How Do I Interview a Grief Counselor?  You need to feel comfortable with any Grief Counselor that you’re considering hiring. Ask lots of questions in your search to find someone that fits your own life style.

• Where are you located?
• Is it close to a public transportation system? (needed if no car)
• Is parking available?
• Is it wheel chair accessible?
• What are your hours of operation?
• Do you have any immediate openings?
• If you can’t fit me in, can you recommend other qualified therapists?
• How long is a session?
• What is your cancellation policy?
• What are your fees?
• Do you prefer to be paid at each session or can I carry a balance?
• Do you accept credit cards?
• Are you covered by my insurance?
• Will you bill direct to my insurer or must I?
• How does insurance reimbursement work?
• What’s a typical grief-counseling session like?
• What is your style or philosophy for grief counseling?
• Do you give guidance or do you prefer not to make suggestions?
• Are there any particular techniques that you have found helpful for clients dealing with grief?
• What timeframe can I hope for in terms of feeling better than I feel now?

Pick the questions that you want to ask and the responses should help you assess whether he or she is a good fit for you. This list is a great way to locate a person or an organization that will be able to help you.  Listen to their answers and see if the pace or sound of their voice is annoying to you – this is an example of a bad match up. Many professionals have websites and you may find the answers to some of your questions by checking their website out before you call them. Trust your intuition and keep searching until your gut feeling is an enthusiastic “Yes.” Ask family and friends if they have any recommendations, do an internet search, check with a “virtual” community of grievers, check the telephone book in the yellow pages and check with your health insurance provider. Small changes can be enough to see significant improvement in happiness.  Taking action steps is the key – just wishing for things to change isn’t going to do it.  Like most things in life, ignoring it will not make it better. You may think that you have to be strong but grief has to be acknowledged. In addition to seeking out a Grief Counselor, reconnect with people from your past and activities that you used to enjoy doing. Lots of older people volunteer a couple of hours at their local church, hospice, hospital, soup kitchen and that’s just a small list of where you can make a difference. Join a group of people whose company you enjoy, you are not the alone in your grief and talking to others can help. To Our Shared Journey,                                                                                       Mary Francis is a Certified Grief Recovery Specialist® Certified Law of Attraction Facilitator, Early Intervention Field Traumatology (EIFT) Author/Founder of “The Sisterhood of Widows”