how to become a grief counselor
Are you considering grief counseling or grief therapy, but you don't know what to expect? In this guide to grief counseling and other kinds of professional grief support, we'll provide a brief overview of grief and discuss what grief counseling is and what it entails. We'll also help you figure out if you could benefit from grief therapy and how to choose a grief counselor. Finally, we'll provide some grief and loss counseling resources. Grief is the process of coping with a loss of some kind. Many people think primarily of bereavement or mourning: grieving the death of a loved one. However, you can grieve any kind of loss. This includes the loss of a pet, the loss of a beloved job, a serious illness in you or someone close to you, or the end of a friendship or relationship. People may also feel grief during a time of major life change—moving out of a family home, ending a graduate program, moving to a new city—even if they are excited about the transition. There are lots of ways to conceptualize the grieving process. One of the most common ways, created by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, is the five stages of grief model. This model posits that a grieving person goes through five emotional states throughout the grieving process: #1: Denial—the feeling that the loss can't be real Another common grief model is the "Four Tasks of Mourning" created by William Worden. Per this model, grievers must accomplish four tasks: #1: Accepting that the loss has really happened There are also grief models that attempt to describe grievers. One notable one is the "grief styles" model by Terry L. Martin and Kenneth J. Doka. This posits that there are three styles of grieving: It's very important to note that not everyone grieves in the same way or according to a particular set of "steps" or "tasks" laid out in a given order. People who are grieving who don't feel any grief model describes their experience should not feel that anything is wrong with them. Grieving is an incredibly complicated process emotionally, intellectually, physically, and spiritually. Many experts (and grievers) describe grief as a "roller coaster." You may be disoriented, exhausted, and confused by all of your (sometimes contradictory) reactions to the loss. You may consider pursuing grief and loss counseling to help you address your feelings of loss. While many grievers do not necessarily need professional help, many find it helpful. Grief is a normal part of life and is not a medical or mental health condition per se. However, it is typically a difficult experience, and a professional can offer valuable support and advice. We can all use some support when we are grieving. Grief counseling (also called "grief therapy," "bereavement counseling," and "grief and loss counseling") refers to seeing a professional in a one-on-one or small group setting to help you cope with your grief. The overall purpose of grief counseling is to provide support in a nonjudgmental environment as you move through the mourning process. In this section, we'll discuss what grief counselors can do for you and what typically goes on in a grief counseling session. Note that many people use the terms "grief counseling" and "grief therapy" interchangeably, to refer to any session-based grief support. Others draw a slight distinction and use the term "grief counseling" to refer to session-based grief support offered by people who are not primarily mental health professionals (like pastors or nurses), while using the term "grief therapy" to refer to grief support services offered by mental health professionals like therapists and psychiatrists. Even with this distinction, in most cases, grief counseling and grief therapy will involve many of the same things. In this article, we'll mostly use the terms interchangeably. There are six major things a grief counselor can do for you. It's okay to have setbacks. A counselor can help. So what goes on in a grief counseling session? When you go to a grief counselor, you may not be sure what to expect. In initial sessions, you'll most likely spend most of the time talking about the loss and how you are managing. Eventually, you'll probably start doing "homework" and completing tasks between sessions. Grief counselors often have clients complete exercises in sessions, too. Common grief counseling techniques for both in-session and between-session work include journaling or other writing projects, completing creative projects, reading and discussing relevant books, meditation, yoga, relaxation and mindfulness techniques, and role-playing potentially uncomfortable situations. A grief counselor may also have you fill out grief therapy worksheets. Common grief therapy techniques specifically for bereavement include addressing the deceased person as though they were in the room (the "empty chair technique"), incorporating possessions or photos of the loved one into sessions, reflecting on the relationship with the deceased, and creating rituals to help commemorate the deceased. Grief counseling sessions for children will usually incorporate play therapy and creative activities to help the child express their feelings. If they are a trained mental health professional, your therapist may also introduce techniques from cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT. Grief therapy after a particularly traumatic loss may include EMDR (eye movement desensitization therapy), an evidence-based therapy modality for processing trauma. Get ready to bust out that journal. Not all grievers need grief counseling. However, if you feel you would benefit from grief counseling or grief therapy, whatever your circumstances, you should feel free to pursue it. While grief is a normal reaction to a loss, it can still help to have a trained supporter who is not also dealing with the loss to help guide you and