Grief is natural but sometimes it can go wrong during the adaptation process. Individuals can fall into grief complications. Prolonged Grief is one type. Usually complications to loss are due to a variety of reasons regarding the nature of the loss, a persons own coping abilities and support. Prolonged Grief can turn into Depression if not careful. When complications in the grieving process manifest beyond normal grieving, it is important for individuals to find help from a licensed counselor who is certified or well versed in grief counseling.
The article, “What Is Complicated Grief?” by Markham Heid takes a closer look at the nature of Complicated Grief, its symptoms and how to deal with it. He states,
“Complicated grief is now called ‘prolonged grief disorder,’” says M. Katherine Shear, MD, the author of the study in The New England Journal of Medicine and the Marion E. Kenworthy professor of psychiatry at Columbia University in New York, who studies grief and bereavement. “The difference between normal or healthy grief and prolonged grief is related to whether certain defensive responses that are a normal part of early grief become persistent and overly influential in mental functioning.”
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Please also review AIHCP’s Grief Counseling Certification and see if it meets your academic and professional goals. The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification as a Grief Counselor.