What Does it Take to Become a Bereavement Counsellor?

The job of a bereavement counsellor is a tough but rewarding one. If you choose to take this

career path, you’ll devote much of your working life to supporting people who are

transitioning through loss, helping to empower them to have a greater sense of control and a

deeper understanding of their healing journey.

There are a few key attributes that would make you a good fit for a career as a bereavement

counsellor. In this guide, we break down exactly what it takes to make it in this field.

Professional expertise

People navigating loss often find that a healthy support network of friends and family provide

a helpful level of comfort. However, it is the added expertise of a qualified counsellor that

tends to encourage those suffering to reach out for that extra bit of professional help.

You’ll usually begin your path into bereavement counselling by studying psychology at

university level. The skills that you learn through a degree will provide you with a great

foundation from which to take on further training, and then ultimately narrow your focus and

specialise in bereavement practices.

A good level of self-awareness

Any psychology course that you take is likely to place a great level of importance on

developing your self-awareness and understanding – in fact, you’re required to go through

your own course of therapy as part of your training to become a counsellor.

Ultimately, it’s hard to deliver effective therapy without having some awareness of your own

tendencies, strengths and limitations. You always want to go into your work as a

bereavement counsellor with your mind a blank slate, without any preconceptions, and with

an understanding of the role that you have to play in the professional therapeutic

relationship, so as not to project your own ideas or beliefs onto your client.

Plenty of empathy and compassion

People seek therapy for a variety of reasons, and while your clients will be similar in that

they’re each dealing with bereavement, the circumstances and situations that have led each

of them to this stage in their lives are likely to vary considerably. For example, while some

might be grieving the loss of a cherished friend or family member, others might be coming to

therapy to make sense of the grieving process following the loss of somebody with whom

they had a more strained or complicated relationship.

Because of this, it’s important to always conduct bereavement sessions with an open mind

and without any expectations. Thoughts and emotions are complex, and as a human being,

you may at times find it difficult to understand why somebody is feeling the way that they are.

It’s key to have some appreciation for the complexities of life and human nature, in order to

ensure that you’re offering the most empathetic and compassionate therapeutic service

possible.

Thinking about becoming a bereavement counsellor?

Most people will experience significant loss in their lifetime, and at some point or another,

will seek some level of support for a bereavement. By becoming a bereavement counsellor,

you can be there for people in the toughest of times, when they need it the most. Plus,

you’re likely to learn something about yourself in their process, as many people find that their

outlook on life changes for the better throughout their career in counselling.