Liz Adcock-White

“when you need time to stand still – and a season for grief”

Do you ever mutter these words - that time races on yet a heavy weight of sadness has you stuck? Or perhaps a friend has died, and you don’t know what to say to their family? Or perhaps you are facing a life-limiting illness and would like ideas how to plan ahead?

Kia ora I’m Liz, founder of The Fifth Season, a palliative support service for people facing grief, loss and matters related to death and dying: our work is to support you and your loved ones at any stage of this difficult and unique journey. Whether past or current, whether related to age or a diagnosis and whether this is your experience or someone close to you; we can walk alongside you.

Derived from Latin ‘palliare’ meaning ‘to cloak’, The Fifth Season offers a cloak of support where you need it most, our model is non-medical and is based on professional and qualified Social Work and End of Life Doula practice. We offer a range of services for before, during and after death care – services in line with your values and which take into account your practical, psychological, spiritual, cultural and relationship considerations.

A vast range of feelings and emotions arise in grief and at the end of life, I have met people who feel alone or frightened, some challenged by decisions and others energised to finish life tasks – and sometimes I have witnessed moments of realisation, inner calm and true love and joy.

We can meet in:

·       Your home

·       Your favourite café / park

·       Hospital / Hospice

·       My garden office

·       Online

Services: 

Grief Support

Grief is a powerful emotion and a normal response to loss; grief is universally human yet is felt uniquely and personally. We offer individual and / couple / group / family sessions to learn to:

 ·      recognise, understand and work with your grief 

·       respond with resilience

·       develop a personal coping tool kit 

End-of-Life Support

As we gently accompany you, we broach hard conversations and offer to facilitate, empower and advocate for you.

 ·      Helping you talk about dying, facilitating whānau conversations

·       Help you clarify your values and priorities for living

·       Paperwork: The Advanced Care Plan / Powers of Attorney

·       Holding you gently: vigil and supporting visitors

·       Care with costs: cremation, funeral, wake, burial options

·       Legacy and life memories: write, create, record, make and store

Presentations and workshops available: these can be tailored to the needs of the group.

The presentation “Elephant in the Room: Talking about sad stuff” is available to gently broach the oft-taboo subject of talking about death and dying

Death Café:

I host of Death Café, North Canterbury, we meet monthly at three different libraries in North Canterbury (Amberley, Kaiapoi and Rangiora): see website for dates.

Our experiences are always unique, and support is available whatever the season

Ngā mihi mahana, With warmth, Liz

Instagram:  the_fifth_season_canterbury