Gemma

Gemma joined Cruse Scotland in July 2024 as part of a practice placement during her postgraduate studies. When joining, Gemma already understood how deeply bereavement can shape a person's life, having lost her dad as a teenager. She says, 'Over the years, I’ve had the chance to explore that grief through therapy, and I’ve come to appreciate how transformative it can be to have a safe space in which to process difficult memories and emotions.' Since joining the organisation, Gemma has found the time to be incredibly rewarding and speaks highly of the training and ongoing support she has received.

Grief is not a linear process, and Gemma recognises the particular challenge of dealing with clients who are "stuck" in their grief; 'those who fear what may surface if they fully engage with their pain can be especially difficult because it often involves navigating deep, unresolved pain that may be tangled with fear, guilt, or trauma.' Gemma continues, 'When a client begins to feel safe enough to explore their sorrow, it’s profoundly moving to witness that shift. Some speak of a “fog lifting”, and to see a renewed sense of clarity, hope, or self-compassion emerge makes this work deeply worthwhile.'

After becoming a qualified counsellor, Gemma continued to volunteer with Cruse Scotland and continued to feel humbled by the courage she witnesses from clients starting their support journeys. Gemma says, 'For clients to sit with a stranger and begin to share their story, to speak openly about pain, loss, and vulnerability, is no small act—it requires immense trust, and I never take that lightly.'

For Gemma, holding space for these moments is one of the most meaningful aspects of volunteering with Cruse Scotland; 'I feel deeply grateful each time someone chooses to open up in the counselling space, allowing me to witness their grief, their memories, and the depth of their love and loss. It’s not easy to sit in pain, to turn towards what hurts rather than away from it. Yet time and again, clients do just that. Their willingness to show up, even when it’s hard, speaks to a quiet strength that often goes unrecognised. I am honoured each time someone invites me into their world, however briefly.'