Grief care and support is a key element in mental health. It is not a pathological treatment but a humane way to be there for another person. This is why it is lay and pastoral in nature within church, chaplaincy, hospice, funeral, and other pastoral settings. Many professionals help individuals deal with basic human loss and how to come to terms with it. AIHCP certifies many individuals to help others in this adjustment to loss and how to understand the nature of grief and loss itself.
There is a large difference between grief support and clinical grief counseling. Please also review AIHCP’s Grief Counseling Program
AIHCP’s certifications also aid others who are clinical professionals who wish to obtain a Grief Counseling Certification. However, licensed and clinical professionals are innately able to offer more than basic lay and pastoral grief counseling but can offer clinical counseling for grief that goes off the rails. When grief becomes pro-longer, complicated or depression exists, clinical and licensed counselors are needed to help and aid. Those who obtain certification in grief counseling but are only lay in nature cannot offer clinical assistance in grief itself.
It is important to understand these key differences between lay and pastoral grief counseling via grief support and licensed and clinical grief counseling itself. This is one of the most numerous questions individuals ask when becoming grief certified. They do not understand the differences between grief support and clinical grief counseling and what a certification in grief counseling permits them to perform. Again the answer is simple, ones certification enhances understanding in the grieving process but the level at which one helps others is determined not by the certification but the professional status of the individual seeking certification
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 a world where everything is labeled as “counseling” in the generic sense, things can become confusing for those seeking deeper mental care instead of everyday advice. This can lead to legal ramifications where individuals unknowingly are claiming to be counselors and can infer penalties from the state. Hence grief support as opposed to grief therapy are two very different things. Anyone can perform grief support. Ministers, chaplains, certified professionals, as well as teachers, funeral directors, nurses, hospice care givers, and others who deal with grieving populations. This type of grief support deals with the basics of loss and the emotions that entail with it. However, grief therapy is a deeper type of counseling. Licensed counselors are able to help others with complicated or pathological grief and loss. Licensed counselors, social workers, certain psychiatric nurses, psychologists and psychiatrists are able to counsel and treat individuals with grief pathologies. Hence grief support and grief therapy are two very different things
Grief support deals with basic human loss and how to cope and adjust to that loss in a healthy way.
AIHCP certifies individuals in grief support and does not offer licensure. Licensure to perform grief therapy varies from state to state but usually requires a undergraduate in psychology or counseling and then passing state guidelines and exams. Individuals with a license who attain a certification from AIHCP obviously can perform grief support and grief therapy but only those with an existing licensure.
The article, “What’s the Difference Between Grief Support and Grief Therapy?” by Mark Shelvock takes a closer look at the differences between grief support and grief therapy. In regards to grief support, he states,
“Grief support is fostered in any environment where people can talk about their loss or grieving experiences with others. This may come from a family member, friend, partner, neighbour, colleague, teacher, health care provider, or a not-for-profit community worker. Typically, grief support focuses on providing a supportive environment where a grieving person can engage with a specific loss they are grappling with in present-day life.”
“What’s the Difference Between Grief Support and Grief Therapy?”. Mark Shelvock. November 17th, 2022. Psychology Today.
In addition, he discusses the necessity of grief therapy for cases that are beyond the basic human loss. Grief therapy involves more indepth care and deals with more pathological issues in the grieving process itself. To read the entire article, please click here
Commentary
Hence the importance of understanding the differences between grief support and grief therapy are essential for the proper understanding of certain roles that professionals play. Those in grief support are in most cases the first line and option for many seeking help understanding the process of loss. They provide guidance and direction. They do not look to offer solutions to loss or promises it goes away, but instead gives to the person a listening ear.
Grief Support
Grief support can be individual or collective with support groups. Grief support groups sometimes are a better option for individuals that do not have a strong support system. AIHCP also offers Grief Support Group Certification. Whether, individual or collective, grief support is important for individuals in processing the loss, understanding it, coping with it and adjusting to it in a healthy and safe way. In this regards many non-licensed professionals are able to offer support and help in this area. This is where a Grief Counseling Certification is an excellent resume booster. It helps professionals attain more acute knowledge about the grieving process and how to help others manage their grief.
Most individuals are able to acclimate to grief and loss in a healthy way and do not incur pathological symptoms. They grieve within the normal time, adjust and need occasional support. These individuals are able to adjust to the loss. This does not mean that they ever “get over” the loss. This is a false promise. No one ever truly recovers from a loss of a loved one. This is the ultimate price of love, but individuals can adjust and live life. Grief support and basic grief counseling helps certain individuals understand this process in a healthy and better way.
