Grief can be a profound and universal human experience. It’s the natural, complex response to loss: the loss of a loved one, a relationship, a job or even a sense of normalcy. This response can manifest in many ways, including intense emotional pain, physical discomfort or a keenly-felt shift in one’s sense of self. During these deeply challenging times, having access to someone who understands the complexities of grief and can offer support is invaluable.
Grief counselors play a crucial role in this process. They provide a compassionate, understanding and non-judgmental space for individuals and families to process their loss. Grief counselors offer emotional support and facilitate the healing process. Their ultimate goal is to help develop coping mechanisms and to find meaning and purpose amidst their pain.
Grief counseling is both a challenging and rewarding path for those who feel a calling to help others navigate life’s difficult journeys. If you think this is a career you’re interested in, read on to learn more about your next steps toward becoming a grief counselor.
Becoming a grief counselor typically begins with a bachelor’s degree in a field that lays a solid groundwork for understanding human behavior, mental health and counseling approaches. Some popular options for those interested in grief counseling down the line include:
Psychology: A psychology degree provides a strong foundation in human development, personality, abnormal psychology and principles of research—all relevant to comprehending the complexities of grief.
Counseling: A counseling degree offers a more direct focus on counseling theories, techniques and ethical practices, providing essential tools for working with grieving individuals.
Social work: A social work degree delves into social systems, advocacy and understanding the broader societal and cultural factors that can influence a person’s experience of grief.
While there may be flexibility in your undergraduate major, choosing a field that aligns with your interest in grief and loss will provide an invaluable springboard for your further education and development as a counselor.
Many students wonder whether they should earn a bachelor of arts (BA) or a bachelor of science (BS) degree. Does one set you up for success in a master’s program better than another? Are you fascinated by the biological aspects of psychology, statistics and research? If so, a BS might be more in line with your interests. If you are drawn to a wider exploration of subfields and potential applications of psychology, a BA might offer better flexibility.
Earn a graduate degree.
To deepen your understanding of grief, develop specialized counseling skills and increase your professional credibility, pursuing a master’s degree is the next step. In most clinical and practice settings, a master’s degree is a minimum requirement. Very few opportunities exist for full-time grief counselors who don’t possess this advanced degree.
As with your bachelor’s degree, there are many options to consider. Here are a few popular choices:
Master’s in Counseling: Provides a comprehensive approach to counseling, with courses on grief and loss, crisis intervention, therapeutic techniques, and ethics.
Master’s in Social Work: Focuses on broader social and systemic issues surrounding grief, loss and trauma, along with advocacy and case management skills.
Specialized Programs in Grief Counseling: Some universities offer master’s programs specifically tailored to grief and bereavement counseling, delving deeply into the complexities of loss and healing.
No matter what your major is, your graduate program should involve coursework in areas like theories of grief and loss, multicultural perspectives on death and dying, individual and group counseling techniques and crisis intervention. Make sure to explore the specific courses in your program to ensure your curriculum will provide you with the skills you need in your career.
Obtain a license to practice in your state.
You can apply for a license in your state once you’ve met all the eligibility criteria. Your academic program should be able to familiarize you with the requirements, but you can search for your state’s specific requirements online.
The state site will provide you with a list of requirements that must be met in order to apply. Typically, you will need:
• Official transcripts from your master’s or doctoral degree program • Verification of supervised experience, complete with forms filled out by your supervisors • Proof of passing a required exam (NCE, NCMHCE, state-specific exam, etc.) • Background check and fingerprinting • Application form and fees
Some states may also require an exam on your state’s laws and regulations governing mental health practice—this is called a jurisprudence exam.
Since the process can be time-consuming, it may be best to familiarize yourself with requirements well before you intend to apply. Be thorough, as well: incomplete or incorrect applications may cause delays. If you have any questions, contact your state’s licensing board as they are the best source for accurate and up-to-date information.
Gain practical experience as a working counselor.
As a student—and after you graduate—you may have many opportunities to practice the counseling skills you’ve learned. College counseling centers or community clinics often offer internships or practicums where you can work with clients dealing with grief alongside other concerns.
