Grief & Bereavement Counselling
Grief and Bereavement Counselling
Grief and Bereavement counselling is provided by Samantha McDonnell, an accredited mental health social worker with over 12 years’ experience in a palliative care setting as a senior clinician. Sam has particular expertise working with adults experiencing significant grief and loss, and mental health concerns related to having a terminal illness, caregiving and bereavement.
The Grief and Bereavement Counselling service draws on this expertise in palliative care illness and bereavement care, while also offering broader scope to provide support to adults who are bereaved from any cause, including:
- Chronic illness/life-limiting illness
- Sudden death
- Voluntary assisted dying (VAD)
- Suicide
- Homicide
Grief is a highly individual and multifaceted experience. Counselling sessions are collaborative and draw on a broad range of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) approaches and interventions, tailored to respond to the unique nature of your grief experiences and needs. Client safety and choice are prioritised within every session.
Our aim is to meet you – wherever and whenever you are in your grief.
Still have questions? Click below to find out more.
What is grief and bereavement counselling?
If you are experiencing significant impacts to your mental health related to your grief, speak with your GP about your eligibility for referral to Grief and Bereavement counselling, under a Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP). A Mental Health Care Plan provides Medicare rebates for up to 10 sessions per calendar year, reducing your out-of-pocket costs for counselling sessions.
- Online telehealth consultations are available Australia wide.
- Please get in contact if you have any questions or would like to book a FREE 15 minute phone call to discuss your needs and whether I am the right person to support you in your grief.
- Call (08) 72003465 or email sam@healthylifepsychology.com.au
Original Medicare Safety Net (OMSN)
Once you reach the annual Threshold for the OMSN, you will be able to claim 100% of the Medicare Scheduled fee for services. For a 50 minute consultation with a Mental Health Social Worker, this means you receive a rebate of $96.80, further reducing your out of pocket costs. For more information visit; https://www.health.gov.au/topics/medicare/about/safety-nets
Potential sources of Funding/rebates for your sessions
Medicare (Better Access Initiative)
To be eligible for rebates under the Medicare Better Access Scheme you will need to consult with your GP. If eligible you can obtain a Mental Health Treatment Plan and referral which allows for a Medicare rebate for up to 10 counselling sessions per calendar year. You will also need to get a referral letter from your GP which states, the reason for referral and the number of sessions you are being referred for (up to 6 in the first instance). Rebates are only applicable to consultations on or after the date of the referral and Mental Health Treatment Plan.
You can find out more about the Better Access Iniative here… medicare-faqs-for-the-public
Private health funds
Private health funds often provide a rebate for counselling services with a Mental Health Social Worker. The item code may be different for your health fund so you will need to contact your health fund to make sure counselling sessions are covered and find out what codes your health funds use.
We are unable to process private health rebates on your behalf. We will require full payment and will then provide you with an invoice that you can lodge with your health fund to receive the relevant rebate. Please enquire with your health fund to confirm eligibility for rebates and the amount you are entitled to.
Bereavement Navigation Service (BNS) referrals (SA residents only):
The Bereavement Navigation Service (delivered through Focus One Health) helps people of all ages, bereaved from any cause, to connect with bereavement and grief information and available telephone, telehealth, and in-person supports across South Australia.
Sam has a service provider arrangement with SA Health to provide up to 12 telehealth-based bereavement counselling sessions, for adults residing in South Australia, referred by the Bereavement Navigation Service. Bereavement Counselling sessions are fully covered as part of BNS funding (current funding to July 2025).
* No cost to clients
For additional information about the SA Bereavement Navigation Service, or to self-refer to the BNS for assessment and linkage to range of bereavement support options (including 1:1 telehealth counselling with Sam), please go to:
Website: https://focusonehealth.com.au/services/
Phone: (08) 8472 8255
Email: bereavement@focusonehealth.com.au
BNS Referral form: Bereavement Navigation Service Referral Form
What is grief and bereavement counselling?
Counselling is a confidential discussion, with a sensitive and responsive professional, who has specialised knowledge and skills to support you to:
- Identify, understand, and express your concerns, feelings and experiences of grief.
- Explore and understand the impacts of your loss.
- Access and strengthen your existing resources and ways of coping.
- Make choices consistent with your personal values, beliefs and goals.
- Understand the grieving process and the factors that shape our grief response to loss.
- Rebuild connection to your identity, meaning and purpose in the wake of the loss.
- Adjust to a changed life, in the absence of the person who has died.
- Have opportunities to talk about the person who has died.
- Develop additional skills to manage secondary bereavement stressors (e.g. financial insecurity, changed roles, discordant relationships).
Is Bereavement Counselling likely to be suitable for me?
Grief is the normal and inevitable human response to the loss of a loved one, however the way in which it unfolds, and the consequences of grief, are highly variable.
Many people adapt to the losses caused by bereavement and begin to feel better over time. However, some may experience grief as overwhelming, or have persistent and/or intense grief symptoms that impact daily functioning, sleep and mental health.
While people may seek counselling support for a range of reasons, research suggests that grief counselling is appropriate and likely to be of most benefit in these types of circumstances:
• You have difficulty managing the tasks of your daily life (e.g. at home or at work).
• You have thoughts of self-harm or suicide.
• You feel the need to persistently use alcohol or other drugs as way to numb or escape grief.
• You have severe symptoms of panic, anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress, or sleep problems related to the loss.
• Your grief is negatively impacting your relationships.
• You need additional information, strategies and skills in order to support your bereaved child, partner, parent or other family member.
• You feel like there is no one else you can talk to about your grief or about the person who died.
• You feel that for whatever reason, you need help to cope with this experience.
• You feel preoccupied and distressed by your grief that gets worse over time**
** You may be experiencing a mental health condition known as Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD)
Click here if you would like to learn more about Prolonged Grief Disorder.
Other Information and Supports
Crisis services (24 hour, 7days)
- Call 000 in an emergency
- Lifeline Website or call 13 11 14
- Beyond blue or call 1300 224 636
- Suicide call back service website or call 1300 659 467
