Doctors will often recommend that their patient undergo some sort of group grief counseling to help the grieving process
be more bearable. The very act of talking out the various fears, and regrets can bring peace to the patient much more
quickly then if they are left to struggle independent from a support network. Patients and their friends and family should
feel comfortable to talk about the illness.
During this period the illness if often on the forefront of everyone's
thoughts, and most people don't want to talk about it because they are afraid of voicing their fears or of saying the
"wrong thing". If one person says something regarding the illness it gives others permission to share what they have been
desperately needing or wanting to express. Things that need to be discussed are unfinished business or legal issues,
forgiveness, funeral arrangements, wills, or the simple act of saying, "I love you." It is okay to break the ice, but
be sensitive to the fact that somebody may not be ready to talk as it may be too painful or frustrating.
Grief counseling helps mourners with uncomplicated grief go through the phases of grief (shock, denial, anger, depression,
and acceptance). Grief counseling can be provided by professionally trained people, or in self-help groups where bereaved
people help other bereaved people. All of these services may be available in individual or group settings. Grief
counseling helps the patient and/or mourner accept the loss by talking about him or her. They also help the bereaved
to identify and express their feelings and to make decisions about the imminent (or past) death.
Grief counseling
helps the survivors to begin new relationships or to help patients with unfinished business before they die. Grief
counseling is not just for the patient, but is an important aspect for anyone particularly close to the patient, such
as family, that will have to live without them. Occasionally, doctors may suggest personal or recommend someone to
grief therapy.
Grief therapy is used with people who are experiencing complicated grief. In grief therapy, the mourner talks about
the deceased and tries to recognize if he or she is experiencing an expected amount of emotion about the loss.
Grief
therapy may allow the mourner to see that anger, guilt, or other negative or uncomfortable feelings can exist at the
same time as more positive feelings about the person who died. In grief therapy, six tasks may be used to help the
bereaved with accepting the loss. The therapy will help them develop the ability to experience, express, and adjust
to painful grief- related changes.
The mourner will also find effective ways to cope with painful changes. Grief
therapy will help the mourner to know they can still honor their relationship with the deceased and still move on.
The mourner will be encouraged to stay healthy and keep functioning. Therapy will also help the person to reestablish
relationships and understand that others may have difficulty empathizing with the grief they experience. Lastly, grief
therapy will help the bereaved to develop a healthy image of oneself and the world.
