One of the hardest times in life is when you’ve lost a loved one that has been a large part of your life for a great number of years. When losing a spouse, a parent, a sibling or even that significant other who has been there through thick and thin, loss is something that you should never need to face alone.
If you have suffered through loss and understand how hard it is to heal, you may be interested in helping others learn to cope with bereavement. Did you know you can study at major educational institutions like Bradley University and get counseling degrees online that would prepare you to do just that? Here are some thoughts on helping others cope with bereavement.
Working through the Stages of Grief
Perhaps the most profound thoughts on bereavement came from renowned doctor and author, Elizabeth Kübler-Ross, who herself passed away in 2004. Her masterpiece that has become a global textbook on coping with death and dying, entitled just that (On Death and Dying) has helped tens of millions of people around the world cope with the five stages of grief.
Although published over 4 decades ago, the book is just as pertinent today as it was in 1969 and one that every bereavement counselor should read and have their clients read when confronted with the death or expected passing of a loved one.
Memorializing a Loved One
When you’ve been involved in masters in counseling programs, one of the things you learn about the entire process of grieving is the fact that for many grief stricken people, it is important to memorialize their loved one who has passed. There are online sites where you can set up memorial pages, light virtual candles and have people share their thoughts on your loved one who passed over. By visiting these sites regularly, many people find a sense of comfort as if their loved one is still a very real presence in their lives.
No, it is not morbid and no, it doesn’t cause people to be wrapped up in their grief forever. For many, the very act of memorializing a loved one is also a way of letting go. Why this phenomenon happens is up to conjecture, but sometimes the simple act of setting up a memorial is the first step in healing and that’s a very good thing indeed.
If you have ever experienced loss that makes you wonder about the mysteries of life and death, bereavement counseling might be a field you would like to pursue. You can get your degree in the traditional way by going to on-campus courses or you can study online. Both are equally acceptable when seeking employment in the field but studying online allows you to literally go at your own pace and in the comfort of a home or office. Rather than traveling to a remote location after working all day or all week, you can simply boot up your laptop and pursue your degree – a convenient way to acquire the training you need to help those suffering the stages of grief.
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