SEEKING HELP
A referral from a trusted person is the best way to find the right mental health professional. Seek the advice of clergy, a physician, or a friend who is familiar with therapy. If you are in a grief support group, ask other members for referral suggestions. I recommend interviewing prospective counselors over the telephone before your first visit. With the knowledge gained from this book, ask about their approach to working with grieving clients and whether they subscribe to theories like the stages of grief or promote ideas such as closure or acceptance. If so, they might not be the person for you. Ask about their experience helping trauma victims. Try to determine whether the counselor is a person of compassion and empathy and a good listener. That might be their greatest credential of all.
Support groups come in two varieties — continuous and time limited. Many faith communities offer time-limited groups, often during the holiday season. Continuous groups usually have a primary theme, like the death of a child or spouse. The Compassionate Friends, for example, is an umbrella organization for a worldwide network of support groups for those grieving the death of a child. Most large cities have a support group clearinghouse through their United Way affiliate.