When is counseling needed?

If one is stuck in one of the phases of grief, it is probably a good idea to get some help.

It can never hurt; it also gives you a safe place to repeat yourself over and over and over, sob when you need to, admit to feelings that may seem unrelated to death but do pop up, and feel you have someone trained and reliable across from you.

When a family member of mine had died, I just didn’t talk about it until everyone was less grief-stricken and the shock had weakened. Then I talked with my family about it. If they can’t talk about it, then you could go to a counseler. I also listened to a ton of music during that time period. It was an escape for me. I’ve been to a therapist and talked out my problems, and it helps a lot more than people tend to think. It’s a slower process, and takes a longer time to get over a death than just talking for one session.

@DrasticDreamer If you’re thinking of it, why not give it a try? Just ask around and see if you can get a referral to a good counselor.

Everyone reacts differently to the death of someone they love. When my father died, I was forced to go to therapy and it really didn’t do me much good, in my opinion. (Of course, I was 11 so my mother was entirely justified in sending me and at this point maybe I just can’t remember the good that it did me!) But counseling is really helpful to a lot of people – if it wasn’t, no one would go! And it certainly can’t hurt. If you try it and hate it but are still interested in the idea of it, try it with a new counselor. Finding someone you click with is very important.

Counsleing is needed when one needs an objective person to share their thoughts and feelings with because the situation/issue has gone beyond the bounds of what we feel is a familiar situation or comfortable to cope with with. If we do not have the proper tools to cope with it in a positive manner then t is time that we seek out somehow to learn new coping mechanisims. We are all adaptable as a species… but we encounter situations where we are unfamiliar… and it is in those circumstances, where we feel we are not sure how to move forward, that we must seek outside counsel. If you areunfamiliar with your current circumstance… or are not sure how to move the grieving process forward… then it is time!

I think the fact that you were able to ask this question here indicates that you will know if and when you need to seek counseling. In a very rough sense, I generally advise counseling when events are interfering with a person’s ability to take care of the routine tasks of life.

If you are asking, you probably can benefit from therapy.
I have been thru therapy several times, and with the right therapist, it can be very beneficial!

If you feel helpless to move past the loss, or if you are feeling so down that nothing is enjoyable, then it might be time to see a counselor. Often when folks ask about what help counseling might be they are actually looking for help in finding someone.

Bear in mind that not all counselors are a good fit for all patients. If it doesn’t seem to help, then perhaps you need to try another counselor.

Go for it, @DrasticDreamer.

Feel better. Don’t drown yourself in this.

Perhaps you could first find a local support group and ask some others whether or not they have found therapy or counseling helpful in their grief process.

This may also be a good place to get recommendations for a compatible counselor.

It helped me tremendously following my mothers death.

It certainly couldn’t hurt to explore your options in this regard.

Everyone can use counseling from time to time. When you are grieving, even more.

Sometimes you need someone to help you navigate the pain. It won’t make it go away, but it might help it to make since.

I wish everyone could afford one counseling session a week. Can you imagine, if everyone in the world took an hour a week to debrief their life. We would all live in a better world.

Even if you find that you do not need it at all right now, it’s still a good idea. Later on, when you may be REALLY hurting, are you going to want to go through the time and effort of finding the right counselor? Wouldn’t it be better just to have a number to call? You’d get off the phone knowing you have an appointment with a counselor you already know and trust and who is already familiar with you and your life. If you’re already thinking about it, just do it.
-Dan