Helping people is something that, at times, is just a basic part of being a human being and a member of society. However, if you want to turn your love for helping others into a career, you need to consider a career in – professional counseling. Professional counselors are trained to provide grief counseling, among other mental health services. This profession allows you to use your abilities and care for others to make the world a better place. At Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, we offer a Master of Arts degree in Counseling and Psychological Services, allowing those looking to further their education to get the guidance they need.
What Is Grief Counseling?
Dealing with loss is never easy. Whether you’ve suffered a traumatic event that left you blindsided or are dealing with the inevitable loss of a loved one facing a terminal illness or old age, grief hurts us in ways that are sometimes hard to describe. That’s why there are professional counselors there to listen and help people process their feelings and cope with the loss. These professionals are called grief counselors.
Grief counselors work with clients who are struggling to process their feelings or cope with a loss, whether they’ve been diagnosed with a disease or lost a job, a pet, a child, or a partner. They are tasked with helping their clients work through a range of emotions, from deep sadness and depression to fits of anger and rage. Some may be devoid of any emotion at all. These professionals will need to meet with clients, hear their stories, and determine the best course of action to help them manage their grief.
What Skills and Qualities Should Grief Counselors Exhibit?
Grief counseling requires an understanding of proper techniques and the development of special skills to achieve success. Some of these necessary traits and tools are:
Listening
Sometimes the best thing to do is to simply hear someone’s story. Listening allows the client to speak what’s on their mind and open up on their own terms. This will help them explore their emotions without feeling overwhelmed or pressured. It can even be helpful to let them talk about unrelated topics to help them feel more comfortable, and brief pauses are a good way to let them know you’re deeply considering their words before responding or interrupting.
Asking Open-Ended Questions
Asking questions that they can’t simply respond with a “Yes” or “No” will help grievers think more critically. Open-ended questions encourage them to explore their thoughts and feelings more fully. Asking them questions that require more critical thinking will help create room for deeper conversations.
Building Trust
Many times, those suffering from grief are hesitant to talk to anyone, let alone someone they don’t know well. A great way for grief counselors to help clients open up is to build trust. Forming bonds with grievers may take time, but the benefits are undeniable.
Adaptability
Because no two people are the same when it comes to grief, counselors need to adapt their strategies to their clients. Grief counselors may work with children and adults of all ages, so it’s important to take a different approach to each client and be willing to switch things up if they’re not responding positively.
Our Counseling and Psychological Services Programs
If you believe you have the characteristics and drive needed to help others manage their grief, enroll in the M.A. in Counseling and Psychological Services program at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. Our curriculum is designed to help students prepare for a career in this fulfilling field by developing the required skills and foundational knowledge to become a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) or a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) in the state of MN. Considering employment of substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors is projected to grow 19% from 2023 to 2033 and those in MN can expect to make over $50,000 annually, getting the proper education and training can go a long way.
Offered online or on our Minneapolis campus, the 60-credit program takes about two and a half years to complete and features start dates in January, May, and August, allowing you to enroll as soon as you’re ready. Our program offers hands-on experience and allows students to learn from licensed mental health professionals.
Choose Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota Today
Grief counseling is a profession that is well-respected for a reason. The ability to help people struggling with loss takes the right amount of knowledge, skills, and dedication. At Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, we feature an in-depth program to help you prepare for a career as a grief counselor. Our Lasallian-Catholic education provides a learning environment that helps build strong character while teaching students how to excel in their chosen careers.
Check out our admissions section to see how easy we make it to enroll, or reach out to our financial aid office to see how we can help you afford your education. If you have any questions, request more information today.