Once you graduate, you can find entry-level opportunities to work as a grief counselor. Hospitals, hospices or funeral homes may be some of your early employers. These organizations often employ bereavement coordinators to provide support to families who have experienced a loss.
Organizations specializing in grief support might also have entry-level positions available for recent grads. In the early stages of your career you can observe counselors, assist with administrative tasks and gain exposure to how the organization operates. In addition, agencies focusing on particular populations—such as veterans, victims of violence or people dealing with specific illnesses—often integrate grief support into their services. These are great places to consider as you build experience and find your niche in the grief counseling community.
Keep your skills up-to-date through certification or continuing education.
After obtaining your graduate degree, you may consider pursuing additional certification (or even a more advanced degree, such as a doctorate) specific to your field. By networking with other counselors, attending conferences or participating in workshops, you will have the chance to learn about opportunities in your region.
Organizations like the Association for Death Education and Counseling (ADEC) offer learning opportunities you might be interested in. For instance, they have a certification credential that can demonstrate your specialized knowledge and commitment to the field. This can enhance your professional reputation and open doors to new career opportunities.
Essential skills and qualities for grief counseling
Working as a grief counselor is not for everyone, even those who are committed to compassionate care or helping others. Witnessing grief up close day in and day out can lead to secondary trauma known as compassion fatigue. It requires great emotional resilience to work in this field for any length of time. Patience is key, also, since there is no linear path to recovery and no two patients will process their grief in the exact same way.
Some of the most important skills you’ll need as a counselor include:
Empathy:
The ability to understand and share the feelings of someone who is grieving. This creates a safe and compassionate space for healing.
Active listening:
Paying full attention to the verbal and non-verbal cues of the client, demonstrating genuine interest and understanding.
Acceptance:
Providing a space free from judgment where the client feels accepted and validated regardless of how they express their grief.
Communication:
Clearly explaining complex concepts about grief, offering guidance and handling difficult conversations.
Collaboration:
Working effectively with other healthcare professionals, community resources and a client’s support system.
Cultural sensitivity:
Respecting and understanding how diverse backgrounds and beliefs influence the grieving process.
As a grief counselor, you will also need to develop some skills that are specific to this subfield of psychology. These could include:
Knowledge of grief models:
Understanding various theories on the stages of grief, how people experience loss and what helps promote healthy coping.
Tailored interventions:
Knowing a variety of techniques (talking therapy, creative expression, mindfulness) and being able to adapt them to the specific needs of a grieving client.
Crisis intervention:
Recognizing and responding to moments of intense distress or when a client might be a danger to themselves or others.
Trauma sensitivity:
Recognizing that grief often intertwines with trauma and understanding how to support clients with those needs.
Understanding complicated grief:
Being able to identify signs of grief that is prolonged or intensified in ways that might require more specialized treatment.
Practicing self-care:
Emotional resilience is critical, as grief work can be emotionally draining. Counselors need healthy boundaries and self-care practices.
Practical experience
Every counseling psychologist takes part in supervised clinical training as part of their education. These experiences allow you to apply your textbook knowledge in a real-world setting, develop essential skills and gain insights into your own suitability for this specialized work. This experiential learning is built into the curriculum for most counseling programs and is called a practicum.
Each state has its own board of psychology that determines specific licensing requirements, including rules for practicum, internship and postdoctoral hours. Your university’s program director or advisor should be able to provide clear guidance on the rules in your state.
The specifics of a practicum experience in grief counseling can vary depending on the program and the placement site, here’s a general overview of the types of activities and responsibilities you might encounter:
Observation and shadowing
Sit in on individual counseling sessions and observe an experienced grief counselor working with clients
Observe group therapy sessions to get a sense of how grief support groups are facilitated and the dynamics of group process
Shadow administrative tasks to observe how client intake is done and learn about record-keeping
Direct client interaction (under supervision)
Work alongside a licensed counselor to help lead group sessions and provide support to participants
Receive training and supervised experience in phone support or crisis intervention situations related to grief and loss
Practice case management and documentation, community resources and how to connect clients with support services beyond direct counseling
Supervision and professional development
Have scheduled time to discuss your cases, challenges, observations and receive feedback from your supervising counselor
Practice presenting your client work to supervisors and peers for feedback and professional development
Engage with research materials, case studies or professional seminars to deepen your knowledge on grief theory and practice
There are many places you may gain experience as a grief counselor. Hospice organizations, for instance, often employ grief counselors and may offer volunteer or internship opportunities for students. Many community health centers, too, offer grief support groups or individual counseling, sometimes at a sliding scale. This can be a great way to observe experienced counselors and potentially make connections.
