Prolonged Grief Disorder is a complication in the grieving process that prevents the person from adjusting to the loss.  It closely resembles depression but is slightly different and can cause as much mental and social turmoil in one’s life.  Unlike depression, prolonged grief has a definite source.

The article, “The pain of prolonged grief disorder” by Allison McCook looks at what Prolonged Grief Disorder entails and the conditions that must be met to be diagnosed with it.  She states,

“Every human being will experience grief at some point in their lives — it’s a fundamental human experience. “I think it’s important to underscore that people are equipped to grieve, and for the most part people do it OK,” says Anthony Mancini, a psychological researcher at Pace University in Pleasantville, New York.  But some mourners are not OK. When my mother died, I developed what’s known as prolonged grief disorder (PGD), a different sort of grief that psychologists are just beginning to acknowledge and understand. People with PGD — sometimes called “complicated grief” — aren’t just struggling to “get over it.” They have a defined disorder”

To read the entire article, please click here

Complications in grief can occur and when they do, individuals sometimes need care and guidance from a licensed professional counselor.

Professional counselors can also become certified in Grief Counseling.  AIHCP offers a four year certification in Grief Counseling for qualified professionals.  The program is online and independent study.

Acute levels of grief that persist and refuse to lessen in intensity are complications and not part of the normal grieving process.  Obviously we think of depression, but there is also Prolonged Grief Disorder which is persists beyond 6 months of the loss.  Individuals facing complications with grief, need to see a licensed therapist.

The article, “What Everyone Should Understand About Prolonged Grief Disorder” by Deborah Seranl looks closer at this complication of grief.  She states,

“Prolonged Grief Disorder will vary in intensity, but for children and adults, grief reactions occur most of the day, nearly every day. For children, the death which caused this experience must be 6 months or longer, and for an adult, 12 months or longer. Individuals who experience Prolonged Grief Disorder have significant distress in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning. Emotional numbness, loneliness, identity disruptions (who am I without you) and a marked disbelief about the death leaves many feeling life is meaningless. ”

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.