How to Do Grief Counseling

Supporting a person who is experiencing grief related to the loss of a loved one can be a daunting task. It can be difficult to know what to say, how to respond or how to help the bereaved. There are specific tasks that grief counselors use to facilitate the grief process and bring about resolution.

Instructions

• 1

  Recognize the reality of the loss. Among survivors there can be a sense of denial. Counseling helps the bereaved in facilitating conversation about the circumstances surrounding the death. Encouraging people to talk about the details such as how it occurred, how the person heard of the death and what happened at the funeral can assist in developing full awareness of the impact the loss has had on that person.

• 2

  Help the person deal with emotional expressions of grief. People who lose a loved one may have some difficulties in dealing with uncomfortable feelings that accompany the grief process. Labeling feelings and encouraging full expression of feelings in counseling will help the person resolve the conflict of losing someone dear to her. These feelings may include those of anger, guilt, anxiety and overwhelming sadness.

• 3

  Assist the person in readjusting life after the loss of a loved one. Helping the bereaved individual solve problems and make decisions without the loved one can aid in the healing process. Discouraging huge life changing decisions is imperative to prevent other losses, such as selling a house or moving to another state. Adjustments and change should be made slowly with care. Counseling can help a person develop the new roles that may be necessary to function in life after loss.

• 4

  Encourage closure with goodbye rituals and engagement in life after the loss. This can be done in the form of a remembrance ceremony, writing a letter to the loved one or developing a scrapbook dedicated to the experience of the loss. Identify grief as a process that takes time, and encourage tasks to help facilitate the process. Encourage ways to fulfill the void of the loss person, while also recognizing that the lost relationship cannot be replaced. Acknowledge the significance of anniversaries, and maintain contact with the bereaved person at this time.

• 5

  Normalize the experience. Some individuals may feel like they are going crazy or will never be able to regain a sense of normal life following their loss. Explain that grief is an experience that all human beings suffer in response to loss. Offer hope for the future through the process of healing.

• 6

  Provide ongoing support through continued counseling or referral to support agencies or groups for at least one year following the loss. Encourage involvement in spiritual activities if appropriate.