Meet Bare’s grief counsellors.

Hello, I’m Carolyn. I am dedicated to supporting family members through the profound and often difficult journey of loss. My warm and inclusive manner encourages healing, remembering, solace, comfort and growth. I provide safe, nonjudgmental and unconditionally supportive therapy to assist family members to express their feelings and explore their grief at their own pace.

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I understand that everyone experiences grief uniquely, so each session is tailored to meet your individual needs. My approach is warmly client-centred, allowing you to gain tools for coping, resilience and personal growth as you navigate your grief.
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Grief is a deeply personal and complex experience that can affect every aspect of a person’s life. As an experienced counsellor, I understand that there is no right way to grieve, and the process can vary widely from individual to individual. Grief often encompasses a range of emotions, such as sadness, anger, guilt, confusion and sometimes even relief. These feelings can ebb and flow unpredictably, making it difficult for individuals to know how to cope.
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In my role, I aim to create a secure, companionable space where you can express your emotions and explore your grief without pressure to ‘move on’ or ‘get over it’. I encourage clients to give themselves permission to feel whatever they’re feeling, while also helping them to understand that healing is not about forgetting or erasing the pain, but about learning to walk alongside it and integrate the loss into their lives.
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Grief doesn’t have a timeline, and it often comes in waves. Through compassionate listening and therapeutic techniques, I can support you in navigating these waves, deeply remembering, finding meaning, rebuilding resilience, and eventually, gently healing at your own pace.

Gretha is a compassionate grief and loss counsellor who understands that each person’s journey through grief is unique. She creates a safe and non-judgmental space where you can explore your grief in a way that resonates with you personally. And she gently guides you towards ways of coping that are meaningful to you.

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Gretha has degrees in both psychology and social work, is a member of the Australian Association of Social Workers, and has worked in crisis support, suicide prevention and public mental health. She is embarking on a PhD in psychology in 2025, where she will be investigating the influence of culture on the long-term efficacy of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. 

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Gretha loves hearing people’s stories. She is amazed by how storytelling can help humans create profound meaning from experiences of suffering. Her favourite topics are neuroplasticity, distress tolerance, the social determinants of mental health and hope.

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In her grief and loss counselling practice, she may use mixtures of narrative therapy, emotion focused therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy and cognitive behavioural therapy, depending on what suits you and your story. In your sessions with Gretha, you will find warmth, acceptance and validation, even if you think your emotions and your story are somehow ‘bad’ or ‘wrong’. At the heart of her work is the understanding that grief does not follow a linear path, and that for many, it is complicated and messy. Regardless, she will honour your unique experience with you and find ways to self-compassion, meaning and growth at a pace that feels right for you.

Janice is a clinical counsellor and social worker who has been providing counselling support to individuals and groups for over 20 years.

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For the last 13 years, Janice has focused her career on supporting people living with grief and loss. As a humanistic and culturally sensitive counsellor, Janice's focus is on the client and understanding ways in how to holistically support them. She recognises that a 'one-size-fits-all' model does not apply in grief and loss counselling.

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Janice is also a qualified logotherapist. This additional qualification complements her skills working in the grief and loss sector. Logotherapy aims to address the human need to seek meaning even under the most difficult of situations in life.

I’m passionate about supporting people with complex lives, complex loved ones and complex losses. Relationships aren’t always straightforward in life or death, and grief doesn’t always present the way we expect it to. No matter how grief is showing up for you (perhaps as anger, shock, numbness, fear or confusion), there will be space for it here.

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Our sessions will be free from shame, stigma and judgement. Life rarely hands us one issue at a time – you may also be facing relationship issues, chronic health conditions, pre-existing mental health issues, addiction or work/financial stress. Perhaps the person you are grieving faced some of these challenges too. Whatever the circumstances, both you and your person are welcome with me.  

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My professional experience includes:

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• deaths to suicide, misadventure, missing persons, drug/alcohol misuse and chronic or sudden health issues
• disenfranchised grief due to distance, estrangement, infidelity or shame
• non-death losses such as loss of home/culture, loss of friendships/community and loss of identity
• working with diverse individuals, particularly autistic and other neurodivergent people, members of the LGBTQIA+ community and people with a variety of mental and physical health conditions.

