Beyond the Five Stages of Grief: Helping Professionals and Bereavement Counseling

One of the most important functions that a health professionals can provide is counseling and compassion in times of loss. In addition to offering the spiritual comfort that clergy may offer, counselors, social workers, psychologists, physicians, nurses, and other helping professionals can also help a grieving individual or family if they have a deeper understanding of the bereavement process.

While the ground-breaking book on stages of grief by Elisabeth-Kubler Ross was an important step forward, the research into the grieving and healing process continues to add to our appreciation for both the similarities and differences in the stages across different persons.

As most know, Kubler-Ross began by defining the five stages of grief for those with terminal illnesses, and then generalized it to all important losses, including death and even loss of a job.

(A recent pundit suggests that even political losses can invoke the grieving process.)

The stages are follows:

1. Denial, in which the person refuses to believe what is happening

2. Anger, which the person recognizes the loss or impending loss and now feels rage and envy.

3. Bargaining, in which the person hopes to negotiate a deal, e.g., postponement of the loss in return for good behavior

4. Depression, which involves understanding the inevitable and loses hope.

5. Acceptance, in which the person comes to terms with the inevitable and becomes more present

It is important to know that Kubler-Ross did not say that these stages were an immutable road that all grieving persons travel down. She does day, though, that individuals will experience at least two. The order and duration varies from person to person, she explained, though many are unaware of that caveat.

Also, simply being aware of the stages does not provide the healer with the perspective or tools for responding to each of them. In order to provide the most meaningful kind of help at times of death or other losses, a well-grounded training is essential.

Courses in thanatology and grief counseling (also known as bereavement counseling) can add immeasurably to the understanding and competence of ministers, counselors, hospice workers, and others who find themselves in frequent contact with those who are suffering from terminal illnesses, impending death, death of loved ones, and other significant losses.

Finances Top List of Stressors in US

What are the top life stressors these days in the United States?

Health care professionals will want to see the results of the new survey from a leading non-profit mental health organization, Mental Health America (formerly known as the National Mental Health Association). Whether you are a registered nurse, a licensed social worker, a psychologist, a pastor, or even a fitness consultant, these data provide a glimpse of stress today.

As the MHA president, David L. Shern observes, “The majority of Americans struggles to find balance in the face of a multitude of challenges in our busy society.

“How they choose to cope – whether it is distracting activities, exercise, talking through their troubles or more harmful measures of smoking and doing drugs – affects their mental health. If inappropriately or inadequately addressed, chronic stress and other mental health problems jeopardize the health and well-being of Americans and of the nation as a whole,” he added

The Top Three Stressors: Finances, Health, and Jobs

In general, despite rating their mental health and well-being as excellent or very good, over half of Americans report feeling stress from financial, employment, and health issues on a daily basis.

1. Finances.

Finances, not surprisingly these days, come out on top, stressing 48 percent of Americans overall. However across demographic groups, a different picture emerges. Over 55 percent of African Americans and Native Americans report feeling stressed by finances compared to 49 percent of Latinos, 47 percent of non-Hispanic Whites, and 42 percent of Asians.

2. Health.

For 34 percent, health issues were listed as significant stressors overall and came in second.

3. Employment

Employment issues, including on-the-job stress and unemployment stress, were named as a major stress by 32 percent of Americans.

More Stress Findings

Interestingly, parents turn out to be the group reporting the most stress. Almost 40 percent experience stress from three or more sources, including family relationships, work, and finances.

The demographic groups overall reported the following degree of stress: Native Americans, 37 percent, and African Americans, 38 percent, Latinos, 34 percent, Asians, 34 percent, and non-Hispanic Whites, 30 percent.

The survey found that college graduates felt less stress overall and were less likely to consider financial issues stressful.

Finally, a high proportion (72 percent) of those suffering from mental illnesses were especially likely to report stress in their close relationships. T percent) and health stress (48 percent).hey also reported work stress (

. People with mental illness also feel stressed by employment, 47 percent, and health, 48 percent.

Given the high percentages of Americans who experience stress, professional health care providers can really benefit from the current training in stress management. Check out your local options as well as distance education courses. You may discover that you can start using the coping principles on yourself as the holidays arrive!