To become a grief counselor, licensing requirements vary by state or country. A bachelor’s degree in a human services field is usually the least amount of education needed to become a licensed grief counselor. Volunteering in a grief counseling job at a hospice is a good way to start becoming a grief counselor. It takes supervised working hours and passing the exam to become a licensed grief counselor with credentials.
If you want to become a grief counselor, it is important to understand that duties and limitations vary between licensed and unlicensed grief counselors. Licensing requirements vary by state or country, but generally, bereavement counselors who provide any type of clinical or psychological counseling must be licensed. Funeral directors and others who comfort and speak to clients about grief are not considered clinical psychological counselors and generally do not require a license for grief counseling.
A licensed grief counselor usually works full-time in the field of grief counseling, while an unlicensed grief counselor may provide counseling to clients on a part-time basis. Unlicensed grief counselors often refer clients to licensed grief counselors. Grief is the feeling of loss, such as when a loved one dies, and people react to the loss in many different ways. A person who has recently experienced the loss of a loved one may feel better briefly discussing their feelings with a professional such as a funeral director, while others may require more in-depth psychological counseling from a licensed grief counselor on an ongoing basis.
A bachelor’s degree in a human services field is usually the least amount of education needed to become a licensed grief counselor. Increasingly, a master’s degree in psychology or social work is preferred in grief counselor jobs. Licensed grief counselors work in individual and group settings, while unlicensed grief counselors often speak with clients individually or as a family.
Volunteering in a grief counseling job at a hospice is a good way to start becoming a grief counselor. A hospice is a living environment that takes care of people who are close to death. Hospices provide counseling for bereaved family members and friends after a loved one dies. By volunteering at a hospice, it is possible to obtain training and supervision in grief counseling to help you decide whether you want further training, education, and licensing as a grief counselor.
It takes supervised working hours and passing the exam to become a licensed grief counselor with credentials. The number of supervised hours depends on your location. The American Academy of Bereavement Counseling has educational programs and certification information for funeral directors, hospital workers, and anyone who wants to become a bereavement counselor.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
