Buy, Meaghan - Bereavement Counsellor

From What can you do with a degree in psychology?

1 Job Title

[edit] Job Title

Bereavement counsellor (also grief or loss counsellor)

[edit] General overview

Also known as grief or loss counsellors, bereavement councellors help adults and children cope with the death of a loved one through support and counselling. Bereavement counsellors may work for counselling centres, social service agencies, community programs, or be self-employed. Individuals often enter this field of work from a previously related career. A relevant certificate in bereavement counselling is required along with previous education, and experience may be helpful.

[edit] Job duties and responsibilities

Many duties are similar across various counselling professions. The counsellor interviews clients, prepares case histories, assesses problem, counsels clients and provides therapy. They also evaluate the effectiveness of counselling programs and interventions^[1]. Bereavement counsellors typically use a talk therapy form of counselling known as psychotherapy, which allows each individual to convey their independent experience and expression of grief^[2].

[edit] Typical workday

A typical full time work week is 35 to 40 hours often with evening and weekend work necessary to accommodate the schedule of clients’. A typical work day may be from 9 to 5, but can vary depending on the organization the bereavement counsellor is working for. The number of clients a bereavement counsellor will see in a day is around 4, depending on the scheduled duration of the meeting. The workday may vary day-by-day as the bereavement counsellor may spent part of their time each day in meetings with colleagues, meetings with clients, returning clients’ calls, and filing paper work or entering information from previous sessions into the computer for other health care providers to reference. Part-time work as a bereavement counsellor is also possible. The workplace environment is indoors and in comfortable offices, which ensures the clients’ comfort as well as the counsellors. The bereavement programs may be funded by the government, non-profit organizations, or religious groups^[3]. Work is typically one-on-one with the client but may be done in larger groups of people. Supervision of other counsellors, social service staff and assistants may also be involved^[1]. Bereavement counsellors also help those dealing with loss from childhood that may be affecting their present relationships, with families of terminally ill patients and the ill patient themselves helping to prepare and cope with what is happening. Individual strategies are developed based on the client’s situation to help them deal with loss in healthier ways and begin to adjust to life without the loved one.

[edit] Educational Requirements and Other Qualifications

There is not a single set pathway for entering a career as a bereavement counsellor within Canada, however there are some general requirements which include obtaining a bachelor’s degree along with training specific to bereavement counselling. Suggested bachelor programs which reflect many areas of bereavement counselling are psychology, social work, or theology. Some employers may require a master’s degree and it may be helpful for furthering experience. Specific training in bereavement counselling is needed and there are several ways to complete training. Certificate programs are available through some colleges and typically take a year to complete. Shorter alternatives ranging from a day to two months include courses offered by centres for bereavement and grief counselling, and through certain health care agencies^[3]. Certification is often done through the organization which an individual hopes to work within, as such certification programs and requirements not only differ between provinces, but also between organizations and health care facilities.

Information from programs can be found here:

Careers in Psychology - http://careersinpsychology.org/psychology-programs/?program_type=counselor&level=masters

The Association of Death Education and Counselling offers certification:

The ADEC - http://www.adec.org/adec/default.aspx

[edit] Related Skills, Interests, and Abilities

Related skills, interests, and abilities include an individual wanting to work with those dealing with the loss of a loved one include: being understanding, emotionally stable, a good listener, being patient, working with diverse individuals, being good at observing others, caring, advising, and able to keep accurate records. It is also important that individuals are considerate of the feelings, views or behaviours of other, and enjoy helping others with their social and personal problems. Interests should include questioning and interviewing people, helping people with emotional or psychological problems, and motivating people. It is important that bereavement counsellors have the ability to cope with unpleasant or upsetting situations and are able to distance themselves from work at the end of the day, especially due to the stress that can be involved in helping people through difficult times.

[edit] Relevance of Psychology Undergraduate Degree

An undergraduate degree in psychology is one of the relevant bachelor degrees recommended in the pathway to becoming a bereavement counsellor. Courses on Counselling and Psychotherapy help to understand contemporary theories in counselling and psychotherapy which is beneficial for learning about different views of client and counsellor dynamics. Various courses in psychology discuss many approaches that are beneficial for learning how to interact with others and how individuals may deal with problems differently. Some of these approaches include types of psychotherapy which may be used by a bereavement counsellor such as Psychoanalysis, the forefront of psychology and exploration of the dynamic workings of the brain, or an integrative approach to psychotherapy, and lastly group psychotherapy. A bereavement counsellor might use forms of psychoanalysis to determine if individuals struggling with the loss of a loved one are using any defense mechanisms which may be preventing them from moving past the death. Every individual is different in how they process a death and handle their grief, as such a bereavement counsellor may make use of multiple techniques, which is way integrative psychotherapy may be commonly used. Often when a death occurs with a family group therapy may be the best option as it allows for families to come together to learn to cope and get past their grief collectively^[4].

[edit] Salary Potential

Counsellors can earn between $25 000 and $70 000+ a year. The level of earnings is dependent on several factors including education, experience, employer, and geographic region^[3]. Median wages for counsellors in general are $20.97 an hour or about $43 620 annually^[5]. According to data retrieved in 2013, within Ontario the average wage varies among major cities from $23 an hour to $28, with a busy city like Toronto paying councellors a higher wage due to demand. Major cities in Alberta and British Columbia (e.g. Calgary, Edmonton, and Vancouver) have the greatest average wage for councellors across Canada, ranging from $27 to $33 an hour^[6].

[edit] Job Outlook

The projected growth from 2012-2022 in Canada for the field of counselling is faster than average with 12 100 projected job openings^[5].

[edit] To Know More

CareerCrusing: http://www.careercruising.com

Careers in Psychology - 'How to Become a Grief Counselor: http://careersinpsychology.org/become-a-grief-counselor/

Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, Essential Skills - Family, Marriage, and Other Related Counsellors: http://www.jobbank.gc.ca/es_view_profile-eng.do?prof_id=228