Welcome! I’m Fiona Gallagher, I created this well needed service to support children and young adults through their grief.
With over 20 years of experience as a primary school teacher and a trained child bereavement counsellor/therapist, I’ve seen firsthand how essential it is to provide the right support during such a challenging time.
Throughout my teaching career in the Scottish Borders, I identified a gap in services for children experiencing grief.
After earning my COSCA qualification certificate in bereavement counselling for children and young people, I worked as a bereavement counsellor in schools through a program supported by Scottish Borders Council.
Sadly, due to funding cuts, this vital support is no longer available in the area.
That’s why I decided to create my own business, a safe space—one where children can feel supported, understood, and guided through their grief.
Having experienced bereavement as a child myself, I know how crucial it is to work through these emotions and how doing so can help build resilience for life’s challenges.
I’m dedicated to providing compassionate care to help children navigate their grief. Let’s open the conversation and offer the support every child deserves. Feel free to reach out and connect.
"After losing my childhood best friend at the age of 11, Fiona provided me with bereavement support for several months. Along with her lovely, fluffy therapy dog Rowan, we had weekly in person sessions where we would complete activities and chat all things emotions, memories and coping strategies.
Fiona’s kind and caring personality helped me to talk about my emotions and shape my grief into a more positive reminder of happy memories.
I still to this day vividly remember all the support Fiona provided me with and can’t thank her enough for helping me through my loss."
"I had the privilege of working with Fiona for a number of years in her role as a bereavement counselling teacher and know what a difference her support made to many bereaved children and their families. Fiona always responded quickly when there was a need and seemed to know instinctively each time what support was required and how best each child could be supported by those around them. Fiona has a natural ability to establish very positive relationships with children and quickly gained the trust of those she spent time with. Children" always enjoyed, appreciated and benefited from their sessions with her."
"Mrs Gallagher worked very closely with my school as we all struggled to cope with the loss of one of our pupils.
As a small rural school, we had had a lot to cope with in previous years through the loss of one of our teachers in a car accident as well as losing 2 of our parents through sudden death.
When we lost a dearly loved senior pupil, staff, parents and pupils really struggled with the grief that ensued. Mrs Gallagher supported us all through this very difficult time.
Her empathy and professionalism gave us all strength to pick up the pieces and get going again.
She helped us to celebrate treasured memories. She also made us aware that we all grieve in different ways.
Mrs Gallagher is a very skilled lady in many aspects of education but at the same time, through her own personal experiences and subsequent bereavement training, is a very skilled counsellor giving strength and support to all ages of people who are mourning.
I cannot recommend her highly enough."
"Fiona’s assistance was invaluable in helping me meet the needs of a bereaved child in my class. She discussed the importance of open, honest communication and provided me with tools, techniques and activities which were age appropriate to support the pupil. Fiona showed great empathy and understanding throughout the journey and was a reliable/constant support to myself and the child."
"We first met Fiona shortly after our daughter lost her best friend when she was 11. As much as we felt we had prepared her for this, hers and our grief was immense.
Fiona would see our daughter on a regular basis for many months and along with her therapy dog they would walk, talk and do many activities around grief, loss and coping strategies.
Having someone outside of our immediate family to talk to at this time was so important for her. She also helped us understand how a child copes with grief and how we could help.
Fiona's knowledge , kindness and empathy at this difficult time will never be forgotten. And we are very grateful for all the help she gave us."
To ensure I can provide the best support possible, I offer tailored sessions at a small fee of £60. This allows me to dedicate the time and resources needed to guide you (or your child) through this challenging time. If you'd like more details or are ready to get started, I'm here to help whenever you feel ready.
Your privacy is my top priority. All personal information you share with me is treated with the utmost confidentiality, ensuring a safe and secure environment. I fully comply with GDPR regulations to protect your rights and privacy throughout our work together.
Each session is priced at £60.
A child bereavement counsellor provides emotional support and guidance to children, young people, and young adults up to age 25 who have experienced the loss of a loved one. This counselling helps them process their feelings, express their grief, and develop coping strategies in a safe, compassionate environment.
Sessions typically last around 50 minutes to an hour, allowing ample time to express feelings and engage in therapeutic activities.
My office is based in Selkirk, offering a peaceful and private space for children, young people, and young adults to receive support.
For younger clients, the initial consultation usually involves parents or guardians to discuss the child's needs. After that, sessions are generally one-on-one, though regular updates can be provided to parents or guardians,
The number of sessions varies depending on individual needs. Some may benefit from just a few sessions, while others may need longer-term support. We will regularly review progress to ensure the counselling meets your child's needs.
I trained with Cruse and received a COSCA certificate qualification in bereavement counselling for children, young people, and young adults. I also have over 20 years of experience as a primary teacher and personal experience with childhood bereavement, which informs my compassionate approach.
I work with children, young people, and young adults up to the age of 25, tailoring support to their specific developmental needs.
I support individuals dealing with all types of bereavement, including the loss of parents, siblings, grandparents, friends or pets. My approach helps navigate each person’s unique grief journey.
You can contact me via phone or email to book a session, or fill out the contact form on this website. I will get back to you promptly to arrange a convenient time.
Things change, children get ill I know it all too well. All I ask is you cancel or reschedule, at least 24 hours before the session to avoid being charged.
Yes, for older children and young adults, Zoom calls are avaialble.
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