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Are You Grieving? Let Grief Counseling
Help
By Danette Ariotti
Losing a loved one is not an easy ordeal. Grief of any
kind takes an emotional toll on whomever it affects. The
grieving process is difficult but necessary for proper
recovery from the traumatic event that causes grief.
Having lost a loved one, I understand how grieving
works. The grieving process is essential for healing and
may last months and even years without proper and
professional help. Before I get into the benefits of
grief counseling, let me first discuss the five steps of
the grief process:
Denial - denying the traumatic event occurred, not
believing it could have happened
Anger - directing anger toward the situation that caused
the grief
Bargaining - offering anything, including self, to get
back who or what was lost
Depression - feeling depressed because of the traumatic
event, possibly to the point of having no desire to live
or suicidal thoughts
Acceptance - coming to an acceptance of the situation
that created the grief
As stated before, the grieving process may take a long
time. It can be sped up in a healthy way through grief
counseling. The benefits of grief counseling are many
and involve an in-depth process that may include
individual and group counseling. Through individual
counseling, clients learn about their emotions and how
to use them most effectively to properly grieve. Grief
counseling is a place where clients may explore their
feelings and talk about their experience. Group
counseling may involve working with other clients who
have experienced grief. It may also include exercises to
express emotions and talking about their grieving
experience with others who have had similar experiences.
Grief is difficult and inevitable. Everyone will
experience grief at least once in their lifetime.
Dealing with it does not have to be done alone. Let a
grief counselor help you understand and accept the grief
you are experiencing. Learn more about your grief, what
it means and how it can work for you in individual or
group grief counseling. |
