Grief Counseling Blog

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Grief and Bereavement Counseling Program: Depression or Just Grief?

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Grief Counseling Helps Diagnose Between True and Untrue Depression

As the bereavement process is better understood, many misdiagnosed cases of depression have been identified.  Clinical counselors are beginning to understand the nature of grief more and more as grief counseling becomes a more prominent field.

Paula Span writes about this in the New York Times in her article, “Grief Over New Depression Diagnosis”
To read the entire article, please click here

To review the grief and bereavement counseling program, please click here

AIHCP

Grieving During the Civil War

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

The Grief of the Civil War

The Civil War was the bloodiest conflict in American History.  The death and suffering that followed in its footprints left numerous families grief stricken.  The article below discusses the cultural and social issues and how families handled the grief of the Civil War.

The article, “Examination: Death and Dying During the Civil War: Drew Faust At The Countway Library of Medicine”, by Lisa Haushofer states

“Some of us would claim not to be frightened of death, but would admit to concern about the end of life. This anxiety, Drew Faust explains in front of a packed Carl Walter Amphitheater on December 13, 2012, is hardly a new one. The notion of how to manage death with dignity – how to die a good death – may have undergone professionalization in the last few decades, with journals, associations and training programs for palliative care.”

To read the entire article, please click here

If you are interested in grief counseling courses, please review the program and click here
If you want to learn how to become certified in grief counseling training, then please review.

AIHCP

Grieving a Loss of a Friend from a Jewish Perspective and Become a Certified Grief Counselor

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Grief Counseling from a Jewish Perspective and Become a Certified Grief Counselor

Rabbi Greyber takes a different look at grief counseling in regards to the loss of friends within the Jewish religion.  The article, “Rabbi explores grief in new memoir, ‘Faith Unravels’” by Rabbi Greyber states

“With “Faith Unravels: A Rabbi’s Struggle With Grief and God,” Rabbi Daniel Greyber, former executive director of Camp Ramah in California, has written a memoir that explores the unique grieving process of a clergyman”

To read the entire article, please click here

If you are interested in learning more about grief and grief counseling, please click here
If you would like to also become a certified grief counselor, then please review as well.
AIHCP

Grief Counseling Programs: When Does Grief Become Pathological?

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Grief Counseling Programs: Grief a Disorder?

The past discussions of grief as a disorder or a pathology have died with many of Freud’s ideas on grief.  Grief counselors, especially certified grief counselors,  deal with basic human grief as a natural reaction to loss.  However, in some cases, grief can become complicated.  In these cases, grief can become classified as a disorder when accommodation and adaptation never comes after grief.

Kevin Hartnett of the Boston Globe writes about this in his article, “Is Grief Really a Disorder”.
To read the article, click here

To learn more about grief and grief counseling programs, please click here
Grief counseling programs can help prepare you for grief counseling and help certify you.
AIHCP

Post Holiday Depression and Grief Counseling

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Grief and Depression After the Holidays

With all the excitement and mystery of Christmas on its way out, many are left with cold weather, wrapping paper, smashed boxes and a withering tree at the end of the driveway.  Grief Counselors may find themselves counseling many people towards ways to rediscover balance and a normal routine again after the Holidays.  Part of the blame is society.  While society turns Christmas and the holidays into a capitalistic endeavor that begins after Thanksgiving dinner and ends the day after Christmas, people are left with an emptiness.  Spirituality and a true understanding of the holidays extend the values well into January with the feast of the Epiphany.  Yet, the mainstream materialistic dominance in society dictates policy for the most part and people are left with little if anything to look forward to after New Years.  Some people are more resilient and some people may even welcome a return to the normal life, but for some it is a hard transition.

Rheyanne Weaver from empowerher.com writes about post holiday depression in her article, “Post Holiday Depression: Why Are You Feeling So Low After the Best Time of the Year?”

“Though some people dread having to see their family around the winter holidays and don’t enjoy Christmas shopping and the colder weather, others feel more depressed after the holidays are over, since they have to go back to the same routine, among other haunting realities.”

To read the entire article, please click here

If you are interested in learning more about grief counseling, please click here

AIHCP

Grief Counseling: What is Next for Newtown?

