How Grief Counseling Can Help After Losing a Loved One | Hamel-Lydon Chapel & Cremation Service of MA

Losing a loved one is an unfortunate reality that everyone will face at some point. Losing someone you’re close to is never easy. It’s normal to have a lot of emotions during such a stressful time but coping with those emotions on your own is a daunting task. Grief counseling is something that isn’t talked about enough. It’s a real treatment option to help you through the grieving process. If you’ve never heard of grief counseling before, you’re not alone. Let’s review some of the basics so you can determine if grief counseling is right for you.

What is Grief Counseling?

Grief counseling is counseling with someone who specializes in the grieving process. A grief counselor can help walk you through what you’re feeling and offer coping mechanisms. The goal of grief counseling is to make your grief more bearable so it doesn’t interfere with your day-to-day life. Grief never truly goes away, but it can get easier with time and the right coping strategies.

What Does Grief Counseling Help With?

Grief counseling helps in a number of ways. First, it will help you process what you’re feeling and identify any feelings of guilt. This process may bring trauma to the surface that has been pushed down for years. Having a professional there to not only help you grieve but to separate your trauma from your grief and deal with them individually is extremely beneficial. You’ll learn how to cope with your new reality of life without your lost loved one in it. This works to prevent grief that’s not dealt with. Unresolved grief can cause deeper emotional issues that are longer-lasting.

What to Expect

Grief counseling looks different for each person, but there are general things you can expect from your counseling sessions. The first session will focus on building a level of trust with the counselor and discussing who you’ve lost. This sets future sessions up for success. When you have a rapport and trust in someone, opening up will be easier.

Next, the counselor will ask questions about your relationship with the deceased and your feelings surrounding the loss. A lot of grief counseling is just having a trusted person that will genuinely listen to what you’re saying. This allows you to get your feelings out in a healthy, safe space. If you had a complicated relationship with the deceased, there’s likely to be more trauma involved. Your grief counselor will provide coping strategies to help you process both the trauma and the loss you’re experiencing.

Contact Hamel-Lydon Chapel

Grief counseling is beneficial for people of all ages and backgrounds. There’s no harm in trying it! In the best-case scenario, you’re able to grieve in a healthy way and move on with your life. Worst case scenario, you just don’t make a second appointment. There’s nothing to lose and so much to gain! If you need help planning a funeral and finding grief support in the Boston area, reach out to Hamel-Lydon Chapel today.