Dr Shelley Gilbert MBE, PhD, PGDPM, UKCP(Reg), PGD in Counselling & Psychotherapy, Senior Accredited MBACP

I’m a Consultant Psychotherapist specialising in traumatic grief. I’ve worked as a psychotherapist for bereaved children and young people for over 25 years.

As The Grief Doctor, I train and mentor grief professionals and support bereaved families.

I’m also Founder and Lifetime President of Grief Encounter, one of the leading bereavement charities in the UK.

Losing both my parents at a young age, I have first-hand experience of childhood bereavement. I’ve dedicated my life to helping thousands of families cope with grief.

In 2015, I was thrilled to receive an MBE for my work.

I’m married with four children and live and work in London.

Key Achievements

  • Published the interactive Grief Encounter Workbook (2004) which rapidly became an award-winning best-seller.

  • Founded Grief Encounter. Raised millions to provide free and accessible therapeutic support to grieving children and their families (2004 – present).

  • Created the innovative Grief Encounter Family Programme including: grief groups, workshops, one-to-one counselling, family days and retreats.

  • Specialist in critical bereavement incidents. Informing emergency response to major traumatic events (national and international), including the Soham murders (2002), Grenfell Tower disaster (2017), Manchester Arena bombing (2017), Covid-19 pandemic (2020-2021) and Israel/Gaza conflict (2023-2024).

  • Initiated Children’s Grief Awareness Week (2015), observed nationwide in November each year.

  • Devised creative resources such as the Grief Toolkit, Mr Good Grief puppet and the critically acclaimed: Chocolate Chipped: A Smelly Book About Grief.

  • Launched Bad Time Rhymes national poetry competition, encouraging children and young people to write creatively about grief. Published Bad Time Rhymes poetry book, showcasing their work.

  • Created and led Grief Encounter affiliated and external training courses, including the (Middlesex University accredited) Good Grief Training Programme.

  • Sharing expertise through keynote speaking at conferences, masterclasses, and workshops in the UK and abroad.
  • Completed award-winning doctorate (2016) on young people’s lived experience of trauma and grief.

  • Created the “Upward Spiral of Grief” (2003). This pioneering model transformed conventional thinking about grief. It’s now a widely adopted therapeutic tool used across the entire bereavement world.

  • As founding member of the Childhood Bereavement Network, I influenced bereavement services at national and international level. I collaborated with organisations including:

Shelley with Superhero Ambassadors

Over the years, I’ve received support from some exceptional people. 

Just some of these real-life bereaved superheroes include: Kevin and Nicola Wells (parents of Holly Wells, murdered in Soham, 2002), Jeff Brazier, Katherine Jenkins, Al Murray, Darcey Bussell, Antonio Carluccio, Gaby and Kenny Logan, Martin Lewis and many more!

Awards

I’ve received countless awards for my work including:

  • Daily Mail Inspirational Woman of the Year (2012)
  • Middlesex University/Metanoia End of Year prize (2016)
  • BACP/Wiley Researcher of the Year (2016/7)
  • Bank of America Excellence Hero Award (2007)
  • AOL Innovation in the Community Award
  • Minerva Outstanding Woman of the Year (2008)
  • Norwood Helping Hand Award for exceptional dedication (2006)
  • An MBE for 20 years of work helping bereaved children and young people in the UK