About Penthos

Penthos is an established mental health charity which provides a 16-week specialised therapy program to couples who are struggling with unresolved grief following the death of a child.

The loss may be the result of a loss of pregnancy, a stillbirth, medical termination, failed IVF or the death of a child or young adult through illness, accident, or suicide.

Penthos understands the emotional impact of such losses which at times may feel unbearable and can severely strain relationships. In the months following a loss many couples begin to emerge from the initial crisis and grief associated with the loss, but for some, things seem to get worse, and their relationship suffers. This is an indication of unresolved grief.

Penthos welcomes all couples and partners regardless of their gender identity, sexual orientation, or family structure.

What is the program?

It is a 16-session, evidenced based therapeutic program which has been shown to be effective for couples suffering unresolved grief.

The therapeutic program is not instructional but aims to assist couples to grieve together through understanding their emotional experiences while identifying blocks to the grieving process. The program acknowledges that everyone grieves differently.

The therapeutic program provides a comfortable and private space in room, or online for couples to explore and investigate the painful feelings involved in losing a child or young adult. Couples attend a confidential 50-minute session once a week for 16 weeks, at a time agreed between the couple and the therapist. It is necessary that both partners attend all sessions, either in-room or online.

The sessions are provided by specially trained and experienced mental health professionals (clinical psychologists, clinical social workers and couple therapists) in their own consulting rooms (or online for those who cannot attend in-room).

Is there a fee?

There is no fee for the program although our fee for service therapists haves their own cancellation policies.

Conditions of Participation

Couples are required to complete all 16 sessions, on a regular basis to help benefit from our evidence based-program.

Participants are required to complete brief questionnaires at the start, end, and 3 months after therapy to help us evaluate and maintain funding for the program. It is important that you assist us with this as the funding we receive enables Penthos to offer our free services to other parents who, like you, have experienced the distressing and destabilizing loss of a child.

We understand that completing the questionnaires could be upsetting, however, as they are essential, we ask you to complete and return all intake and exit forms that are sent electronically to you by the Penthos Coordinator.

Special Notes:

  • Penthos is only funded for couple therapy and not for legal assessment purposes. Consequently, therapist cannot be asked to write reports in relation to legal matters.

  • Once the referral to a therapist is made, all issues arising, other than administrative issues, must be taken up with the therapist. The Penthos Coordinator is not able to intervene with any issues relating to the couple’s relationship with the therapist.

  • If taking up the online option we ask that couples attend together, using the same video device and to be in a quiet, private room.

  • Cancellation Policy - Our fee for service therapists have their own cancellation policies.

Eligibility

The program is available to all couples and partners who have lost a pregnancy, experienced unsuccessful IVF, a miscarriage, medical termination or stillbirth.

It is also available to couples who have lost a adult child at any age as a result of perinatal complications, illness, suicide, or accident, and whose relationship seems to be deteriorating after the loss.

If you would like to discuss your eligibility further or set up an appointment you can do this through our contact us page

Requirements

Couples are required to complete and return the Penthos consent and intake forms along with exit and three-month follow-up questionnaires.

This information will be de-identified in accordance with our The Privacy Act 1988 (Privacy Act). The data will be used as a basis for future funding applications and to continuously improve the quality of our program.