Grief counseling is a type of psychotherapy that helps you deal with the process of angst. Grieving is a normal and natural human response from a significant loss or devastating change in life, followed by a deep period of sorrow, adjustment and coping. Administered by psychologists, social workers or other mental health care professionals, grief counselors aim to address your loss in a healthy way. In addition, community groups and churches, among others, offer grief counseling sessions in the form of support groups.
Defined
Grief can take shape in many forms and bring upon an individual a whole host of different feelings. The role of the grief counselor is to aid you in uncovering and dealing with the emotions felt. According to the American Institute of Health Care Professionals, a grief counselor assists the grieving person through education, listening, supporting, coaching and advocating throughout the grief process.
Significance
When it comes to the feelings and emotions experienced by those who are grieving, there are no rights and wrongs. Some of the more typical grief feelings include anxiety, anger, guilt, isolation and sadness. Yet, many people who seek out grief counseling do so because they are experiencing sleep problems, changes in appetite and even vivid dreams.
Under certain circumstances, the grieving process is more complicated when the loss of the loved one is a child or a victim of homicide. In these cases, the grief process takes on a different role than the normal grief process and presents a more complicated process.
Stages of Grief
Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, who authored "On Death and Dying," coined the concept of the five stages of grief from her studies of providing psychological counseling to dying individuals. The five stages listed included denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance, according to the National Library of Medicine.
Grief counselors and/or mental health professionals have since paved the way of thinking to help you realize that people go through different stages of grief at different times, and these stages can come in any order.
Misconceptions
Complicated grief differs from normal grief and is a type of grief that differs from the more typical feelings of bereavement. Counselors will suggest grief therapy if you are experiencing complicated grief, because while normal feelings associated with grief tend to subside, the emotions experienced during complicated grief linger on.
Warning
Care is necessary in any situation where the individual seems isolated or is experiencing rage since these can be warnings for self-harm or harm to others. In addition, people who are suffering through complicated grief may have a heightened risk of suicidal ideation. If you or a loved one are experiencing suicidal thoughts or considering harming others, seek help by calling 911.