Grief Therapy
Sometimes due to complications within the loss, complicated grief can emerge. If the loss is especially tragic, sudden, or heinous in nature, then individuals may not adjust to the loss in a healthy fashion. Others may experience a type of loss in their childhood and remains a deep trauma. Others may have the subjective elements within their mental capabilities that can make any type of loss a complicated one. Still others may deal with depression or other mental maladies.
Grief therapy deals with pathological loss through a licensed professional.
Licensed counselors and other mental care providers aid individuals in these types of losses. They provide deeper therapies that only state approved and trained professionals can provide. These individuals can enhance their knowledge through certification if they so choose, but are equipped with the psychological training to handle grief pathologies. If an individual is suffering from grief due to an intense trauma, experiences depression, or is unable to break the grieving cycle in a healthy way, then grief therapy is required for these individuals.
Conclusion
Those who provide grief support need to be careful in how they present themselves. They must use the word “counselor” very carefully and be sure clients understand they are not licensed counselors. They need to understand the nature of complicated grief and when to refer a client to a licensed professional. Grief support deals with basic loss and the adjustment to that loss but it cannot replace grief therapy for those suffering from complications in grief. Many who offer grief support, also use the terms grief coaching, or grief consulting.
It is important to know the difference between grief support and grief therapy. Please review AIHCP’s Grief Counseling Certification
AIHCP offers a Grief Counseling Certification for licensed and non licensed professionals. Obviously, the certification is not meant to serve as substitution for licensure, but serves as an enhancement for professionals who are licensed and a tool for non licensed professionals to be able to offer grief support. Please review the program and see how it will professionally aid yourself in your particular field of dealing with grief
Additional Resources
“What Is Grief Counseling?”. Sanjana Gupta. June 21st, 2022. VeryWellMind. Access here
“When Does Grief Require Therapy?”. Sophia Dembling. March 26th, 2022. Psychology Today. Access here
“Understanding Therapy for Grief and How It Can Help”. Sara Lindberg. October 17th, 2022. Healthline. Access here
“Complicated grief”. Mayo Clinic Staff. Mayo Clinic. Access here
The loss of a pet, especially a dog, cat or horse can be a very painful thing. Even the loss of smaller pets depending on the circumstances can leave a lasting void. The loss of a dog or cat or horse can play be for some as painful as losing family. While some individuals see animals as tools or objects to an end, many form lasting bonds with their fury friends. These bonds are family bonds. This is especially true for the family dog or cat. For those with these types of bonds and situations, the loss is as painful as losing a human friend or family member.
Pets are family. They play a key role in the dynamics of family life. Please also review our Pet Loss Grief Counseling program
The article, “Losing a Pet Is as Painful as Losing a Human” by Ashley Laderer looks at why it is so painful to lose a pet and what to expect. She states,
“Many people develop deep bonds with their pets. According to a 2018 survey, 72% of Americans consider their pets to be family members, and research on pet loss throughout the years has consistently shown that the loss of a pet can feel as detrimental as the loss of a human family member.”
Society may scoff at pet loss and certain individuals may downgrade the loss and not important but those are opinions. Grief is based on the relation to the loss. While subjective, the role of dogs and cats in the life of a family are important. Seeing them as family members and missing them as family members when they are gone is not a stretch of absurdity but a true feeling of loss. It needs to be seen as a true loss and respected
The article, “When Does Grief End?”, by Fredda Wasserman states
“Remember that grief is a process. Although the pain of grief often comes upon us all at once in a crushing blow, the pain lessens gradually.”
American Institute Health Care Professionals’ insight:
A good article looking for the answer of when does grief end. While grief counseling can take different periods for different people, it is important to note that grief or loss always stings but adaptation is the key where professionals say the grieving period is over. Once a person adjusts and can begin living again, then grief counselors agree that grief support has happened. Yet pain and sadness always remain to some degree but in a healthy fashion
If you wish to train as a certified bereavement counselor, then please review the program. As a certified bereavement counselor you can help people through the stages of grief and help them adjust and adapt in a healthy fashion.
To try to put grief on a timetable is impossible. Yes, we have general calculations that differentiate complicated recovery from regular recovery, but grief is still a very subjective study. Each person is different and grief support while sharing similar characteristics is also very varied from person to person.
Joan Wickersham of the Boston Globe offers her opinions on the process of grief in her article, “Grief Doesn’t Have a Timeline”
To read the article, please click here
To learn more about grief counseling, please click here
If you would like to take grief counseling courses, then please review.
