Woman sitting on chair looking in the distance

Most of us experience times when we need help to deal with problems and issues that cause us emotional distress. When you are having a problem or dilemma that is making you feel overwhelmed, especially when it comes to grief and loss, you may benefit from the assistance of an experienced, trained professional. Professional counselors and therapists offer the caring, expert assistance that people need during stressful times.

There are many types of mental health providers to choose from. The most important thing is to select a licensed professional who has the appropriate training and qualifications to help a person with your specific issues, especially when it comes to times of grief. You should also choose someone with whom you can feel comfortable enough to speak freely and openly.

Grief counseling can help with these common issues during a loss:

People seek the assistance of a counselor for many different reasons. These are some of the most common:

You feel unhappy most of the time.
You worry all the time and are unable to find the solutions to your problems.
You feel extremely sad and helpless.
You feel nervous, anxious, and worried most of the time.
You have panic attacks.
You have a hard time concentrating.
Your emotional state is affecting your daily life: your sleep, eating habits, job, and relationships.
You are having a hard time functioning from day to day. Your emotional state is affecting your performance at work or school.
Your behavior is harmful to yourself or to others.
You are feeling impatient and angry with someone you are taking care of.
You are having problems with your family members or in other important relationships.
You are having trouble getting over the death of someone you loved.
You or someone you love has a serious illness and you are having a hard time with it.
You feel lonely and isolated.
You are experiencing problems in a sexual relationship.
Your family has a lot of conflict and tension.
You are experiencing a divorce or marital separation.
You are having a hard time coping with change.
You often feel afraid, angry, or guilty.
You have a hard time setting and reaching goals.
Your child is having problems with behavior or school performance.
Your family is stressed because someone is ill.
You have a hard time talking with your partner, children, parents, family members, friends, or coworkers.
You are planning to marry, and you have some concerns.
You have gotten a divorce and your family needs help adjusting.
You are part of a blended family and need help learning to live together.

Clinical Social Workers as Grief Counselors

Each state has its own licensing laws and standards that govern each type of professional. In addition, each individual therapist has a unique set of experiences that makes him or her uniquely qualified to work with certain kinds of issues. Things to consider:

1. The therapist's experience in grief/loss and years in the profession.

2. Any special certifications the therapist holds as this is more intense training than attending a workshop.

3. The therapist's ongoing training to stay up-to-date on the latest treatment modalities.

4. A "match" with a professional you feel most comfortable.

Clinical Social Workers have an MSW from an accredited school. They must have completed an MSW and a supervised internship before passing a state licensing exam. (Each state has its own licensing regulations.) The social work profession focuses on individual happiness and well-being in a social context. It is also concerned with the well-being of the society that surrounds the individual. Social workers are trained to pay attention to the environmental forces that may contribute to the individual’s life problems. Clinical social workers have one of the most rigorous educational requirements out there.

Confidentiality

Clinical social workers have strict ethical guidelines governing privacy and confidentiality. Clients can expect that discussions will be kept confidential, except as otherwise required or permitted by law. Examples of times when confidentiality must be broken are when child abuse has occurred or where the client threatens violence against another person. You can read more about this policy here.

So many people once they take that first step are glad they did.

It can be hard sometimes to face the ups and downs of life alone. Grief counseling is designed to help people in times of loss so they don’t have to.