About Claire

Claire Laurenson B.A. WISC (Women’s Studies) – Grief Practitioner and Educator,
Speaker, Writer, Healer & Artist

Not my first or last experience with loss and grief but certainly the most devastating, was the sudden and unexpected death of my first-born infant son in 1985. In the decade following, there were deaths of other family members including pets, friends, the loss of my marriage, possessions, home and community.

My work supporting others began in 1997 and continues to this day. Initially training to support other families after the loss of a child, my role grew to incorporate coordinating the 24hr-phone line, providing education and training and finally, coordinating the service until it closed in 2008.

I subsequently worked for a parenting organisation for a time but really missed working with bereaved families. Unable to find a job that used the skills, knowledge and experience I’d accrued in this field ultimately sowed the seed for starting my own business so I could continue this work.

I established Grief Relief Ltd in 2010, honouring my son’s twenty-fifth anniversary. I continued working for community organisations providing support and education in the realm of cancer and chronic illness, bereavement support for funeral homes and administrative support for a charitable trust. Work History

In 2017, I relinquished most of those commitments to focus on building the business. During 2020 lockdown, I completed the griefrelief kit and in 2022, the Grief Relief Journal with further resources in the pipeline. Online support has increased as has the range of losses broadened. I continue to provide bereavement support for several funeral homes.

I have always had creative outlets throughout my life – dance, photography, gardening, sculpture, painting and writing. Developing the 30 days of grief cards, as part of the Kit, was a creative project that drew on my photographic background and love of words.

For me, creativity is healing, and I encourage clients to find ways of being creative too. After the death of a loved one, memory-making is one such way. This involves creating something in memory of, such as an activity, ritual, art or legacy of some kind. This can also build and strengthen spiritual connection. See creative workshops for memory-making activities and Memories Matter – a Skylight resource I developed the content for.

Being curious about life and death and the bigger scheme of things, I have explored different spiritual paths and teachings, but don’t follow any one exclusively. Drawing something from all of them, I have developed my own understanding of God which continues to evolve as I do. I know I am doing the work I came here for and increasingly trust in the intuitive guidance I receive.  See interview with me: Exploring Spirituality

A keen interest in natural healing began with plants and a love of gardening in my early twenties and through curiosity and self-directed learning, have built on that knowledge ever since. Over the years, I have received healing from a diverse range of practitioners and modalities, always experiencing them for myself before recommending them to others. Since 1995, I’ve practiced Reiki, a Japanese form of energy healing, and continue to use this for myself and give freely to others through a local healing centre.

Based in the Hutt Valley, I work across the Wellington region and am available further afield on request. Online support is always available, wherever you are.

If you wish to contact me, please email or call me on 04 970-1222.

See my LinkedIn profile for more information.

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