What Is Grief Counseling?
When we lose someone we love, the grieving process is difficult to deal with in order to heal and/or move on. Losing a loved one can mean loss through a death or a breakup in a relationship. When we lose the ability to be with that person that we have bonded with so intensely, we go through grief which is not the easiest thing to go through alone. That is why grief counselors are there to help. Grief counseling is a type of therapy that can guide us through the grieving process that affects us emotionally and physically. Grief that is not dealt with can cause long-term physical or mental harm and can end up changing who we are in an unhealthy way.
What Is Grief Counseling?
Grief Counselors
Grief counseling is also known as bereavement counseling. Professional grief counselors are equipped with the tools to help individuals cope with the loss of someone they loved. Although grief counselors are not able to take away the feeling of an individual’s grief, the tools that grief counselors are equipped with can help with the loss of someone.
A large part of grief counseling is talking with the suffering individual. When talking, the individual can express their emotions, thoughts, and feelings in a manner that they are able to identify ways to ease the process. It also can help reduce the time it takes a person to go through the grieving process. If a person is left feeling sad for too long and refuses to deal with the loss accordingly, it can cause harm to the person’s mental state. In turn, this could even lead to long periods of depression.
Who Experiences Grief?
Part of being human is forming strong connections with friends and family members. At some point or another, everyone will experience the loss of someone they have formed a strong bond with. It is also important to understand that everyone experiences and deals with grief in their own unique way. There is no one way that grieving occurs and not one solution to help cope with it. Therefore, grief counselors are there to help people find the best way to process and deal with the loss that they are experiencing.
There are various stages that have been identified in the grieving process, but it is not a step-by-step guide. Each person may experience the stages of grief in a different sequence.
How to Identify Someone Going Through The Grieving Process
When people go through the grieving process, they can experience changes in their mental and physical health which may be noticeable.
You can identify it if you or an individual is struggling to complete basic daily tasks and they tend to be very inactive. It is also identifiable if the person starts to socially withdraw from others. Changes in the relationship that they have with others are common as well.
People going through the grieving process also tend to experience strong feelings of guilt or depression. You can also visibly see grief take physical shape with the change in a person’s eating habits, and if they have gained or lost a drastic amount of weight.
What To Do if You or Someone You Know Is Battling With Grief?
The first step that anyone should take is to talk to the person about what they are going through. You do not have to feel embarrassed about needing help with something that is affecting your mental health. Asking for help is a stigma that is changing around the world. In fact, the worst thing you could do is to not ask for help.
If you see someone who may be experiencing grief, you can help them by giving them the opportunity and space to talk about their feelings and emotions. However, not everyone is equipped to help people going through grief like grief counselors are. There are many ways to get the help that you or a friend needs. With access to the internet, you can locate professional grief counselors near you. If you are unable to schedule an in-person appointment with a local counselor, there is also the option of phone calls or Zoom to connect with them.
Helpful Information: Grief: Coping with the loss of your loved one
Blue Sky Counseling Omaha – Mental Health Counseling
I, Carly Spring, M.S., LIMHP, LADC, CPC, offer my specialized expertise to assist in the healing process to anyone who may be experiencing and suffering from a vast spectrum of mental health issues. Such mental health issues include behavioral problems, anxiety, depression, grief, loss, trauma, addiction issues, and life transitions. I believe strongly in applying a holistic perspective addressing your whole person not just the bits and pieces of you. Contact us with any questions or to discuss gambling addiction services in Omaha today.
