Psychotherapy: An Overview of Bereavement Counseling

Bereavement counseling is a type of psychotherapy used to provide support and treatment for those affected by grief. Read on to learn more about this type of psychotherapy. Bereavement is the state of grievous loss, especially the loss of a loved one. This type of counseling is the process of working through that grief and eventually adjusting to the new reality without that loved one.

In this article, we will discuss what one can expect when one undertakes the bereavement counseling process individually or in a group setting. We will also briefly discuss options for medication during the bereavement process.

An overview of psychotherapy for bereavement

Individual counseling is the process by which a person can see a mental health professional, such as a psychiatrist, or a team of professionals. Your team may include a therapist, counselor, social worker, or psychiatrist with a capacity for this type of counseling. Depending on their background, they will provide their clients with various healthy coping tools and mechanisms for confronting their feelings and new reality. Of course, this will take time. The average person can take anywhere from six to 12 months to properly grieve the loss of someone important in their life. Keep in mind the different capabilities each profession has, and let that guide your thinking when you seek out your preferred method of treatment.

Therapy

Therapy is the process by which a therapist or psychiatrist uses active listening and evidence-based practice to help clients better understand themselves, their behavior patterns, wants, needs, and overall identity.

Using therapy in the context of bereavement can help the person place their lost loved one in the greater sense of their lives and adjust that model to fit their new reality as best as possible.

Counseling

Counseling is the process by which a counselor or social worker helps clients confront a specific issue in their lives and the strategies they can use to overcome that challenge healthily. Using counseling in the context of bereavement can help clients overcome the specific issues that arise from the absence of their loved ones.

One could consider group counseling if they want more of a community to support them through the grieving process.

Group counseling

Group counseling is the process where a group of individuals with similar experiences gathers to collectively work through a series of problems. In the context of bereavement, this can help clients find meaning in the community.

Medications

Medications can help clients feel better as they undertake the bereavement process, but they should be used as a supplement to therapy or counseling. People who feel better can often think more clearly than people who are clinically depressed. The psychiatrist will discuss medication options with the patient as appropriate.