ABOUT ME
DR SHELLEY GILBERT MBE, PhD, PGDPM, UKCP(Reg), PGD in Counselling & Psychotherapy, MBACP
I’m a Consultant Psychotherapist who has worked with bereaved children and young people for over 30 years.
I set up and ran Grief Encounter, now one of the UK’s leading child and family bereavement services.
I led the Clinical Team, building the psychotherapeutically informed Grief Encounter Family Programme, including groups, workshops, family grief fun days, Grief Relief Kit resources and 1-1 counselling.
I responded to critical bereavement incidents (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).
I also share my expertise through keynote speaking at conferences, masterclasses, and workshops in the UK and abroad.
In 2015, I was thrilled to receive an MBE for my work.
I’m married with four children and live and work in London.
TIMELINE
MY GRIEF ENCOUNTER JOURNEY
2003
Created the “Upward Spiral of Grief” - a pioneering model, now a widely adopted therapeutic tool across the entire bereavement world.
2004
Grief Encounter established as a charity
Kevin Wells becomes Founding Patron
2005
1000 Grief Encounter workbooks published and given to bereaved children with the help of a small team of 5 volunteers. Outside of those donated the Grief Encounter workbook becomes a bestseller
Website established
Grief Encounter sets up phone llne
2006
First workshops begin
1-1 counselling sessions established
Grief Encounter employs 2 part-time paid staff and 6 consultant counsellors
Friends of Grief Encounter Committee set up to support and fundralse
2007
First ever National Bereavement Poetry Competition and launch of ‘Bad Time Rhymes’.
Family Days begin; first fishing day
Development of In-school workshops and training
2008
GE training provision expands nationally
8,000 workbooks now In clrculation
2009
1-1 counselllng expands to 40 sessions per week
First ever celebrity support gained – Jeff Brazier, Arlene Phillips, Antonio Carluccio, Gabby and Kenny Logan, David Morrisey and Dawn French.
2010
Expansion to Essex and the South West of England
Residential Camps begin
2011
More specialist resources including charity bracelet
Number of Family Days Increase
2012
Dr Shelley Gilbert named Dally Mall Inspirational Woman of the Year
84% of clients showing a significant Improvement from 1:1 Intervention
New Initiatives Include e-counselllng, under 6's group and drop-in
2013
Katherine Jenkins becomes Patron
New clinical offices open In Finchley
2014
Dr Shelley Gilbert receives MBE from Princess Royal
University accredited training programmes start
First Gala Dinner marks 10th anniversary
2015
First overseas Charity Challenge to the Great Wall of China
Initiated Children’s Grief Awareness Week, now observed nationwide in November each year
2016
Grief Encounter raises Its national profile with TEDx Talk, and International conferences
£5,000.000 raised to date
Completed award-winning doctorate on young people’s lived experience of trauma and grief.
2017
Opened up a further office in Bristol office
Martin Lewis becomes Patron
Grief Encounter Grenfell Response Team established
Grief Encounter Joins Parliamentary Taskforce for Bereavement Support
2018
Grief Encounter choir sings with Katherine Jenkins
Youth ambassadors appointed
2019
Grleftalk Helpline launched
15th anniversary Gala Dinner
2020
New London clinical office, Crystal House, opens
Services go online, Demand soars
2021
Urgency to fundraise as COVID restrictions ease
Outdoor events back
2022
Grief Book and Memory Book re-launched during and post Covid
2023
Grief Encounter continues to raise millions enabling the delivery of bereavement services in innovative ways including the popular comedy evening.
2024
Grief Encounter celebrate two decades of care with 20 year Gala Dinner at the Roundhouse Camden.
Launch of Grief Doctor
2025
Launch of the Teen Guide
Nominated for ACAMH Awards, recognising work in evidence based science, both in publication and practice, in the field of child and adolescent mental health
SHAPING THE FIELD
POLICY AND NATIONAL INITIATIVES
As a Founding Member of the Childhood Bereavement Network, I’ve shaped bereavement services nationally. I’m a frequent media commentator on personal bereavement and large-scale traumatic events including Grenfell, Gaza and Covid-19.
I deliver keynote speeches and masterclasses in the UK and abroad on topics including Motherless Daughters, Grief Resources, and Research on Grieving Children.
Children’s Grief Awareness Week
Launched 2015 — observed nationwide every November across the UK
Bad Time Rhymes
National poetry competition and published anthology encouraging creative expression of grief
Parliamentary Taskforce
Joined the Parliamentary Taskforce for Bereavement Support in 2017
Emergency response
Informing response to Soham, Grenfell, Manchester Arena, Covid-19 and Gaza conflicts
ACHIEVEMENTS
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
MY THINKING
Research and Intellectial Thinking
Upward Spiral of Grief
In 2003, I created the Upward Spiral of Grief model. This innovative tool transformed conventional thinking regarding the ‘stages’ of grief. It’s now a widespread therapeutic tool used across the world of grief counselling.
Grief Encounter Workbook
In 2004, I published the Grief Encounter Workbook, (later published as the Grief Book). This resource is an interactive book to help encourage the difficult but important conversations between grieving children and the adults supporting them.
It quickly became an award-winning bestseller, receiving high-profile media coverage. Re-published as the Grief Book, it continues to be used by thousands of grieving families and grief professionals worldwide.
ACAMHS
In partnership with Anna Freud and Dr Saul Hillman, I’m engaged with ongoing research on the topic of trauma, grief and bereavement of children and young people. Our work is presented in collaboration with The Association for Child and Adolescent Health (ACAMHS).
Through my research, I continue to challenge conventional thinking in the fields of traumatic grief and bereavement support. My goal is to change our approach to grief, allowing us all to grieve in a much better way than we do now.
My PHD Thesis
In 2016, I completed my doctorate on young people’s lived experience of trauma and grief. (Metanoia Institute of Psychotherapy , Middlesex University/UCL).
I was awarded the Middlesex University/Metanoia end of year prize for my work, as well as BACP/Wiley Researcher of the Year (2016/7).
To read my PhD thesis (unpublished), click here:
Abstract published in the Journal of Palliative Medicine, July 2021.