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Overcoming the Grief in Newtown

As Newtown continues to live the nightmare from last Friday, many are asking what is next for these poor victims of such a horrible crime.  Many are preparing a critical step in grief support which is commeration.  Through funerals, memorials, outreach from the country and important recognition from the president, the community will be able to grieve and express their feelings.  While this is far from the end of this nightmare and many tears are yet to fall, this is the beginning of a long journey of grief.

Wayne Drash from CNN, writes about the grieving process in Newtown and how people are trying to understand and commerate the deaths of so many innocent children and people in his article, “Candles and Tears: Portrait of a Grieving Town”

Please click here to read the article.

If you would like to learn more about the grief cycle, please review our site and click here and most importantly remember the people of Newtown in your prayers.
If you would like to learn how to become a certified grief counselor, then please review the program

AIHCP

Become a Certified Grief Counselor: Reality of Evil and Severe Trauma: Newtown Shootings

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Grief Counseling:  The Rise of Evil and Severe Trauma

As modern and Western society continues to degrade into depths of barbarianism not seen since the Dark Ages, modern man finds himself, especially in the West, more shocked at atrocity.  Death imprints and emotional numbing to atrocity were once in the West only made from a distance via media, rarely  affectionate personally.  The necessity of Grief Counseling for more traumatic cases of grief in the last ten years suggests a change in trend.  The West is now becoming accustomed to the grief the rest of the world has known for so long.  Random shootings at malls, or most recent at Newtown has left an indelible mark on America, its people and now its children
The surviving members of the Newtown shootings, and especially the children, now share what children in Africa or the Middle East live as a daily reality.  The shock is no doubt greater because “is this not America?”  Are we not supposedly safe and preserved from such things?  But with the decline of America in every aspect except maybe military might, the domestic front has declined morally, intellectually and socially becoming susceptible to barbaric outbreaks of immense evil.  The fruits of this are now bearing their ugly faces and the new America will not be one of the past.  This unfortunate reality is only our own fault.  As we push God and morality out of the public sphere and replace it with the cult of humanism, broken families will continue to multiply, creating more broken people.
Grief Counselors will be called upon more and more in the future to assist victims.  As these cases increase, there will be an increase of traumatic grief giving way to PTSS and the need for caring and qualified professionals.  It is unfortunate, but a true reality.

Traumatic Grief

Traumatic grief is an intense grief caused by something so horrible and sudden it completely breaks the human heart.  It is most intense when caused by the hands of men without logic or reason.  The case in Newtown is the latest poster for this alarming new trend in America.  Traumatic grief can lead to a variety of future psychological maladies if not treated properly, including severe depression and PTSS.
Everyone will not encounter complications of their traumatic grief.  Only fifteen percent of the population is unable to cope and recover to a form of adaptation, but in all reality, does anyone really ever completely heal from such incidents as Newtown?  The reality is, the pain, the cross, and the tears never completely go away—and rightfully so—because there was a loss; Such a great loss that it would be an injustice to ever forget, or never to shed tears again.  If there were no tears, no natural reaction to such a tragic loss, then the loss never had any value.

Sojourner In Grief

In this way, grief counselors must teach victims of traumatic grief to embrace their pain, their tears and their cross.  It is completely natural and normal to grieve for a very long time.  One cannot even comprehend the depths of anguish one may feel due to the loss of a child.  It is something parents dare not even contemplate much less have to experience.  This is why in the first few weeks at Newtown, a myriad of emotions  will explode in the hearts of these parents.  And with initial response, grief counselors, friends or loved will have to “just be there”.  No words will ease their pain.  Simply by being there with a hug, or even through silent sojourning is the most one can do.
If the parents do wish to talk, it is important to listen.  They need to vent their feelings, whichever direction they may go.  If they express hate for the shooter, allow it.  If they sob and cry without limit, cry with them or hold them if they indicate that need.  This fluctuation will continue and should not be halted until they are ready.
The worst thing that could possible manifest is guilt.  This would be the only time, I would recommend intervention.  Very possibly, a parent may be feeling survivor guilt or even basic guilt in perhaps an argument or punishment the days before with their child.  Do not let parents “beat” themselves up over this.  Reassure them that they loved their child and their child loved them.
Also, keep in mind, these parents may also be mourning over “unopened” Christmas presents.  The parents should be allowed them to keep these gifts as they see fit.  If they wish them to remain by the tree or if they wish to store them in an attic, allow this.  In time, if complicated grieving does not manifest, adaptation will occur and these gifts will be dealt with in a healthy fashion.  Usually via commeration or a ritual.

