Our therapists offer grief & loss counseling in Birmingham, AL

My go-to approach for helping people in grief & loss counseling is to assess the nature of the loss and the impact the loss is having on the person then to tailor what they need to specifics regarding the loss. All of those factors greatly impact what may best assist the client, so it is important to collect that information, preferably in a conversational manner so that it feels more connecting for a client. I have found that it is usually important to provide certain psychoeducation about grief and loss to the client so that they have a realistic understanding of what to expect and can be more realistic and compassionate to themselves. I then work with them on how to process the loss based on their unique circumstances.

I teach the following tools in grief & loss counseling:

• how to normalize the various and mixed emotions of the grief and loss process, including that it is not linear
• how to incorporate aspects of the client's philosophical, spiritual, and/or religious context to assist them with processing what the loss may mean and ways it may impact how they view and experience the loss
• ways to work toward accepting the reality of the loss and attending to the pain associated with the loss and how to remain active and engaged in their life in ways they can at different times following the loss as that looks different at different points following the loss
• how to mourn based on the nature of the relationship and circumstances of the loss
• preparing for important dates, anniversaries, and milestones

I know a client is making meaningful progress in grief & loss counseling when they are able to allow whatever emotions need space to have space and to find ways to do so that are healthy and not problematic or self-destructive. Also, when the client is able to start engaging more fully back in their lives and report feeling able to connect with more of life's moments and emotions because there is sometimes a detachment or numbness that can follow a loss.

Clients can supplement their time in grief & loss counseling with reading, listening, or viewing material that is helpful for them in acknowledging and working to accept the loss and to find a way to have a life without their loved one physically present in the same way they were before. For instance, reading sections of a spiritual, philosophical, or religious text that is meaningful to the person, watching videos of others who have had similar losses, or listening to podcasts or audiobooks on what has helped people grieve. It is crucial to remember that people grieve in different ways. It can be helpful to hear how others do it but is important to not expect any two people to do it the same way. Also, remembering a loved one and moments shared is okay, but living in the past is not. So, making sure they are walking that line of reminiscing without living in the past and are taking steps to move forward. Moving forward does not involve forgetting their loved one but does need to involve finding ways to engage in the present.

To prepare for their first grief & loss counseling session, an individual can take a beat to consider what they may need for themselves within the counseling experience. And relatedly, the person can consider the words or images that can communicate to a mental health provider what the client may need. Also, the individual can work to be understanding that the pain will not go away quickly and in some cases may never go away completely but that improvement can happen. And again, improvement does not mean forgetting a loved one.