Grief is an altering experience. It can transform us. While it can hurt us short term, it also helps us grow through life. Grief may live scars but it also makes us stronger.
Grief over time can strengthen us. Please also review our Grief Counseling Training Program
The article, “Finding Empowerment Through Grief” by Carol Lawrence states,
“Grief is one of the most universal experiences that we can go through as human beings. Regardless of how each of us learns to cope with the loss of a loved one, one thing is certain – the way we reflect on loss can teach us valuable lessons that we carry with us for the rest of our lives.”
One of the most sad realities in this country is the treatment of veterans. Veterans do not receive the top quality care they need. Many lapse into mental disorders and become victims to substance abuse. Better care is a must for them.
Good article on the need to care for veterans. Please also review our Substance Abuse Practitioner Program
The article, “Substance abuse among veterans increasing as mental health issues go untreated, study finds” by Frank Miles illustrates this growing problem. The article states,
More U.S. military veterans are struggling with substance abuse and half of returning service members who need mental health treatment don’t seek out care, according to newly released data.
Children suffer from separation. Whether by death or divorce, the reality of dealing with a separation from normal life is real for children. Children need to be counseled and guided through this difficult times of separation and adjustment.
Good article on helping children overcome separation and divorce. Please also review our Child and Adolescent Grief Counseling Program
The article, “Helping children to cope with separation and grief” by Sheila Wayman states,
“It’s important for us to think about separation, not as an event in a child’s life but as a process over years, says Nixon. Often preceding the separation, there is a deterioration or breakdown of the parents’ relationship. Then after the separation there is a period of reorganisation, “maybe chaos”, around living arrangements and access to parents.”
One of the greatest burdens is to receive a bad medical diagnosis. Some may be terrifying and involve a chance of death while other cases are terminal pronouncements. These challenges involve first digesting the terrifying diagnosis. This alone is a challenge and can cause time to adjust to the challenge ahead. Whether its a long road to recovery or potential death, one must eventually overcome the initial shock wave of grief and denial and move forward.
It is hard to deal and handle a bad health diagnosis. Please also review our Pastoral Thanatology program
The article, “The Importance of Grief and Acceptance After a Diagnosis” by Jori Hamilton states,
“Many people, after learning any type of serious diagnosis go through different stages of grief. Grief doesn’t just apply to death, it applies to other types of loss as well.”
Please also review our Grief Counseling Program as well as our Pastoral Thanatology program. Both programs can help professionals with the training they need to help others through the process of grief and death.
Ministry presents a multitude of challenges. Pastoral care from caring for the sick, dying, as well as the grieving can strain any minister. The time and energy it also takes to spiritually guide a flock can be demanding.
There are numerous challenges to a minister and pastor. Please also review our Christian Counseling Certification
The article, “10 common pastoral care challenges” by Thom Rainer explores ten common challenges in pastoral care and ministry. He states,
“So, for the most part, the challenges are not the members themselves, but the capacity to meet all the pastoral needs members have. Here are how the pastors expressed ten of their greatest pastoral care challenges.”
Suicide for the longest time was considered only to be a sin of despair. It was a stigma and received more condemnation than care. Today, individuals who attempt suicide are treated more like victims fortunately. Family is also given the care and love they deserve from a pastoral perspective.
Suicide is not always a sin of despair but also sometimes a mental condition. Please review our Christian Counseling Certification
The article, “SUICIDE: MOVING BEYOND CONDEMNATION TO CARE” by Elizabeth Evans states,
“Numerous faith traditions have a history of criticising suicide as a sin – and one that leads to damnation. But some faith leaders are now working not only to offer those facing despair help in addressing the root causes of suicide but to remove the stigma that keeps so many suffering families quiet after the death of a loved one.”
Addiction of anything is hard to overcome. Many times individuals need assistance or substance abuse counselors to help them overcome the addiction. Addiction therapy is another tool that can be used.
Please review our Substance Abuse Practitioner Program
The article, “What Is Addiction Therapy, and Does It Work?” from Rehab Solution states,
“Addiction therapy delves deeply into the roots of addiction. It seeks out its original causes, because addiction is frequently a manifestation of deep-seated mental issues, such as depression or anxiety. Addicts seek relief by “self-medicating” with drugs and/or alcohol.”
For those who accept an afterlife, there is definitely a spirituality with dying. A spirituality that acknowledges there is more than the material and the necessity of preparing oneself for something greater.
There is a deep spirituality with death and how we face it and view our existence. Please also review our Spiritual Counseling Certification and see if it meets your needs
The article, “The spirituality of dying” by Rebecca Abbott also looks at the spirituality and grace of dying in peace. She states,
“According to Hampton, spirituality does not simply refer to religion or faith, but encompasses the “meaning, purpose and connectedness in people’s lives – connectedness with themselves, others, creativity, nature and some sense of something beyond themselves, something bigger.”
The role of an addiction counselor is critical in helping individuals overcome addictive impulses as well as substance abuse. Helping individuals overcome this can be achieved through licensed counselors with degrees in counseling, or also through educated professionals, some licensed, others not, who are certified in substance abuse counseling. Substance Abuse Counseling itself does not require a license, but numerous professionals in the counseling field add such certifications to their background
Some individuals need professional help to defeat addiction. Please also review our Substance Abuse Counseling Training Program
The article, “The Role of the Counselor in Addiction Recovery” from Wake Forest University looks at the role of an Addiction Counselor. The article states,
“Substance abuse counselors provide a necessary support system for individuals recovering from eating disorders, drug and alcohol issues, gambling addictions, and other behavioral issues. By forming a relationship built on trust with their patients, counselors provide the support, resources, and judgement-free guidance that patients can utilize on their road to addiction recovery.”
Crisis in families is a major issue in America. Whether through abuse or drugs, averting crisis levels that require counseling and guidance is the most ideal. How to identify pre crisis situations for children is the key.
Better social venues to deal with abuse and addiction can prevent crisis in families. Please also review our Crisis Intervention Program
The article, “What If We Could Reach Families Before the Crisis? There Would Be Fewer Kids in Foster Care” by Kris Faasse states,
“Many families don’t have extended families, friends or church communities to turn to when there is a crisis. When a crisis hits families without community support systems, their children are at a heightened risk of not getting the care they need and even potentially being removed from their homes.”
