I do not believe an 8 year old can truly process what is going on with her father. Age appropiate language is needed. She needs to know her father is not healthy at this time.
I certainly hope the counselor can offer you help, some guidelines to help her adjust and come to terms with her present reality.
Adults have great difficulty in processing and understanding this very selfish disease.
I do not think weekly family dinners is the answer, seems it would be giving the child false hope, and sweeping the real issues under the rug.