Find a Mental Health Professional for Anticipatory Grief & Terminal Illness

About Anticipatory Grief & Terminal Illness support

Anticipatory grief is the grief that occurs before a loss happens, when someone you love has a terminal diagnosis or is in significant decline. It is a genuine grief response, not simply worry or anxiety, and it can involve sadness, anger, exhaustion, guilt about any feelings of relief, and uncertainty about what lies ahead. Anticipatory grief can also include your own grief if you have received a serious or terminal diagnosis yourself. Support during this time may include individual counselling, family therapy, or support groups for people navigating serious illness. Palliative care teams often include social workers and psychologists who provide this kind of support alongside medical care. Therapy can help people make sense of complex emotions, communicate with loved ones, prepare for practical realities, and also find meaning and connection in the time that remains. In Australia, palliative care services are available in hospitals, hospices, and through community-based teams. CareSearch is a government-funded palliative care resource for patients and families. CanTeen and Cancer Council Australia offer psychological support for people affected by cancer, and Carers Gateway provides support for those caring for someone who is seriously unwell. GPs can refer to specialist services and subsidised mental health support through Medicare.