John Bowlby was a revolutionary pioneer in the study of grief.  His observations and experiments on infant dependency and bonds with the parent were important studies for his Attachment Theory.  In essence, the greater the attachment and stronger the bond, the greater the loss and readjustment.

In particular, his four step process of the grief process was important in understanding loss.  Shock, yearning, despair and disorganization and finally re-organization and recovery were the four primary steps that he observed individuals progress through during a loss.

In the article, “What is Attachment Theory? Bowlby’s 4 Stages Explained” by Courtney Akerman, MA, Bowlby’s four step process is looked at in greater detail.  The article states,

“The psychological theory of attachment was first described by John Bowlby, a psychoanalyst who researched the effects of separation between infants and their parents (Fraley, 2010).  Bowlby hypothesized that the extreme behaviors infants engage in to avoid separation from a parent or when reconnecting with a physically separated parent—like crying, screaming, and clinging—were evolutionary mechanisms”

To review the entire article, please click here

In understanding grief, it is important that grief counselors are very familiar with Bowlby’s work and how attachment plays a key role in the loss process.  Please also review AIHCP’s Grief Counseling Certification and see if it matches your academic and professional goals.  The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification in Grief Counseling

Grief is a very misunderstood subject.  Many who attempt to help, in reality, do more damage with misused words or good intended phrases.  Grief is different for different people, and although there are universal standards within the human species, it still remains unique to each person.

Misconceptions of grief hence need to be replaced with good sound grief theory.  Individuals need to be more educated in how grief works since everyone experiences grief and noone is immune to it.  In the end, the reality of grief captures everyone and once felt misconceptions are quickly dispersed

The article, “6 Common Misconceptions About Grief” by Elaine Roth explores common misconceptions and corrects them.  She states,

“When I thought of grief before, I thought of a person crying at the funeral. I thought of a person wearing black for a few weeks. I thought grief could be summarized as big sadness. But that’s wrong. Grief isn’t just big sadness. It’s sadness and anger and anxiety and heartache and longing and nostalgia and hope all wrapped into one word. It’s often all of that at once.”

To read the entire article, please click here

Please also review AIHCP’s Grief Counseling Certification and see if it matches your academic and professional goals.  The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification in Grief Counseling.

Any type of change in life requires adjustment.  The loss of a previous style of life can cause grief.  While it is important to reframe new experiences and change as part of life and a new beginning it can sometimes be difficult.  This is often the case when children go to college, or when individuals complete college and enter into the professional world.  There is a true loss of a past way of life which may take time to adjust to and in some cases can cause depression

The article, “Post-College Depression: Why You Feel Lonely” by Emily Delzel looks at the transition from college to career life.  She states,

“The sadness, loneliness, and anxiety that Baker felt after her college graduation are uncomfortable but not uncommon, says Libby O’Brien, PhD, a licensed professional counselor and American Counseling Association expert.”

To read the entire article, please click here

Any life change can alter one’s perspective on life.  When transitions occur, one can feel lonely and old friendships may become distant.  These types of losses can minimized but they still bear a weight on someone.

Please also review AIHCP’s Grief Counseling Certification Program and see if it matches your academic and professional goals.  The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification in Grief Counseling.

Different cultures have different experiences with loss and grief.  African Americans and other racial minorities also face a variety of social grief especially within the last few years in regards to the value of Black Life.  It is important to understand that one treatment of grief does not fit every person and culture and race play a big role how individuals grieve and the losses they potentially face.

The article, “How People of Color Experience Grief Differently” from Birmingham Times looks at the fears and losses for the black community.  The article states,

“For many people of color, the fear, exhaustion and constant grief that all come from regularly dealing with various forms of discrimination are compounded when additional trauma piles on.”

To read the entire article, please click here

People of color fear losses that other populations may not fear due to economic situations, police interaction and violence.  These losses lead to a life that is very guarded.  To understand the individual, it is hence important to understand what the race faces everyday

Please also review AIHCP’s Grief Counseling Certification and see if it matches your academic and professional goals.  The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification in Grief Counseling.

It is easy to displace emotion.  When it is more convenient, or less impactful, one may become angry with someone who is not the cause of the irritation.  When grieving, it is sometimes also easier to take it out on the person presenting the bad news.  Like all defense mechanisms, they can happen at the unconscious level.

It is important to understand emotion and grieving and when helping others, to expect a displacement of emotion.  It is important to be understanding and ready to forgive when one acts emotionally during grief.

The article, “Understanding Displacement While Grieving” from Eleanor Haley and “Whats Your Grief” takes a closer look at displacement and how to deal with it as the griever and the one supporting the griever.  The article states,

“Sometimes the displacement is obvious – you know exactly when and why it is happening. Other times you just find yourself being more irritable, annoyed, or angry at the people around you, even when they have done nothing wrong. It can be complicated because often your rational-brain knows that they haven’t done anything, while your emotional-brain can’t help but lash out. ”

To read the entire article, please click here

When dealing with emotions, it can become complicated and it is important as grief counselors to know that people react differently to grief and an array of emotions can flow.  Please also review AIHCP’s Grief Counseling Certification and see if it meets your professional goals.  The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification in Grief Counseling.

