What to Expect When Starting Grief Counseling in Atlanta, GA

68% of Americans are comfortable talking about death and loss. Only 55% are comfortable talking about finances.

It's becoming a more acceptable topic because ignoring it leaves those who are suffering unaware of where they can get help. 78% of Americans think there should be more discussion about grief support services. 

Read on to learn what the process of grief counseling in Atlanta is like and where to get it.

What's Grief Like?

Grief is an experience that's hard to explain unless you've been through it. What makes it even more complicated is that, like most areas of mental wellness, it's different for everyone.

Swiss-American psychiatrist Elisabeth Kubler-Ross attempted to make it a bit easier to understand. She proposed five stages of grief in her book in 1969. They include:

• Denial
• Anger
• Bargaining
• Depression
• Acceptance

They don't occur in every individual or last for the same amount of time.

There are different types of grief. Anticipatory grief occurs before a loved one has passed. Their true personality disappears due to conditions such as dementia. This makes it feel as if they've already died.

There is also no universal timeline. Prolonged grief disorder lasts over a year in adults and six months in children. It affects up to 7% of individuals.

How To Begin Grief Counseling

Begin grief counseling in Atlanta by looking for local mental health services. Find one that serves your needs, whether that's individual, group, or family counseling. Check their qualifications and see if they fit your budget.

The grief counselor will begin by getting a sense of where you're at. How did the loss happen? Do you know about the five stages, and which one may you be dealing with right now? What emotions has it brought up? Have you been trying to suppress them?

The first session may be emotional and exhausting, but it provides the counselor with a wealth of information. It's the first step on your journey towards acceptance. 

What Happens During Grief Counseling?

The rest of your counseling sessions will involve techniques to help you express your feelings. These include talking about or writing letters to the lost loved one or visiting their grave.

You may need help reframing your relationship with your lost loved one. This could mean confronting and overcoming any trauma or guilt surrounding their life or death.

The process also involves helping you move on by discovering who you are without them. This means developing new relationships and a new identity.

Most of all, counseling helps you start coping with grief by realizing it never goes away. It helps you focus on dealing with it day by day instead of rushing to the end.

Do You Know Where to Get Grief Counseling in Atlanta?

Handling grief is difficult because the condition is impossible to define. It causes a range of emotions that change from day to day.

Grief counseling makes the process easier. After an initial appointment, you'll learn techniques to evaluate your relationship with your lost loved one and accept yourself and your life without them.

A Better Way Healthcare Services is dedicated to providing quality care to everyone in our community. Contact us for grief counseling in Atlanta today.