I use a person-centred (led by you), integrative approach (multiple counselling styles) which enables me to tailor our sessions to your needs.

Profound grief is one of life’s most challenging and transformative experiences, and it’s not something you should face alone. I’m here to help you navigate the landscape of loss in all its forms.

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We’ll take an approach based on proven counselling principles, starting by meeting you where you’re at. Grief has its own shape and timeline, which means there’s no right way to grieve (our internal experience) or mourn (the outward expression). We’ll also focus on your present experience, because effective counselling favours that over explanations. Rather than being told how to feel or what to do, we’ll explore what’s happening for you, helping you make sense of the overwhelm, and reconnect with the strengths this grief has temporarily compromised.

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Many men find it especially difficult to be vulnerable and may struggle to understand how talking might help. Society tells us to ‘tough it out’, but true strength comes from opening up in our own ways. Grief is difficult enough without carrying it alone, and doing so only amplifies the pain. As humans, we are wired for connection, so resisting that instinct can worsen the impact. When we recognise that grieving can be a shared experience, we begin to cope more effectively.

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Grief also requires finding new meaning in what often feels like insurmountable loss. But it’s not just about the emotional process – it’s also about understanding the neuroscience behind grief, and how our brains respond to emotional pain. Talking with someone who is trained to understand how our mind-brains (re)process emotions can make a big difference. Put simply, talking helps the brain re-wire to adjust towards a changed reality. That’s how we’ll work together, tailoring an approach that blends empathic listening with proven therapeutic techniques.

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Grief is not necessarily about ‘moving on’. In fact, the desire for closure can often be an illusion. Instead, grieving is about learning to hold the experience of the person we’ve lost (or will imminently lose), as we adjust to life without them. Together, we’ll unpack the emotions, memories and questions that arise as you work toward acceptance and renewal.

Originally from Western Australia, Renée has been living in Mudgee for 14 years after relocating from Perth. She holds a Master of Counselling from Edith Cowen University and a Bachelor of Science (Medical Science) from Curtin University of Technology.

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Renée has volunteered with the National Association for Loss and Grief (NALAG) for four years and is in private practice in Mudgee. Her special interests are loss and grief, couples counselling (Level 2 Gottman trained), LGBTQIA+, disability and carers, and trauma support.

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She has supported adults, adolescents and children in bereavement, loss and grief, and understands the process of moving through the stages of grief.

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Renée works with various modalities with clients experiencing bereavement, loss and grief. Depending on the client’s circumstances, these can include narrative therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, solution-focused therapy and cognitive behavioural therapy. She is always respectful, compassionate, non-judgmental and offering hope for the future.

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Renée has two adult children and two very cute dogs, Daisy and Cookie. She enjoys bush walking with her dogs, gardening and travel. She has travelled widely in Australia and Europe.

With a background in nursing, end of life care, funeral planning and celebrancy, I approach grief counselling from a deeply holistic perspective. I believe that grief is not just an emotional experience but a complex, multi dimensional process that affects the mind, body and spirit. My work is grounded in a compassionate, client centred approach, where I create a safe and non-judgmental space for individuals to explore their feelings & experiences.

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Drawing on my professional and my own experiences with grief & loss, I offer a blend of traditional and contemporary counselling techniques.  I support clients through the natural ups and downs of grief, recognizing that mourning is a unique journey filled with fluctuating emotions. I emphasize the importance of being fully present with each client, creating a safe and non-judgmental space where they can express their feelings without fear of suppression or dismissal. Grief often involves a mix of sadness, anger, guilt, and even moments of relief, and I encourage clients to allow these emotions to flow freely rather than holding them in or pushing them away.

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I have supported individuals through their grief after the loss of a loved one, whether due to a prolonged illness, a sudden traumatic death, or the devastating impact of suicide. My compassionate approach helps them navigate the complex emotions and challenges associated with these deeply personal and varied experiences of loss.

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Ultimately my goal is to help individuals find peace, acceptance, and a renewed sense of connection – both with themselves and with the memory of their loved ones – while navigating the profound transformation that comes with loss.