetting the people they love.

More detail about Emy in her Linktree - see bio for link. X

Grief is far more complex than many people realise. Between the Willows | Grief SupportWe often compare ourselves to oth...
03/08/2026

Grief is far more complex than many people realise. Between the Willows | Grief Support

We often compare ourselves to others, wondering why someone else seems to be coping while we still feel overwhelmed. But grief isn't something that can be measured or compared.

It is shaped by the relationship you had, the life you've lived, the support around you, previous experiences, and the many secondary losses that follow a death.

There is no "right" way to grieve, and there is certainly no timeline.

If you've been questioning your own grief, I hope this reminds you that your experience is valid.

🤍 Be kind to yourself.

💾 Save this post for the days you need the reminder, or share it with someone who might need to hear it too.

01/08/2026

Grief isn't just sadness.

It can affect your mind, your body, your emotions and even the way you interact with the world around you. Yet so many of these experiences are rarely talked about, leaving people wondering, "Is this normal?"

If you've found yourself forgetting words, feeling completely drained after seeing friends, laughing one moment and then feeling guilty the next, or struggling to concentrate, please know that you're not alone. These can all be natural responses to grief.

One of the things I hear most often is, "I thought I was going mad." In reality, many grieving people are experiencing the same thoughts and feelings but don't realise that grief can show up in so many different ways.

My hope is that posts like this help to reassure you that there isn't a "right" way to grieve. Your experience will be unique to you, but understanding grief can help you be a little kinder to yourself along the way.

💛 If this post resonated with you, save it for the days you need a reminder, or share it with someone who might need to hear these words today.

30/07/2026

✨ A 'glimmer' worth sharing. 🌈

I had to stop the car, jump out and capture this. A full rainbow. A true glimmer.

When we're grieving, it can be so hard to see joy. We may even feel guilty for laughing, smiling, or feeling happy. Sometimes it's as though the light has disappeared.

In psychology, a glimmer is the opposite of a trigger. It's a small moment that creates a sense of calm, hope, safety or connection.

DEB DANA, a clinician and author describes glimmers as:

"Tiny moments of awe, joy, connection, or peace that cue your nervous system to feel safe"

That's why I always encourage people to look out for the glimmers. They help carry us through the hardest days.

A glimmer could be a kind message from someone checking in. It could be a little robin appearing just when you need it. It could be a thoughtful gesture from a complete stranger.

Or... it could be one magnificent rainbow shared on Instagram. 🌈

The beautiful thing is, glimmers don't just exist in grief. They're there in life's happier moments too.

Keep looking for them. Notice them. Hold onto them.

Everyone deserves a glimmer. 💛

Emy

If you are struggling to find the glimmers and looking for support, please private message for Emy who will follow up directly.

28/07/2026

Through grief, sometimes, just knowing you're not alone can make all the difference.

If you'd like to learn more about bereavement cafés and you are in the Swindon, Marlborough area - I highly recommend taking a look at Prospect Hospice, who run welcoming monthly Bereavement Cafés that are open to everyone in the community.

If you're elsewhere in the UK, have a look at The Good Grief Trust - They have a map of bereavement cafés, or you could also ask your local hospice, church, or GP surgery if there's one near you.

If you're near Great Bedwyn, Marlborough, Wiltshire, I'd love to welcome you to the Bereavement Café on Thursday 6th August, 10:00–11:15am at Bedwyn Baristas.

Please send me a private message if you'd like to attend. 🤍

As always, thank you Bedwyn Baristas, Great Bedwyn for allowing us to take up a little corner of your garden for BTW Ber...
23/07/2026

As always, thank you Bedwyn Baristas, Great Bedwyn for allowing us to take up a little corner of your garden for BTW Bereavement Café.

A relaxed morning to meet and chat with others over coffee.

Next date: Thursday, 6th August 2026 at 10am - 11:15am.

If you are interested/never been to a bereavement cafe before, feel free to DM Emy who is very happy to answer any questions.

I am so thrilled to be holding our very first Bereavement Cafe I now volunteer at Prospect Hospice, where my Pa passed a...
17/07/2026

I am so thrilled to be holding our very first Bereavement Cafe


I now volunteer at Prospect Hospice, where my Pa passed away and seeing the positivity that comes from these groups, i realised how important it is to try and reach more people and offer this. Some people prefer 1:1 consultations, others like to be around others that can understand.

Next week at Bedwyn Baristas, a new cafe in the wonderful village of Great bedwyn, we are creating a small, relaxed group for people to join for a coffee. People don't have to share their story. If people just want to sit and be with others that can resonate over a morning coffee, they are just as welcome. 🌟

If you are interested to learn more, please don't hesitate to contact and DM Emy




07/07/2026

Movement can be medicine.

After loss, we often focus on what's happening in our minds.

The racing thoughts.
The memories.
The anxiety.
The overwhelm.

And while talking can be incredibly healing, grief isn't experienced only in our minds.

It can also be felt throughout our bodies.

After losing a loved one, a friendship, a relationship, a job or even a home, our bodies can remain in a heightened state of stress. You might notice tight shoulders, an aching back, headaches, a heavy chest, disturbed sleep or a feeling that you simply can't relax.

Sometimes, what we need isn't another conversation.

Sometimes, we need to move.

Walking is one of the simplest and most accessible ways to support ourselves through grief. Each step encourages the body to release physical tension, regulate stress and create space to breathe a little more deeply.

You don't need to walk fast.
You don't need to have a destination.
You don't even need to talk.

Just moving your body can be enough.

This is why, , walking forms an important part of my work. Alongside conversation, I want to help people discover the approaches that feel right for them. For some, healing comes through talking. For others, it begins with movement, creativity, breathwork or simply being alongside people who understand.

There is no right way to grieve.

But if today feels heavy, perhaps put on your shoes, leave your phone in your pocket, and take a gentle walk.

You may not return with all the answers.

But you might come back feeling just a little lighter. 💚

Myth: "If I keep busy, I can lessen or eliminate my grief."It's one of the most common beliefs after losing someone we l...
30/06/2026

Myth: "If I keep busy, I can lessen or eliminate my grief."


It's one of the most common beliefs after losing someone we love.

In the days and weeks after a bereavement, staying busy can be incredibly helpful. There are practical things to organise, people to see, and routines to maintain. Sometimes, keeping moving is exactly what gets us through the day.

But being busy isn't the same as healing.

Grief has a remarkable way of waiting patiently. It doesn't disappear because we've filled every moment with work, exercise, social plans or endless to-do lists. Often, it simply waits until everything becomes quiet.

Many people tell me they coped well for months - even years - until one day the tears came, the exhaustion arrived, or an illness arises, they realised they had never really given themselves permission to grieve.

Healing isn't about pushing grief away. It's about allowing yourself moments to acknowledge it, to feel it, and to gently integrate your loss into your life.

So if you've been keeping busy, be kind to yourself.
You haven't done anything wrong.
It may simply be that your heart is waiting for a safe moment to catch up.

There is no right way to grieve, but there is value in making space for it and it can be scary to work through the pain but that is why we are hear to support, privately and in your own time. To help you take care of your mind and body.

DM to book a free introductory call and meet Emy, Founder, Between the Willows.

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