Different Types of Losses
Dealing with losses has always been part of my social work practice since I started my career in social work as a trainee social worker in a children’s hospital. I worked on a ward for children who had been diagnosed with leukaemia, other forms of cancer or had brain tumours. Once I qualified as a social worker I worked generically before specialising in abuse issues, so I saw both children and adults experience all different types of losses. My work as a hypnotherapist also involves dealing with losses. It is important not to just think in terms of of death, dying and bereavement when considering what constitutes a loss. Loss can manifest itself in so many different ways. It is important to consider what freedom means to a client and focus on rights i.e. the right to live their life as they wish to do.
As a hypnotherapist I work with loss as an issue as it arises. This often happens unexpectedly when a client has started attending sessions for a specific problem and a treatment plan is already in place. The loss is then incorporated into the treatment plan and worked on. At other times, potential clients contact me to specifically address a loss they have personally experienced; or a school/college may contact me when a death of a student has occurred.
I deal with all types of losses which could be divided into the following broad groupings:
- People
- Animals/pets
- Relationships
- Objects/possessions
- Health/wellbeing
- Purpose
- Time/stages in life
- The future.
I offer individual sessions to work on a loss or losses; and I also facilitate groups when there is demand or I see a particular need.
