The Campbell Grief Institute
The Campbell Grief Institute is widely regarded as the North East’s leading Centre of Excellence for grief training, counselling, supervision, research and consultancy work. The Institute’s Principal, Neil Campbell, has an extensive and significant body of work in this field – with 28 years of specialisation in grief counselling, training, supervision and research.
Grief is a highly complex issue and one that society still seems to regard as a taboo subject. Moreover, we feel that – despite recent signs of improvement – society is still generally unkind towards and impatient with the bereaved.
It has developed a socially-constructed, but selfish, approach to grief over the last sixty or seventy years, which meets its materialistic and short-term needs; and which is reinforced by a somewhat unhelpful socially-constructed grief language.
Equally, we also feel that society has medicalised and marginalised the dying process. Recent research tells us that while 75% of us wants to die at home (in familiar surroundings and surrounded by loved ones), most of us will die in a hospital, hospice or nursing home – isolated and fearful. The aim of a meaningful transition and a “good death” has been replaced by attempts to preserve life at any cost.
Our Ethos
We believe that…
- Grief is not an illness to cure
- Grief is not a disease to overcome
- Grief is lifelong, and there is no “getting over” it
- Grief is more about “Adjusting” to the loss of our loved one
- Grief is a unique and singular experience
- Grief is a highly complex area and subject
Rather than “letting go” of our lost loved ones, we will grow closer to them; and that one of our initial challenges is to re-format our relationships with them.
We need to respect the innate wisdom of each bereaved individual to grieve in a way that’s right for them; and it’s the right way because its their way.
Training Courses
The Campbell Grief Institute offers a comprehensive range of unique bereavement & grief training courses, that are accredited through its Quality Licence scheme from the Skills and Education Group – ranging from Level 3 Two-Day courses to an 18-Month Level 6 Diploma.
Our courses are designed to enlighten and raise awareness around grief and its major areas, as well as enriching the presence of those who support the dying and the bereaved.
Specialist Grief Counselling
The Campbell Grief Institute offers a professional and experienced counselling service for the bereaved, those with terminal illnesses and their families. Obviously, we cannot give the bereaved what they most want – the return of their loved one – nor can we ease the pain of their grief. But, we will be fully there for them, sharing their darkness and holding space for them, while they make sense of all of their feelings and emotions.
Events
In the future, the Institute will be hosting and promoting a number of grief-related events through various formats – conferences, half-day and full-day workshops, guided talks, and experiential sessions. Most of these will be held on a face-to-face basis, but some will be delivered through the Zoom medium.
Podcasts & Research
There are a collection of grief-related podcasts (through Transistor FM) available for anyone interested, and these will be added to each month. The aim of these podcasts is to raise awareness around some of grief’s major areas & types of death – each of which has its own unique and special nuances and dynamics.
In addition, later this year, the Institute will be commencing a series of small research projects, centred on both anticipatory and conventional post-death grief issues. Our findings and learning points will be posted in this “Podcasts & Research” page.
Reading Lists & Resources
Neil has assembled a significant collection of grief-related books and support resources throughout his long career. These will be available for accessing on this page.