Bereavement Counselling

Loss and Grief

Loss is an essential part of life. Hall human beings experience some type of loss at some point in their lives. However death is the only loss that is considered a valid grief experience. (Humphrey and Zimpfer)

Circumstantial losses
Blindness Divorce Deafness Emigration Loss of speech Disfigurement Amputation Abortion Infertility Ageing Natural disasters Moving house Accidents Imprisonment Birth of a disabled child Loss of job Retirement Disability

Loss and Grief

Loss is defined as the state of being deprived of or being without something one has had, or a detriment or disadvantage from failure to keep, have, or get. Grief is the pain and suffering experienced after loss; mourning is a period of time during which signs of grief are shown; and bereavement, as discussed by Raphael 1983), is the reaction to the loss of a close relationship. (Humphrey and

Bereavement
The bereavement experience comprises the concept of grief, since the individual will undergo a period of pain and suffering in order to be able to heal the loss event. It also entails the capacity to react and adapt to the death of a love one. The person suffering from a death event will react emotionally at first and with time will start to react cognitively and behaviourally. Point where the individual should start to

When to do bereavement counselling

Generally grief counselling starts at the earliest a week after the funeral takes place. Usually the first 24 hours are considered to be to early

Who receives bereavement counselling?

There are three different views to who should receive bereavement counselling:
The first one suggests that all individuals should be entitled to receive bereavement counselling and in particular families who suffered from loss of a parent or child. The overall idea is that the loss of a family member is a very traumatic experience. However due to financial costs it might not be possible to offer counselling to such

Who receives bereavement counselling?

The second assumption defends that some individuals will need counselling when they find themselves in a crisis situation and recognise the need to look for help. This is probably more cost-effective than the previous one, but it entails that individuals will necessary go through a certain degree of difficulty until they get help .

Who receives bereavement counselling?

The third assumption is based on the preventive model. By identifying a way to predict which individuals are more likely than others to find themselves in difficulty a year or to two after the dead of a loved, early intervention can be put in place to prevent an unresolved grief reaction.

References
Humphrey, G. and Zimpfer, D. () Counselling for Grief and Bereavement.