28th June 2022
Introducing Jenni, our new Bereavement Counsellor
We recently welcomed Jenni Tompkins to our team as a Bereavement Services Counsellor Coordinator.
Jenni joins us after volunteering for the hospice for four months. Before that she studied for a Masters in Counselling and Psychotherapy at the Sherwood Psychotherapy Training Institute.
Previously, Jenni worked for 18 years in a Building Maintenance and Engineering company. But she had always been drawn to a career in counselling, so she decided to follow her dreams and retrain.
“People would ask me ‘if you could do any job, what would you do?’ and I always said counsellor. So when they said ‘why aren’t you doing it?’ it made me decide to go part-time at work and enrol on my Masters,” she said.
Interest in bereavement
While Jenni was completing her four-year qualification, both her grandparents died which gave her an interest in working with bereaved people.
“They died within a few weeks of each other which gave me an insight into how different family members deal with bereavement. It sparked my interest in bereavement counselling,” she added.
Jenni also volunteered at Treetops Hospice and Nottingham Women’s Centre while doing her training.
“Offering bereavement counselling at the hospice provides continuity of service so you can support family members as much as you support the patient themselves,” she added.
“The fact that we offer a complete package before and after bereavement is definitely valued.
“I’m impressed by the way things are run and by the people who work here. Everyone is friendly and easy to get along with and everyone works so hard for the hospice. It’s also a beautiful building with lovely grounds.”
When not at work, Jenni enjoys reading and knitting for relaxation.