Grieving, a normal, healthy reaction to a loss, often feels overwhelming. Grief and loss, an inevitable part of everyone's lives, follows not only deaths but also many other types of losses, such as separation and divorce. To support yourself, you may consider speaking to a grief counselor during a time of loss.
Function
A grief counselor has extensive knowledge of the grieving process, according to the American Academy of Grief Counseling. The counselor assesses the grief reaction following a loss and provides the client with education, coaching, emotional support, a listening ear and advocacy.
Types
According to the American Academy of Grief Counseling, various health professionals can obtain certification to provide grief counseling, including nurses, social workers, funeral directors, ministers and physicians. Grief counselors work in a variety of settings, including private practices, hospices, funeral homes, social service agencies, acute-care and long-term-care facilities, and churches.
Benefits
Grief counseling can provide the necessary support to move you forward and through the grieving process. John James and Russell Friedman, authors of "The Grief Recovery Handbook," worked with grievers for more than 20 years and provided consultation to thousands of grief professionals. According to Russell and Friedman, the normal response of seeking comfort from those close to you may hurt more than help. The responses, often innocently inappropriate, usually do not validate the grieving experience. James and Friedman cite the importance of feeling "heard," a main role in grief counseling. Effectively resolving grief hinges, in part, on feeling validated, supported and listened to.
Considerations
Grief counselors do not provide therapy, according to the American Academy of Grief Counseling. Their qualifications allow them to screen for a more complicated emotional reaction. In situations of complicated grief, a referral to a licensed mental health therapist becomes warranted.
Because of the emotionally and physically taxing nature of grieving, remember to support yourself in a variety of ways during the process. In addition to grief counseling, suggestions for coping with grief from the Elizabeth Kubler-Ross Foundation include: going to a support group, eating well, exercising, resting, learning about the grieving process, allowing yourself to experience your emotions and journaling.
Misconceptions
Grief counseling may seem appropriate only during death or divorce. But James and Friedman point out a number of common life experiences that elicit the grief response and often go unrecognized as losses. A few experiences mentioned are: major health changes, retirement, holidays, legal problems, empty nest, death of a pet, graduation, moving and starting school.
References
- http://www.aihcp.org/index.htm
- http://www.aihcp.org/index.htm
- http://www.ekrfoundation.org/
- "The Grief Recovery Handbook"; John W. James and Russell Friedman; 1998
