Chris’s story

My wife died in East Cheshire Hospice in 2022 following a long battle with lung cancer. The care at the Hospice was exceptional for both her and myself. This is a message for anybody who gets asked to go a Walk and Talk counselling course.

Photo of a man in a light green fleece stood against a bar looking at the camera

“I personally found the first meeting quite nerve-racking – meeting people, brain like scrambled eggs with issues of admin, loss, and flashbacks.

I had been sitting in a house on my own surrounded by the memories and objects of a 50-year marriage, compounded by a year of intensive caring.

Towards the end of the first meeting/beginning of the second meeting where we were each asked to say how our week had been, I found the other attendees were all in a similar place.”

"The care at the Hospice was exceptional for both her and myself. This is a message for anybody who gets asked to go a Walk and Talk counselling course."
Chris

“The combination of walking, observing nature and each person sharing their feelings – I found it a good medicine in the early stages of bereavement.

Unfortunately, the sessions couldn’t continue after the sixth. Luckily the group found a bond and continued with a WhatsApp group and occasionally has walk and talk meetings at Shakely Mere – this had a life to it.

On reflection I think it was the best counselling method for me. I would recommend it to any bereaved person who gets offered the chance but might be building brick walls of why not to go and receive counselling.”

To find out more about Adult Therapy at East Cheshire Hospice, please visit our Adult Therapy webpage.

Photo of people sat together in a forest clearing. Only their lower halves are in the shot.