Grief Counseling

Synonyms

Bereavement counseling; Bereavement therapy; Grief therapy

Definition

Grief counseling (also referred to as grief therapy or bereavement counseling) is the term used for the counseling or therapy support that is provided for those who are suffering as a consequence of a loss through the death of someone close to them. Grief counseling may also be used to assist with adjustment to other losses that involve a strong element of grief, such as amputation, loss of role, or divorce. Bereavement therapy may be distinguished from bereavement counseling as being provided for those who are having trouble adjusting, rather than being provided preventively.

Grief counseling developed largely from the 1970s to provide support to people following bereavement in the increasingly fragmented societies of the technologically developed world, in which the religious rites, rituals, and support of more traditional communities had been eroded. Services have traditionally been provided through...