Grief Therapists

Employment for mental health counselors is expected to grow by 19 percent, much faster than the average for all occupations, through 2033, according to the Occupational Outlook Handbook. A career in grief therapy holds great promise. Our changing and aging society creates a need for grief counseling. As baby boomers age and experience the deaths of their parents, friends, and families, they are seeking the help of bereavement counselors to help them adjust and deal with their feelings. Counseling has become a socially accepted tool to help people deal with difficult or painful situations.

As violent crimes occur and as young people witness acts of violence and experience the untimely death of friends, they seek an understanding that grief counselors can help provide. Car accidents, AIDS, and drug-related deaths can also create feelings of guilt and depression that counselors can help people work through. Unfortunately, there will continue to be natural disasters such as tornadoes, floods, avalanches, and earthquakes that kill large numbers of people. Grief counselors will continue to be called on to help ease survivors' pain.

Although grief therapists work in every part of the country, demand is highest in retirement areas of the country where there is a large elderly population.