Private Practice

Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What do grief therapists and support groups provide?
  • Information about the grieving process
  • Nonjudgmental support
  • They encourage and validate feelings and thoughts
  • They reinforce positive change and help people heal
  • They suggest coping techniques


Q: What are the goals of grief counseling?
  • To help the grieving person complete any unfinished business with the deceased and say goodbye to the deceased
  • To help the grieving person identify feelings and express emotions
  • To help the grieving person adjust to the loss
  • To help the grieving person talk about the loss
  • To help the grieving person adjust to living without the deceased and reinvest energy back into life
  • To help provide time to grieve and help the person get through that time
  • To educate the grieving person about "normal" grief behavior vs. "abnormal" grief behavior and keep that person within reality
  • To provide continuing support


Q: When is professional intervention needed?
  • When the grieving person shows symptoms of dysfunction, drug and alcohol abuse, depression, and suicidal tendencies
  • Unrealistic expectations that the deceased will return to life
  • Behavior that affects the grieving person's ability to work, handle everyday tasks, or take care of themselves
  • Intense social withdrawal