Bereavement Counselling Near Me: The Practical Psychologist
We are a team of experienced Coaching and Clinical Psychologists who offer online therapeutic support for grief and bereavement.
The loss of a loved one is one of the most difficult situations we will experience in our lives. Many people seek help from a bereavement counsellor. However, the experience is not always positive. Unfortunately, many people lack sufficient training and experience in this area.
The Practical Psychologist is a small team of highly experienced practitioners. We have vast experience supporting people through grief, loss, and bereavement. We have prepared this article to help you understand the bereavement process. We also outline therapist qualities to look for when seeking professional help.
What is Grief?
Loss, grief, and bereavement are all related to the experience of losing someone or something significant in our lives.
Loss refers to the actual event of losing someone or something, such as a loved one, a job, or a relationship. It can also refer to the loss of physical abilities or possessions.
Grief is the emotional response to that loss. This reaction can include a range of emotions such as sadness, anger, guilt, and confusion. Grief is a natural process that allows us to come to terms with the loss and find ways to move forward.
Bereavement is similar to grief but specifically refers to the period following a loved one's death. It can be considered a more intense form of grief that often involves cultural and religious rituals surrounding death.
While these concepts are related, they differ in their focus and scope. Loss is an event that can occur in many different areas of life. By contrast, grief and bereavement are specific emotional responses to those losses.
What Should I Expect?
Bereavement links to various symptoms, problems and health effects. Some common symptoms include:
Intense feelings of sadness or despair
Difficulty sleeping or changes in sleep patterns
Loss of appetite or overeating
Fatigue and lack of energy
Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
These symptoms can lead to problems such as social isolation, decreased productivity, and strained relationships with others.
Regarding health effects, bereavement has been linked to an increased risk of developing physical and mental health problems. Therefore, those in this process must seek support from friends and family (and sometimes professionals) to manage bereavement effects.
The Process
'Stage models' of grief (e.g., Kubler-Ross- denial, bargaining, etc.) oversimplify the process and suggest a predictable series of events.
We prefer to think of bereavement via a 'dual process' model. This approach to bereavement comes from Margaret Stroebe and Henk Schut. According to this model, individuals who experience loss engage in two coping processes: loss oriented and restoration oriented.
Loss oriented coping involves confronting the emotional pain of the loss through activities such as crying and reminiscing. Restoration oriented coping refers to the efforts made to adapt to the practical changes that come with the loss. Examples activities include finding new roles, routines, and relationships.
The dual process model suggests that people should aim to go back and forth between loss and restoration orientated activities. These people will have better wellbeing and adjustment outcomes than those focusing solely on one type of activity. The model also recognises that these processes are not linear or sequential but co-occur and may fluctuate over time.
What Is Normal?
Grief and bereavement processes are very individual. This means there is no 'right' or 'wrong' way to grieve.
Setting expectations around feelings, thoughts, behaviours and/or timeframes is not a helpful response. All of us want to reduce the pain of bereavement. Unfortunately, this makes many people rush the process or set unrealistic recovery timescales.
All this means there is no 'normal' bereavement. Your initial focus should be on day-to-day coping. Eventually, people will start taking a broader life focus as they move forward.
Support from friends and family is often sufficient. However, prolonged grief, traumatic grief and/or difficult past circumstances can warrant the need for professional input.
What Help Should I Seek?
We believe people should seek help from a professional who will guide them through the loss and restoration processes. A therapist should help a person balance these two activities. A professional should also provide general support and information on bereavement.
Feeling comfortable with a therapist is very important. You cannot discuss complex and sensitive topics without a good match between client and practitioner. Take the 'try before you buy' approach here and speak to a potential therapist before committing to sessions.
Check the therapist's qualifications and experience. They should be registered with a reputable national body. They should also have direct experience working with grief and loss.
Summary
Facing bereavement is a painful, unpredictable, and sometimes frightening experience. Seeking help from a qualified therapist can help get you through this challenging period. Ensure you pick someone that puts you at ease and has the appropriate background skills and experience.
Jason and the team at The Practical Psychologist work with people around the country and across the globe. Book your free meet and greet, or contact us any time with your questions.
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