Grief & loss · Singapore
Bereavement counselling in Singapore: two services to consider
A private counselling conversation and a bereavement group are different ways to seek support. Here’s how two local services describe their fees and access.
Assisi Hospice describes its grief and bereavement service as complimentary. Viriya Community Services publishes office-hour individual therapy at S$150 per hour, with conditional subsidised rates. Both offer bereavement support in Singapore. The right next enquiry depends on whether you want individual counselling, a therapeutic group or a space to share experiences. A group’s entry condition is not a rule for all grief support.
Perhaps the practical arrangements after a death have slowed down, but evenings still feel hard. You would like someone to talk to, and a search turns up counselling, a support group and a café. You do not have to treat those as the same appointment or decide today how much you want to share.
Counsilio publishes this guide. We selected these two services because their official Singapore pages describe bereavement care and current programme or fee information. They appear alphabetically, not in order of clinical quality. This is a small, non-exhaustive comparison, not an independent endorsement or a claim that one service is best. Facts checked 20 October 2026; published descriptions are not independently measured outcomes or live appointment availability.
Two bereavement services to consider
Provider names link to the official programme or fee source. The information below concerns individual counselling unless a group is explicitly named.
| Provider | Published fee | Session length | Format and access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assisi Hospice — 2026 programme | The April 2026 programme brochure describes the service as complimentary. | Individual session length is not specified in the brochure. | Individual grief and bereavement counselling face to face or by Zoom, Monday–Friday daytime except public holidays. Groups have separate participation conditions; an enquiry is not a confirmed place. |
| Viriya Community Services — grief therapy fees | Individual therapy: S$150 per hour during office hours. Published subsidised rates are S$75–120, subject to income criteria and case-by-case approval. | Normally one hour. Extra time is charged in subsequent half-hour blocks. | VCS centres in Jurong West and Potong Pasir. Virtual sessions may be arranged if suitable. Its grief service covers individuals and families experiencing bereavement or non-death losses. |
Choose the kind of conversation you want
You may want time alone with a counsellor or a space alongside other bereaved people. Assisi distinguishes individual counselling, structured therapeutic groupwork and its Grief Café, which centres on shared experiences. They serve different purposes; a professionally facilitated gathering is not the same service as an individual appointment. Assisi’s current service page.
Assisi: counselling, groups and community access
Assisi describes individual bereavement care for bereaved people in the community. Its outreach and interfaith memorial services are separately limited to families of Assisi patients. The structured bereavement group asks participants to be at least six months past their loss and to attend at least three of four sessions. That is a group condition, not a rule to wait before enquiring about individual support. Assisi’s current service page.
Check the programme and the appointment separately
Assisi’s linked April 2026 brochure describes the service as complimentary and individual counselling as available face to face or by Zoom on weekdays during the day, excluding public holidays. It also lists dated group activities. A published programme does not show which appointments or group places remain available today. Use the service’s official enquiry or registration route for the relevant programme, rather than assuming a listed date guarantees a place. Assisi’s April 2026 programme brochure (PDF).
Viriya: bereavement, other losses and fees
Viriya’s grief service describes bereavement therapy, individual and family counselling for non-death losses, and grief support groups. Its detailed grief-service fee section lists office-hour individual therapy at S$150 per hour, normally one hour, with S$75–120 subsidised fees considered by income and case-by-case approval. It lists centre appointments at Jurong West and Potong Pasir, with virtual sessions if suitable. These are Viriya’s published terms, not an independently confirmed appointment quote or automatic subsidy entitlement. Viriya’s detailed Grief Support Services and fee section.
Viriya’s dedicated grief service page describes its individual, family and group support. Use the relevant service route to explore suitability and arrangements; a conditional subsidy is not an automatic entitlement.
Keep a first enquiry small
A fictional example: after caring for a parent, someone may find the quiet evenings hardest once the appointments and practical tasks have ended. They could begin, “My parent died recently, and I’d like to speak with someone individually. What support could I explore?” There is no need to attach the person’s medical records or explain the whole loss in an initial enquiry. For a group, the next question may simply be what joining involves and whether its participation conditions fit. These are original illustrations, not a description of any person’s care.
Exploring Counsilio’s guided matching
If you want to explore private online counselling, Counsilio starts with a personal conversation about your concerns, preferences, budget and timing. We take responsibility for quality and matching, make the proposed arrangement clear, and help you switch if a therapist does not work for you. You do not need to choose from a roster first. Long-term Singapore sessions start at S$80 and last 50–60 minutes. Your enquiry starts that discussion; it does not confirm a particular therapist, specialist programme or appointment. The dedicated bereavement services above offer another route you can consider.
For Counsilio, you can begin: “I’ve experienced a loss and would like to explore support. I’d prefer a brief conversation about what might fit.” The care team discusses your concerns and practical needs, proposes a suitable counsellor and arrangement, and you choose whether to proceed. No full history or relative’s medical documents are needed in the first message.
Read how to explore counselling for grief and loss with Counsilio, how guided matching works, Singapore counselling costs and care routes, or what a first counselling session can involve.
Questions before making contact
Do I have to wait six months before seeking grief support?
Assisi’s six-month condition is for its structured bereavement group. You can enquire about individual support separately.
Is bereavement counselling free in Singapore?
It depends on the service. Assisi’s April 2026 programme brochure describes its service as complimentary. Viriya publishes individual therapy fees and conditional subsidies. These are different arrangements; neither a general fee listing nor an enquiry confirms availability or a subsidy.
Must my relative have been an Assisi patient?
Assisi describes individual care for bereaved people in the community. Outreach and interfaith memorial services have a separate Assisi-family requirement.
Is a support group the same as counselling?
No. Individual counselling, a therapeutic group and a peer-sharing space have different purposes. Explore the format that fits the conversation you want.
What happens if I contact Counsilio?
We discuss your concerns and practical requirements through guided onboarding, then propose a suitable counsellor and arrangement. You choose whether to proceed. The initial WhatsApp enquiry is not an instant booking or a promise of specialist bereavement treatment.
For everyday support after losing a parent, see the quiet days after the funeral. If caregiving is still part of your life, support for caregivers addresses that separate need.
If you need someone to speak with now, national mindline 1771 offers round-the-clock mental health support. For thoughts of suicide, call SOS 1767; for a life-threatening emergency, call 995. See the official mindline help directory and urgent support resources. Counsilio provides routine care, not emergency response.