Death is an inevitable part of life. Most people will experience losing someone at some point in their lives. Knowing these things though does not make coping with the death of a loved one any easier.
It is a traumatic experience that often causes emotional turmoil in a lot of people. Some even struggle with overwhelming feelings of loss. At times, the grief becomes unbearable that it impairs their ability to function normally in their day-to-day affairs.
If you are experiencing these things or just having a difficult time coming to terms with the loss of a loved one, please know that bereavement counselling can help you.
What Is Bereavement Counselling?
Bereavement refers to the feelings of loss and grief that people go through when someone they care about passes away.
Bereavement is an experience that is different for each person. It can bring about a range of emotions – sadness, anger, confusion, fear, guilt and anxiety, to name but a few. For some people, grief shakes up their sense of self, causing them to depart from their ‘normal’ ways.
Suffice to say, bereavement affects people in different ways. Some are able to deal with their grief with the help of their loved ones. Others need a professional to help them with the seemingly insurmountable task of adapting to a life without the person they’ve lost. This is where bereavement counselling comes in.
Also referred to as grief therapy, bereavement counselling aims to help people as they grieve. It is meant to assist bereaved people navigate the complexities of their situation, specifically to understand what they are feeling.
The goal of the therapy is to reduce the distress during their grief as well as to help them adapt to their new life. The counselling can be done either one-on-one or in a group setting. More importantly, a qualified bereavement counsellor should conduct the therapy.
How Exactly Can Bereavement Counselling Help?
The therapy provides a safe space for you to freely express your emotions. It gives you a supportive venue where you can talk about what you are going through.
Bereavement therapy provides an environment where grieving people can show whatever it is that they are feeling without fear of being judged or invalidated. You can cry, yell, be angry or express your most painful feelings. It’s perfectly okay to tap into these emotions and show them in front of your counsellor.
But more than just normalising whatever you are feeling, the counselling is going to help you understand and work through the different emotions you have. Doing this is essential in finding meaning in what happened and starting the healing process.
You can rely on your grief counsellor to give you the support you need all throughout the therapy. She is going to ask questions that can help you gain clarity as well as work through the different stages of grief. She is there to guide you and give you advice on how to cope with your loss.
Ultimately, at the end of the grief counselling, you should be able to accept and integrate the reality of your loss into your life. Moreover, you should be in a better emotional and mental state to rebuild your life.
Grief may be normal, but managing it can be a challenging and complicated process. If you are struggling to cope with the loss of a loved one, please do not hesitate to get professional help.
We have counsellors in Dublin who are qualified to offer bereavement counselling. Call us now on 015240708 or 014303631 or leave us a message on our website to schedule your counselling appointment.