Grief counselor career paths
Different settings cater to different work styles in this field. Some grief counselors thrive in high-paced environments like hospitals, while others prefer the more consistent schedule of a private practice. Some of the work settings you’ll most commonly find grief counselors include:
Hospitals: Grief counselors work in various hospital settings (palliative care, oncology, emergency departments) to support patients, families and staff dealing with loss, terminal illness and sudden death.
Hospices: A core setting for grief counseling, with a focus on end-of-life care as well as pre- and post-death bereavement support for patients and their loved ones.
Funeral homes: Some funeral homes employ grief counselors to provide immediate crisis support and facilitate aftercare groups for those who have lost someone.
Private practices: Grief counselors can establish their own practices, offering individual and group counseling sessions focused exclusively on grief and loss.
Community organizations: Non-profits, community centers and faith-based organizations often offer grief support services, providing affordable options for those in need.
Schools: School-based grief counselors support children, teens and staff coping with the death of a student, faculty member or other losses impacting the school community.
There is also demand for grief counselors to specialize in specific populations. You may find that you have a particular interest in serving particular groups such as military families, those who have lost loved ones to suicide or individuals who have experienced sudden or violent loss. Explore potential career paths in specific areas like child and adolescent bereavement, complicated grief and trauma-informed care to see if one particular client or experience resonates with you the most.
Grief counselor salary and job outlook
There is a growing demand for skilled professionals in this field. While grief counselors aren’t specifically listed in the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), many adjacent careers are.
Substance abuse, behavioral disorder and mental health counselors, for instance, earned a median salary of $53,710 per year in 2023. These roles were projected to see 18.4% growth, which is much faster than the average growth for most occupations (5%).
The median annual wage for educational, guidance and career counselors and advisors was $61,710 in 2023. This career field is projected to grow by 5.4% through 2032, which is average growth.
The BLS places the remainder of counselor types in a “Counselors, All other” category. This group is expected to see 17.2% growth over the next decade and the median annual wage for this group of counselors was $46,130 as of 2023.
There are several factors that are driving the increased need for grief counselors, says the BLS. For one, an aging population naturally leads to more instances of death due to age-related illnesses and the overall process of aging. This increases the number of people experiencing the loss of loved ones and is part of what is driving demand for this specialty.
Technology is another factor that is creating an increased need for support. Technology connects people in many ways, but many people experience increased isolation and a lack of community support structures because of their online lives. This makes grieving in the traditional context of family and social circles more difficult.
Another factor is the ways in which we are exposed to tragedy. Our modern world exposes us to complex and traumatic losses that can be difficult to process. School shootings, natural disasters and acts of terrorism create widespread grief that can overwhelm traditional support systems. Situations like dementia or missing persons, where there’s no clear closure, can also make grieving difficult.
Licensure and grief counselor certification
All counselors who want to directly provide therapy or counseling services will likely need state licensure. Licensure is mandated by state governments to practice as a specific type of mental health professional. Examples include Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) or Psychologist. Certifications, by contrast, are not necessary to practice grief counseling. These are voluntary credentials demonstrating specialized knowledge.
There is no license specific to grief counselors. Instead, the credentials you need will typically fall under broader mental health licensing categories. The path you need to take depends on a) your chosen focus and b) the state in which you plan to practice. Your state’s licensing board will have more specific details, but the most common licenses and certificates for grief counselors include:
Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
This designation is focused on general counseling practice, with a specialization in grief and loss. To qualify, you must possess a master’s or doctoral degree in counseling or a related field, have completed all your supervised clinical hours and successfully completed a national exam (National Counselor Exam or National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination).
