If your family has recently lost a loved one and one or more family members are struggling with grief, your funeral home may have a solution. Most funeral homes offer some form of grief management to help people get past the pain and back into their daily lives. The approach that each funeral home takes may be different. Talk with the director or staff to find out the types of support they offer and which of the following techniques are employed to help you and your family deal with the grief of your loss.
Types of Support
When looking for help, you'll find three ways in which grief support is offered. Each has its own benefits and family members may respond to one more than the others.
Grief Support Groups - This group consists of people who have experienced a loss and are dealing with their own grief. They share their experiences and ways in which they are working through the grief. This is a good way to hear various approaches that people have used to manage their grief. But it may be intimidating for a shy or introverted family member.
Education Sessions - In this group, the grief counselor talks about what grief is and current techniques for managing it when it prevents a person from functioning normally. There will be less interaction in this group than in the support group model.
Individual Counseling - The grief counselor meets with people individually for those who prefer to receive help with their grief privately.
Each funeral home designs its own grief management services along the following offerings.
In-House Support Staff
Some of the larger funeral homes have their own trained grief counselors on their staff. These may be mental health professions who focus on grief management or staff who have gone through extensive grief counseling programs. Their focus on the team is helping people deal with their grief. They will offer educational sessions for the public, grief management support groups and one-on-one support for individuals who prefer that approach.
Contracted Staff
Funeral homes may contract with outside individuals or groups to provide grief counseling. These are trained grief counselors who also have their own private practices. They will usually see you and your family in their own offices, although some may travel to the funeral home to meet with people and hold grief support groups. You will likely have to schedule time to meet with them through their own office and not the funeral home.
Referrals to Community Groups
A few funeral homes provide help by getting you connected with other groups in the area. These might consist of religious organizations, non-profit support groups, and other mental health support organizations. The funeral home will have contacts within each group to help get you in touch with the assistance you need. This approach may work well for family members who prefer support from people who share their own belief system, such as a church or other religious grief support service.
Share7 August 2016
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