Bereavement Counselor Job Description
Bereavement counselors work directly with clients who are struggling with grief due to loss. Bereavement counselors are also sometimes called grief counselors.
A bereavement counselor may work with patients in either an individual or group setting. Usually, this process involves listening to the patients’ thoughts and feelings about their grief. The bereavement counselor will help the patient to process those emotions and suggest methods for coping with them. To accomplish this, bereavement counselors need to be attentive, take notes, and monitor their patients’ progress.
Bereavement Counselor Job Description Template
Our office is looking for an empathetic and skilled bereavement counselor to join our team. Your job will be to help patients who are struggling with grief. You may be asked to do this in both individual and group settings. Your most important duties will include: planning patients’ treatments, conducting therapy sessions with them, and making suggestions to help each patient manage their grief in the healthiest ways possible. You may also need to refer patients to other therapists for more specialized assistance.
To be successful in this position, you will need to have deep insight into the psychology of loss. You should also have previous experience working with patients who are struggling with grief. If you believe that you possess all of our desired qualifications, we’d love to hear from you. You can send us your resume and a cover letter to begin the application process.
Bereavement Counselor Responsibilities:
- Perform therapy sessions with clients who are struggling with grief
- Take notes on patients’ thoughts and feelings
- Help the patient to examine their thoughts and feelings
- Make suggestions that help the patient cope with their grief in healthier ways
- Monitor the client’s progress and adjust their treatment plan as needed
- Refer clients to other mental health professionals as needed
- Remain up-to-date with the latest research and theories regarding the psychology of loss
Bereavement Counselor Requirements:
- Candidates must possess all state-mandated licenses
- Masters degree in counseling, with an emphasis on grief preferred
- Previous experience in a similar role
- Ability to use electronic health record-keeping systems like Therabill and NextStep
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills
- Experience with helping patients who have underlying mental health concerns
- In-depth knowledge of the psychology of loss and the stages of the grieving process
Bereavement Counselor FAQ
What tasks does a bereavement counselor do?
The most important task that bereavement counselors do is provide therapy to patients who have been struggling with grief. This is a process that involves making the patient feel comfortable enough to freely express the thoughts and feelings they have surrounding grief. The bereavement counselor will also take notes and make suggestions to help the patient cope with their grief in healthier ways.
Can I use your bereavement counselor job description template?
You can absolutely use our bereavement counselor job description template as a starting point for your own. However, customize what we’ve written here to match the unique needs of your position.
For example, maybe bereavement counselors at your company need to practice a certain kind of therapy. Or, maybe you have odd hours that are worth mentioning. Either way, adding more specific details will help you attract more qualified applicants for the position.
What should I include in my bereavement counselor help-wanted ads?
We recommend that you simply follow what we’ve laid out above. Start with an opening paragraph or two that describe the job in general terms. Then, get into the details of the position by adding two bulleted lists that focus on the responsibilities and requirements of the role, respectively.