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
This license qualifies you to provide a broad range of social services, with a focus on helping individuals, families and groups cope with loss within their social context. A master’s degree in social work, which may be earned online, is required to apply, along with completion of supervised clinical hours and the successful completion of a state-specific qualifying exam.
Psychologist
A licensed psychologist may specialize in grief but offer broader psychological assessments and interventions. In order to apply for this licensure, you must possess a doctoral degree (PhD or PsyD), have completed all your required supervised clinical hours and successfully passed the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP).
Certified Thanatologist
Offered by the Association for Death Education and Counseling (ADEC), this certification requires coursework, experience and an exam. Applicants must be able to demonstrate specialized knowledge in grief and loss.
One grief counselor’s story
Elizabeth Schandelmeier is the Senior Bereavement Counselor for Family Hospice, part of University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. She provides anticipatory, preparatory and bereavement counseling there. She is also responsible for training palliative MD fellows in bereavement and end of life communication. She’s spent more than a decade supporting grieving families, and had this to share with prospective grief counselors about her personal experience in the field.
“I started volunteering with a hospice agency and discovered that working with folks who have chronic or terminal illness is my heart work. I knew that I wanted to play a supportive role so I returned to school again to become a social worker because social work is a discipline that is recognized on hospice teams. I earned my MSW, then my LSW and eventually my LCSW.
While I was in school, I did internships with folks who have significant mental illness, as well as on the oncology and cardiology floors of a major hospital.
My first job out of school was as a clinical social worker for a flagship palliative team. It was one of the most amazing experiences I’ve ever had and I highly recommend that any person wanting to do grief work spend some time in a medical environment. During that time, I was able to see for myself what families go through during treatment, hospitalization, decision making and all of the other heartbreaking experiences hospitals can bring. Having some understanding of the medical world is very helpful in my counseling.
One of the best things about my work is that no two days are the same! Today I met with three clients, was a speaker at a major conference around the topic of children’s grief and helped plan our organization’s spring remembrance service. Other days I teach palliative physicians or give presentations to the community. Almost always I’m working with people who are grieving, whether it is before, during or after a death.
It is an incredible feeling to be of some help during a person’s worst time of their life. I can’t fix their problem, I can’t change what is happening, but I can offer support, empathy, an open ear and education. It is amazing that my clients trust me with some of their deepest secrets and allow me to walk the path of grief by their side. Being a grief counselor is an incredible honor.
You have to be able to check your judgment of others to the side. You never know what you might hear, people tell you their darkest secrets and it is your job to help them feel safe and secure and human. You also need an excellent sense of humor. Many of us are pretty dark, but we all love to laugh.
With adequate boundaries, my work stays at work when I go home. I plan enough recuperative time off and spend time seeking joy and beauty in the world. Being a grief counselor is a sure way to help develop your understanding that we are all here for a short time, so we might as well enjoy it while we can.”
Resources for grief counselors
Association for Death Education and Counseling (ADEC): ADEC is a multi-disciplinary organization focused on thanatology (the study of death, dying and bereavement). They offer student memberships, conferences and publications on grief-related topics.
American Psychological Association (APA): The APA provides a strong emphasis on the psychological aspects of grief, loss and bereavement, which is important for a well-rounded understanding of this complex area.
National Alliance for Grieving Children (NAGC): Specializing in supporting children, teens and families impacted by loss, NAGC offers resources, training and can help connect students to professionals working in this specialty.
American Counseling Association (ACA): The ACA is the largest organization for professional counselors in the U.S. They offer various publications, webinars and may have local chapters where students can connect with grief specialists.
National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC): The National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) is a non-profit organization that offers certification, assessment and advocacy for counselors.
Final thoughts
Working as a grief counselor can be very fulfilling for the right person. You are in a position to have a deeply positive impact on the lives of people who are navigating loss. Grief is a universal experience, but our society lacks robust support systems. Grief counselors fill a crucial gap in helping people cope with loss. For those with personal goals and values that align with this mission, it’s hard to imagine doing anything more fulfilling.
Now that you know more about what it takes to become a grief counselor, the next step is to explore your education options. You can research popular programs for grief counselors using the search tool on this page. All you need to do is click the Find Schools button to get started.