I do not mean for this to become a mechanical guide of reactions.  It is far from it.  Every grief response is diverse but there are general human reactions that most people share.  One way to really understand the emotions of these poor parents is to put yourself in their shoes.  In this way, the only answer is love.  You would not want to be diagnosed, or told pithy sayings.  The reality is that this is not good.  This is painful.  This is evil.  There is no happy ending in this world.  Good can come from this through the mystery of God—but this is not a time to speak of these things–maybe in a few years.
Whenever crisis occurs, acute and immediate pastoral care does not involve pithy sayings, theological discussions on the problem of evil, the goodness of God and the evil of Satan, but it involves love, understanding and witnessing to the person’s grief.  Assessments are made internally upon any suicidal indications, but overall, the pastoral care and presence is one of a passive sponge, that only soaks everything in, until squeezed by the person.
While I am sure there are many religious traditions that have examples of paradigms of coping in such situations, as a Christian, I can only turn to one.  The pain of Mary seeing her own son, Jesus, executed.  Some may find solace knowing our heavenly friends have also suffered and suffer with us today.  Other may not, but to me, if this evil were to ever strike, this would at least give some solace in the waterfall of tears and emotional devastation that would afflict myself as a parent.
While this blog is not intended for the grieving themselves, but for professionals to help, I hope if any grieving parent reads this, they find solace and some peace in their agony.  We will never trivialize your grief, nor deny it, but suffer with you as one community and one nation.
For those wishing to learn more about grief certification, please review our site.  For those seeking emotional help, know you are not alone and that pastoral ministers, counseling professionals and many people care and will be glad to lend you an ear.
If you would like to become a certified grief counselor, then please review the program as well.

Mark Moran, MA

The Wrong and Right Words During Grief

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Helping the Grieving Person

A grieving person needs emotional support.  The wrong words can be detrimental and counter productive to the person.  Below is a story about what to say and not say.

Gloria Horsley of the Huffington Post  lists many things to say and not say to a grieving person in her article, “What to Say (and Not to Say) to a Grieving Person”

“I was scheduled to be a guest on an early morning radio broadcast from Bakersfield, California. I am a family therapist, bereaved parent and president of Open To Hope, the world’s largest internet site with a mission of helping people find hope after loss.”

To read the entire article, please click here

If you are interested in learning more about helping grieving people, please click here 
A Grief counseling certification can help qualified professionals help others.  Please review our program.

AIHCP

Should Doctors Have A Grasp of Grief Counseling For Patients?

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Grief Counseling Is Important For Doctors In Their Care of Their Patients

Should your doctor also be educated in grief counseling. If you would to become a certified bereavement and grief counselor, then please review the program
Should your doctor also be educated in grief counseling. If you would to become a certified bereavement and grief counselor, then please review the program

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Doctors need to understand the entire treatment of their patients.  It is not just a physical treatments but also mental and emotional.  When grief and loss occurs, many physical problems can occur for a patient.  If a doctor understands grief and grief counseling, he can also better understand his patient and help the person throughout his life.

Medical Express writes about the importance of doctors learning more about grief support in the article, “AAP Provides Grief Counseling Guidance For Peditricians”.

“Esther Wender, M.D., and colleagues from the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Committee on Psychosocial Aspects of Child and Family Health, present guidelines to help pediatricians provide support to the parents and any siblings still in his or her practice after the death of a child.”

Read more here

If you are interested in grief counseling courses, please review the program and click here
To become a certified bereavement and grief counselor, you need to take the required courses.  If qualified, you can become certified in grief counseling

AIHCP

Courses in Grief Counseling Training: American Academy of Grief Counseling

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

AAGC Site Recognized by Masters in Counseling

We are pleased to learn that “Masters in Counseling” has selected the American Academy of Grief Counseling website to be listed among its 100 top recommended counseling resources site. We are grateful to receive this acknowledgement.  The Masters in Counseling site is a well organized resource for “everything” counseling. We highly encourage our members and our visitors to make use of the site.
Access Masters in Counseling site: click here
If you would like to learn more about grief counseling and bereavement then please review our courses in grief counseling training.