Grief & Loss Counseling Techniques

The loss of a loved one is devastating for anyone, but some may find that the grief will not go away or that they need some help to heal and move on. Grief and loss counseling can help people deal with these feelings and find peace. There are many different techniques of grief counseling and not every technique is appropriate for everyone. Some popular grief counseling techniques include writing therapy, art therapy, music therapy and an imagined conversation with the deceased person.

Writing Therapy

• Many grief counselors recommend the bereaved engage in writing exercises in order to deal with feelings of guilt, sadness or anger. These exercises may involve writing a letter to the deceased in order to say goodbye or to resolve any issues, which may be complicating the grief process. Creative writing and keeping a journal are also common grief and loss counseling techniques.

Art and Music Therapy

• Artistic expression can be very helpful for those who find it difficult to express their grief in other ways. A grief counselor may suggest that the bereaved create a scrapbook filled with memories of the lost loved one or a painting, drawing or sculpture that represents or celebrates the person's life. Poetry and music can be very healing, as well. A counselor may ask the grieving person to read poetry or listen to music. If the person is so inclined, he or she may be encouraged to create his or her own poetry or music to deal with the loss.

Conversations with the Deceased

• One very emotional technique that grief and loss counselors use involves a "conversation" between the grieving person and the deceased. In this technique, the counselor will place an empty chair in the room and the grieving person is instructed to imagine that the deceased person is actually sitting there. This gives the person a chance to say anything which may have gone unsaid when the person was alive. This can be quite difficult for many people and often proves to be a very emotional and cathartic experience.