First, it’s important to understand the difference between these two specialists. While they may work together, their roles in helping someone cope with grief differ. Psychiatrists specialize in prescribing medications, whereas psychologists focus on psychotherapy to provide emotional and mental support. Before seeking guidance from one of these professionals, it may be helpful to talk to your doctor.

As mentioned, your doctor is an excellent resource to help you find a grief specialist. They can assess your needs and provide suggestions. Additionally, you can contact your insurance company to check which grief counselors are covered under your plan.

Don’t hesitate to ask trusted family and friends for recommendations. If your loved one passed away in a hospital or hospice center, these institutions may also provide suggestions for grief counselors. Another option is to seek help from a religious or spiritual leader who is trained in supporting individuals coping with grief.

Several online resources make it easy to locate grief specialists near you, such as:

Psychology Today offers a Find a Grief Therapist search feature. You can search by city, zip code, or a specific name. The search results will display grief therapists near you that match your criteria. Detailed descriptions include the therapist’s name, photograph, education, experience, areas of expertise, and contact information.

Angie’s List

Angie’s List also provides information about grief specialists in your area. You can create a free account to view search results, including information about grief specialists, along with ratings and reviews from other users.

Good Therapy

Good Therapy offers a search tool to help you find a therapist near you. You can search by zip code or city, and use the Advanced Search option to select grief as the therapist’s specialty. The search results include background information such as the therapist’s name, education, specialties, and contact information.

• Professional, yet sympathetic
• Excellent verbal and non-verbal communication skills
• Trustworthy and friendly
• Feeling you can open up to them and not be judged
• Their therapy methods fit your needs
• Flexible with your schedule and any other needs
• Inspires you and gives you hope
• Confidence in what they do

Before reaching out a possible grief counselor, you should determine a few things you want beforehand, such as if you’re looking for short-term or long-term counseling. You may want someone to help you in the first few months after the death, or you may want to see someone for longer. You may not know this right away, and that’s okay. You can start seeing someone and, as you go, determine the right amount of sessions for you.

You also should determine if you have any other preferences, such as if you prefer to talk to a male or female therapist or someone who falls into a certain age range. Choose whomever you feel comfortable with. Each therapist has their own personality and therapy styles that may or may not be right for you. But once you find one that fits your preferences, you can work together on your grief journey.

If you’re more comfortable in a group, you could see about attending group therapy with another loved one who is coping with the loss. However, it also may be a good idea to do some individual sessions as well so your therapist can better determine your specific grieving needs.

Don’t hesitate to reach out to Jefferson Memorial Funeral Home for help. Funeral directors can offer educational resources, suggest local therapists, or they may be trained themselves to help you cope with your grief. They also can suggest local grief support groups and grief events and classes that they offer to the community, such as seminars, webinars, or other events. We are here 24/7 to assist you.