Counselling after a miscarriage
Miscarriage can affect people in many different ways. You may be feeling grief, shock, anxiety, or something harder to put into words. For some, talking to a professional can help make sense of what’s happened.
While we don’t provide in-house counselling services, we know that access to the right support can make a real difference.
That’s why we’ve created a directory of counsellors who have experience supporting people through pregnancy loss and fertility challenges. They offer a safe, understanding space to explore your thoughts and feelings, and find ways to cope that feel right for you.
We take care to check that each counsellor listed is professionally accredited and insured. However, we can’t take responsibility for their individual practice.*
Other ways to find counselling support
If our directory isn’t right for you, there are other ways to access miscarriage counselling and support.
Through the NHS
You may be able to access counselling through:
- Your GP
- Your Early Pregnancy Unit (EPU), bereavement midwife or nurse
- A specialist NHS service for mental health during or after pregnancy (often called perinatal mental health services)
- NHS Talking Therapies (self-referral is available)
Waiting times can vary, but these services are free and confidential.
Other organisations and services
You might also consider:
- Petals (specialist pregnancy loss counselling)
- BICA (British Infertility Counselling Association)
- Counselling through work or study, such as an Employee Assistance Programme
- Muslim Bereavement Support Service
- Chana for the Jewish community
Choosing a counsellor
Finding the right counsellor can take time. What matters most is how you feel when working with them.
Research suggests that the type of counselling (e.g. ‘person-centred’ or ‘integrative’) is often less important than the relationship you build. Feeling heard, respected and understood can make the biggest difference.
It can help if a counsellor has some understanding of miscarriage and pregnancy loss. But even without specialist experience, they may still support you with things like anxiety, low mood or intrusive thoughts.
If something doesn’t feel right, it’s okay to say so. You can explain what you need, or choose to end sessions and find someone else. That can feel difficult, but finding the right fit is important.
Relationship counselling after miscarriage
Pregnancy loss can affect relationships in different ways. You and your partner may process things differently, which can feel difficult to navigate.
If you’re looking for relationship counselling, organisations like Relate and Tavistock Relationships offer support, including low-cost options.
Other miscarriage support
Counselling is one way to access support, but it’s not the only option.
You may also find it helpful to connect with others, access trusted information, or speak to someone who understands.
*If you have concerns about a counsellor’s conduct, we recommend contacting their professional organisation directly. This is most likely to be the BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy) where accredited members have more training and experience than registered members, or the UKCP (UK Council for Psychotherapy). Some may belong to another professional body with their own conduct and complaint procedure.