Grief support is sometimes easier on children. Children and Coping in Grief support is different from adults. The biggest concern during this grieving period is that adults understand that children cope differently and to allow them to express themselves.
Foxnews.com writes in the article “Experts: Kids Are Resilient In Coping With Trauma” relates how children cope with trauma.
To read the article, please click here
We need to take our time and give special considerations when dealing with child grief. Many concepts that seem trivial or not important could mean a lot to them.
If you are interested in learning more about child and adolescent grief, then please click here and please remember to remember the children of Newtown in your prayers.
AIHCP
One of the most disenfranchised griefs is that of a child. Adults do not treat children’s’ grief as a serious and legitimate concern and in many cases discount their needs. One such discounting is preventing the child from saying a final “goodbye”. Well intentioned adults frequently leave children at home during a funeral. This is even the case when the person who died was a primary caregiver to the child. It is important for a child to attend the funeral of a loved one for the child grief support, but a few things need to be considered.
First, the child needs to be told what a funeral is about and what he or she will see. A child should not be taken off guard or surprised to see the body in the coffin. Instead a child should be prepared and helped to understand what a funeral is and what the rituals are for. In-depth answers are not always sufficient but the answers should be in concrete and clear language as to avoid confusion within the mind of the child. A child should be told that at the funeral, he or she has a chance to say “goodbye” and that crying and mourning there is alright. One can also explain the religious significance of the rituals during this time.
Second, if possible, try to include the child in the funeral rituals. If the child would like to read a poem or say a short “goodbye”, it should be made possible. If the child is shy, maybe simply lighting a candle for the deceased can supply an outlet for his or her grief.
Finally, when the child attends the funeral be prepared for a variety of emotions. Whatever emotion, an adult should accept the child’s way of mourning. One thing to remember is that children mourn in doses. With this in mind, do not be surprised to see the child behave quite normal and play with various cousins. If the child’s behavior becomes disturbing or inappropriate, one should tell the child that there are certain ways one must behave. This does not prevent mourning but deals with proper behavior. The child should be told that other people are sad and such behavior is disrupting to others.
If your child is better behaved, be sure to include taking him or her to funerals of other distant relatives. This can teach the child what a funeral is about and how to behave and act. It can also teach the child about death and better prepare the child for the death of a close loved one.
Ultimately, not taking a child to a loved one’s funeral is the worst thing an adult can do. Do not make this mistake because it can greatly harm the grieving process of the child.
(Information for this article was found in “Companioning the Grieving Child” by Alan Wolfelt, PhD)
Mark Moran, MA, GC-C, SCC-C
Child Grief Education: How Do I Help a Grieving Baby?
Even though a baby may not be as mentally developed as a child or adult, a baby can still grieve. In past articles, we discussed attachment disorders that can result from poor parenting and bond forming. Since a baby can form bonds and love, a baby can also grieve. It saddens many to think of a grieving baby, but when a baby loses his mother or father or any primary caregiver, the baby will grieve.
In regards to infants, grief counselors should encourage primary caregivers to assure the child that basic care and needs will be met. This requires constant attention and alot of love. In addition to keeping to schedule and offering the basic care, simply holding the infant, loving the infant and keeping the infant close will help the baby grieve in a healthy fashion. It will help the infant overcome the loneliness and confusion of losing a parent.
Toddlers are a little more difficult to care for than infants because the bond with the loss parent was longer and stronger. Still the first priority is the same as with infants. Toddlers will need constant love and attention and the same provision of care they received before the death of the parent. Three extra things with a grieving toddler, however, should be considered. First, the toddler may regress. Regression in regards to toilet training, lack of sleeping and less independence are all ways a toddler lets adults know they are sad. They demand attention to help with the grief that consumes their little heart. Secondly, toddlers need to be spoken to in concrete language. If they ask where “is mommy” or “Uncle Jack”, one should respond in concrete description. Toddlers do not understand euphemisms and need to be told if someone died in clear language. Telling a toddler that daddy went “bye bye” will confuse him. He needs to be told that daddy’s body stopped working and he will not be coming back. Of course, compassion and a lot of hugs may be needed but this is best for toddler grief support. Finally, try to keep the toddler as close to his regular schedule as possible. Change can be very destructive to the toddler. The toddler needs to know life will go on and that his needs will still be met.
If you are interested in child grief education, please review the program.
(Information for this article was found in”Companioning the Grieving Child” by Alan Wolfelt, PhD)
Mark Moran, MA, GC-C, SCC-C
