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Step 1
Find a good grief counselor as the first step to recovery after loss. Ask for recommendations from your local hospice program, church clergy, hospital social workers or your physician for counseling services.
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Step 2
Choose the correct type of counseling. Grief counseling can be individualized or organized as bereavement group counseling. There are specialized groups for widowed persons, parents who have lost a child, victims of drunk drivers and many other groups to meet specific types of grief and loss.
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Step 3
Recognize that you are in great distress and grief or in a long-term depression to help target an area of special need regarding your loss and there are many specialized counseling services available to assist you. You are not alone.
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Step 4
Understand that coping styles vary widely with grief and loss. This is affected by one's cultural and religious backgrounds, coping skills, mental history and support systems. Counseling will help you cope specific to your individualized needs.
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Step 5
Feel comfortable with your choice of counselor. Without the element of compatibility, it is hard to be open and forthcoming in therapy and this is imperative in achieving the best results.
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Step 6
Trust your own judgment. If you are so overwhelmed by grief that you feel uncertain, ask a trusted friend to help you choose a counselor and perhaps accompany you on your first visit.
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Step 7
Try pastoral counseling. It offers spiritual options combined with psychotherapy. If you feel you may benefit from this type of counseling, The American Association of Pastoral Counselors (AAPC) can be contacted. The organization in non-sectarian.
Comments
Griefpro said
on 8/6/2008 I agree that grief counseling is enormously helpful. I live in the Greater Los Angeles area and found an expert counselor there. I found him through The Grief Program.com and he sees clients in person. Very helpful in finishing unfinished business, best I've seen.