Grief Counseling can help individuals face grief. While most grieve within normal parameters without complications in grief, many still need help to better learn how to incorporate their grief into life. Grief Counselors can play roles in helping individuals place grief within one’s life narrative and respond to the emotions that erupt in grief. They can also help individuals respond better to issues that may arise cognitively to poor and unhelpful coping methods. Please also review AIHCP’s Grief Counseling Certification
It is important to note that Grief Counseling itself is not regulated by the state and hence anyone can become certified. AIHCP only certifies qualified individuals into grief counseling that have some medical, social, or behavioral background. Whether through a professional licensure or degree, AIHCP screens all potential grief counselors. However, it is important to note, that Grief Counselors that are certified may not be licensed counselors or social workers. With this in mind, if not licensed, grief counselors can only help individuals with basic loss and grief absent of pathology or depression. It is best that a non licensed grief counselor work under or with appropriate professionals or organizations.
The article, “Grief Counseling: How It Works, Benefits And More” by Lauren Silva takes a closer look at Grief Counseling and its very nature. She states,
“Grief is a normal response to loss, and the feeling can arise due to the death of a loved one, the end of a relationship, losing your home and a whole host of other life events. Everyone grieves differently. For some, grief impacts the ability to function in daily life, while others can continue on with less interruption. Wherever you might be in your grieving process, support can be found through counseling, which can help you work through grief and heal in a healthier way. Learn more below about the different types of grief, what grief counseling entails and how you might benefit from trying it.”
To read the entire article, please click here
Some individuals will greatly benefit from grief counseling. Individuals with more complications within the grieving process, or additional issues may find it helpful, while also others with less family and social support to help them. Grief Counseling can better help individuals better process the grief and learn to live with the loss in a more healthy fashion. No grief counselor can ever replace the loss, or make the grief go away, but a grief counselor can help one better learn to live with loss and find value in life after that loss.
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 in the healthcare, ministry, counseling, pastoral care, and funeral professions who are interested in a four year certification in Grief Counseling.