Grief is a reaction to any loss.  Sometimes this loss is focused on death but injuries and loss of capabilities or limbs are also a loss that many deal with daily.  Losing a limb is tragic and is a loss that involves a long adaptation period.  Numerous secondary losses stem from the initial trauma and pain.

Phantom pains can haunt one well after the initial accident, as well as emotional distress.  The inability to do walk, or hold things, or do things prior the accident haunt the individual.  Hobbies, activities and other events become cold memories of a life once was.  In addition to this, one’s own self image and self esteem can be affected.  Feeling less than whole and new forms of transportation or clothing may be required.  These changes can cause grief and in some cases depression.

It is difficult to cope with such a loss but not impossible over time.  As the grief of the loss is adjusted, one can begin to find new meaning.  This does not mean, one accepts the loss as a good thing, it just means the person has incorporated this unfortunate incident into one’s life narrative and now is looking to find new ways to exist with a disability.  Not just learning to make life easier through therapy, strengthening and new technology, but also seeing what other opportunities exist.

The article, “Limb Loss and Grief: 5 Coping Strategies for New Amputees” by Richard Console Jr takes a closer look at the grief of limb loss and how some can learn to cope.  He states,

“Why does grief often accompany an amputation? Feelings of grief can arise from any kind of meaningful loss – and the loss of a limb certainly counts. In the case of amputation, the absent body part itself isn’t the only loss you suffer. Amputation also leads to many other kinds of losses.”

To review the entire article, please click here

Please also review AIHCP’s Grief Counseling Certification and see if it matches your academic and professional goals.  The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four certification as a grief counselor.

Basic loss can be dealt with through coping and proceeding through the grieving process.  However, sometimes, grief can become complicated or more intense and require deeper aid and assistance.  Grief therapies can help an individual through loss and depression.  Grief therapies however are conducted under professional licensed counselors or psychologists.  If one is only a certified grief counselor, then they cannot delve into deeper grief pathologies, however, many licensed counselors and psychologists are also certified in grief counseling and may proceed with deeper treatments for deeper pathologies.

Grief however in itself is not a pathology and these other treatments can help those dealing with basic loss if necessary.  Some treatments in themselves involve cognitive responses to grief with reframing the loss or reinterpreting and others deal with deeper treatments in reviewing the loss and emotion.  Therapists are able to guide someone through trauma or greater loss.  Other therapies also include play therapy and art therapy for children.

The article, “Understanding Therapy for Grief and How It Can Help” from Healthline looks deeper at different grief therapies.

“It can be difficult to quantify or predict the outlook for people dealing with grief, especially since each person manages it in their own way. It’s also challenging to predict if any one treatment may work the best. Grief does not follow one particular path. Healing is unique to each individual, and the outlook for people dealing with grief looks different for each person. A therapist can play a key role in supporting the healing process by facilitating counseling sessions based on your situation.”

To read the entire article, please click here

Again, certain therapies can only be conducted by different levels of training.  Grief Counselors can usually deal with basic grief, but as grief becomes pathological or more deep therapy is needed, then higher trained professional are needed to help one through the loss.  Identifying complicated grief is key.

Please also review The American Academy of Grief Counseling and its Grief Counseling Certification and see if it it matches your academic and professional goals.  The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four certification as a grief counselor.

Collective grief in history can bring inspiration later in the forms of music and art.  The symbolism  found within the art and music can bring forth masterpieces that define human culture.  In ways, art can immortalize grief, freezing it in time for future generations to understand.

The article, “The art of processing our collective grief” by Oscar Holland looks at art and a museum in New York that looks how grief is being immortalized.  He states,

“Whether portraying others’ grief or revealing their own, artists are often able tap into something universal. One need not be Christian to feel Mary’s anguish in Renaissance depictions of Christ’s crucifixion; one need not have lived through the Spanish Civil War to feel the harrowing abyss at the heart of Picasso’s “Guernica” (pictured above). The torment of Edvard Munch’s “The Scream” is clear to all.”

To read the entire article, please click here

On a smaller scale, others can utilize art to express their grief.  Artwork, writing, and music are excellent ways for the right side of the brain to process grief through symbol and expression.  It can also help one understand deeper the grief they are experiencing and allow an outlet to express it.

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 in Grief Counseling.

Work is a necessity in life.  However, it can cause unneeded stress.  Work environments that are unhealthy physically and mentally can cause stress in many employees.  Dangerous and high risk jobs, or jobs with unforgiving deadlines, or even jobs that are repetitiously boring leaving the employee with little input can all cause stress.  Furthermore, some careers or jobs can also cause what is known as work depression.  Work depression differs than work stress in that the reaction within the body and mind is a more constant state and does not release after the stressor is absent.

The article, “Work Depression: How to Take Care of Your Mental Health on the Job” from Healthline takes a closer look at work depression and its causes and how to better deal with it.  The article states,

“If you feel depressed when working, you’re not alone. Sadness, anxiety, loss of motivation, difficulty concentrating, unexplained bouts of crying, and boredom are just a small sampling of the things you may be feeling if you’re experiencing depressive symptoms at work.  Depression impacts over 17 million American adults each year.”

To read the entire article, please click here

Please also review AIHCP’s Grief Counseling Certification and see if it matches your academic and professional goals.  The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four certification as a Grief Counselor.