ABOUT ME
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’ve influenced bereavement services in the UK and abroad. I’ve collaborated with organisations including:
SHAPING POLICY
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
RESEARCH
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.
THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
I regularly share my ideas and expertise through keynote speaking at conferences and events and have helped raise awareness of children and young people’s grief through nationwide initiatives such as: Children’s Grief Awareness Week (launched 2015) and Bad Time Rhymes (poetry competition and book publication, 2007).
I also deliver interactive masterclasses and workshops in the UK and abroad on topics such as: Motherless Daughters, Grief Resources, and Research on Grieving Children and Families.
I’m a frequent media commentator on personal bereavement and large-scale traumatic events such as: the Grenfell Tower disaster, Gaza/Israel conflicts and the Covid-19 pandemic.
GRIEF ENCOUNTER TIMELINE
2004
1000 Grief Encounter workbooks published and given to bereaved children with the help or a small team of 5 volunteers
Kevin Wells becomes Founding Patron
2005
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
Children In Need funding received
New clinical offices open In Finchley
2014
Dr Shelley Gilbert receives MBE from Princess Royal
Accredited training programmes start
First Gala Dinner marks 10th anniversary
2015
First overseas Charity Challenge to the Great Wall of China
First Children's Grief Awareness Week
2016
Grief Encounter raises Its national profile with TEDx Talk, and International conferences
Almost (£5,000.000 raised to date)
2017
Bristol office acquired
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
New website and new logo launch
15th anniversary Gala Dinner
2020
New London clinical office, Crystal House, opens
Patronage Programme launched
Services go online, Demand soars
2021
Urgency to fundraise as COVID restrictions ease
Outdoor events back
Launch of Grief Book
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