support you through the process. Grief counseling may be especially helpful in the following situations: Grief can get complicated. Once you decide that you would like some additional support in your grieving process, there are a variety of considerations for selecting the grief support that's right for you. We'll review the three main considerations here: convenience, cost, and fit. The next section (grief counseling resources) will offer you some additional resources for finding grief counselors. You may think that you're willing to travel far and wide for the support you need, and when the grief is fresh, this might be true. But as time goes on and your grief becomes less acute, you'll be frustrated if you choose a grief counselor that is very inconvenient for you to meet with. So try to find someone who is reasonably close to you, and who can meet at times that are realistic for your schedule. If you are in a very remote area where in-person meetings are difficult, you may be able to find a counselor who will meet with via video. There are also online grief support groups that you may find helpful. Cost is usually a factor when selecting a grief counselor. If your insurance covers mental health services, it will typically cover grief counseling with an in-network provider. If it doesn't, many providers offer a sliding scale. Maybe you're looking for free grief counseling. Sometimes you can find hospice grief counseling or hospital grief counseling services that offer a certain number of free sessions for patients and/or surviving family members. Grief counseling provided by clergy members is also usually free because it is considered part of their ministerial duties. Additionally, grief support groups are often free, or require only a small per-session cost. There are two main aspects to finding a grief counselor who is a good fit for you. You'll want to consider who is offering the counseling and the format of the counseling. Many types of professionals provide grief counseling, including members of the clergy, trained nurses, social workers, therapists, and psychiatrists. Additionally, trained volunteers sometimes lead grief support groups. You'll want to consider who you will be most comfortable with and who can best meet your needs. Think about the following: With all this in mind, you'll also want to make sure that you have a good rapport with your grief counselor. You may want to speak on the phone before committing to a session to get an idea of whether you'll feel comfortable with this person. A good fit is important. Look how comfortable these two are! There are lots of resources available out there for finding the right grief support for you. We'll go over resources for finding a grief counselor and for finding support groups, as well as a few other miscellaneous grief support resources that might be useful for you. These resources will help you locate and select the right grief counselor or grief therapist to meet your needs. Here are two resources to help you connect with support groups: Finally, here are three other grief resources you may find useful: Dogs are also valuable resources when you are grieving! In this comprehensive guide to grief counseling, we provided a brief overview of grief. It's very normal to want support after grief, and grief and bereavement counseling can provide additional support during a trying time. Grief counseling techniques are designed to help you process your feelings and move forward in your life. While anyone who wants grief counseling could benefit from it, grief counseling may be especially helpful for those who faced a sudden loss, don't have much social support, or who are experiencing complicated or prolonged grief. When you are trying to find a grief counselor, there are three main things to consider: Finally, we presented some resources for finding grief counselors and grief support groups along with some other grief support resources. You can get through it! The stress of grief can impact your health in all kinds of ways. You might start feeling chest pain in your left breast due to anxiety. Stress can also depress your immune system, which can cause a latent shingles infection to come to the surface. If you do have shingles, here are some common shingles treatments you might consider. Self-care is critical when you are going through a hard time. Consider a nourishing coconut oil treatment for your hair to help you relax.What Is Grief?
#2: Anger—rage at the loss
#3: Bargaining—the impulse to try to "trade" away the loss (or the feelings of loss). May involve ruminating over what you could have done differently. With bereavement, often accompanies the feeling that "it should have been me instead"
#4: Depression—feeling hopeless and sad about the loss
#5: Acceptance—accepting that the loss has happened and that life will continue
#2: Working through the pain of the loss
#3: Adjusting to the new environment
#4: Maintaining a connection to the lost person/relationship/etc while moving forward with life
What Is Grief Counseling/Grief Therapy?
What Can a Grief Counselor Do for You?
Grief Counseling Techniques: What to Expect
Do You Need Grief Therapy?
How to Find the Grief Support That's Right for You
Convenience
Cost
Fit
Grief Counseling and Grief Support Resources
Resources for Finding a Grief Counselor or Grief Therapist
Resources for Finding Grief Support Groups
Other Grief Resources
Review: What Is Grief Counseling? How Can It Help You?
What's Next?
About the Author
Ellen has extensive education mentorship experience and is deeply committed to helping students succeed in all areas of life. She received a BA from Harvard in Folklore and Mythology and is currently pursuing graduate studies at Columbia University.
how to become a grief counselor
Source: https://blog.prepscholar.com/grief-counseling-therapy
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