There's much debate in the academic research community regarding the usefulness of grief counselling. The debate seems to revolve around whether grief counselling is necessary for recovery, or if it even does any good. There seems to be some agreement that for 'normal' grief, counselling isn't required for healing to take place. Healing tends to happen on its own, over time. However, most researchers agree that normal grievers can receive valuable support, understanding and normalization of grief feelings from counselling. This can be immensely valuable for grieving people who encounter social attitudes that reflect little understanding of the process of grief or the needs of grievers, and can pressure grievers to 'get over it' long before their healing has actually even started. The truth is, we live in a world that has little tolerance for death except as a form of entertainment. So 'normal' grief counselling can play an important role as both a source of comfort, and a coping bridge between the griever's heartache and the world outside. But is counselling truly necessary for normal grief to heal? Probably not.
Where grief counselling can become a lifeline is in cases of chronic or 'stuck' grief. Chronic grief is experienced by up to 20% of all grieving people, especially those who have been impacted by sudden and/or traumatic loss. Stuck grief is normal grief that has lost its way, and does not know how to heal. This kind of complicated grief is often characterized by hopelessness, loss of meaning/belief systems, intense longing, a lingering sense of disbelief about the loss, avoidance of situations or thoughts that are reminders of the loss, pre-occupation with a lost loved one, and sometimes distressing, intrusive thoughts related to the loss that are reminiscent of trauma symptoms. Left untreated chronic grief can lead to clinical depression, substance abuse and suicidal thinking. Chronic grief recovery requires a specific approach, and tends to general respond well to counselling designed to treat both grief and trauma. Studies have shown that the grief recovery rate from specialized chronic grief counselling is twice that of regular grief counselling. So is complicated grief counselling necessary for recovery from chronic grief? I would argue that not only is it necessary, but that chronic grief counselling is a vital support that helps people stuck in grief to regain an investment in life they fear has been lost to them forever.
For more information on how grief counselling can help you or your loved ones take back their life from chronic grief, please contact Counselling Therapist Glynis Sherwood, MEd, CCC, for a complimentary 15 minute consultation at 778-837-0616, or by email Glynis@GlynisSherwood.com
With a twenty year history of counselling and consulting experience, I help people recover from Chronic Grief and Loss, Trauma, Addictions, Stress, Anxiety, Depression, and Workplace Bullying. My counselling services focus on helping people heal from emotional distress and injury, and help restore and strengthen the psychological well being of individuals and their loved ones. I provide counselling and consulting at my office in central Vancouver, and WorldWide by telephone and internet. My belief is that no matter how harmful grief, anxiety, psychological injury or addictions have been in your life, you can recover and live a life of happiness, fufillment and purpose!
