Grief Counseling Services
Grief can be defined as the “emotion, generated by an experience of loss and characterized by sorrow and/or distress and the personal and interpersonal experience of loss” (Humphrey, 2009, p.5). Grieving after a significant loss, the death of a loved one or other loss, is a normative process. Most people proceed through this process with help of family, friends, community support, or alone without complications. However, a significant minority of people develop complications in this process.
Complicated Grief is a “debilitating clinical condition that can develop after the death of a loved one” (Boelen, Keijser, van den Hout & van den Hout, 2007 p. 277). It is important to note that complicated grief can stem from the death of a loved one but can also occur in grief situations unrelated to death, including, but not limited to, the loss of a job, a geographical move, or a divorce. An estimated 10 to 15 % of bereaved individuals develop complicated grief experiencing symptoms of intense yearning for the lost loved one, intrusive and troubling images or thoughts of the death, feelings of inner emptiness, difficulty accepting the reality of the loss, and difficulty trusting others (Howarth, 2011; Neimeyer & Currier, 2009). It is important to note that complicated grief is often clinically noticeable in that the person appears “stuck” in the grieving process. Where, and why, the person is stuck is critical to identify in the therapeutic process. The “sticking point” is where intervention is needed.
Source: American Counseling Association
Original Source: “Grief and Loss” Dr. Darlene Daneker & Maria C. Aiello
Grounded Therapy Network’s Certified Grief Educator
Lauri Rowe is a Certified Grief Educator, which means she has completed a certificate program designed by world-renowned grief expert, David Kessler. Kessler has dedicated his life to educatig the helping professions on how to best support individuals experiencing grief. This program has provided Lauri with unique methodology, tools, and researched based strategies to help people navigate the challenges of grief. As Certified Grief Educator, Lauri is committed to providing the highest level of grief support through education, experience, and insights into the often unacknowledged rocky terrain of grief.
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“Most people don’t know what to say or do when someone they know is grieving. From my own experiences with grief and through my certification as a grief educator, let me share just a few things to help you understand grief as you support someone who is grieving:
1) Everyone grieves differently.
2) Each person shows grief (or doesn’t) in their own unique way.
3) Grief doesn’t care about schedules or following a linear pattern neatly through the stages of grief.
If you want to discuss some ways you can support someone who is grieving, feel free to contact me for a consultation appointment.”
~Lauri Rowe, LPC, Certified Grief Educator