Written by Memorial Mortuary & Cemeteries in-house grief counselor, Amanda Nelsen:

Unfortunately, death is part of life. We will all grieve in our lifetime. Heavy, intense, and long-lasting negative emotions are very normal after a death.

You may be wondering if grief counseling would help with those feelings or be able to “speed up” the grieving process. Others may have told you that you need to see a grief counselor. It can be confusing to know when to seek professional help. Below are some items to consider if you are uncertain if grief counseling would help you.

(It should be noted that many of the below items are not a cause for concern in the immediate aftermath of the death, but if they are still present in months or years following the death, they may be more problematic.)

Do you have recurrent thoughts of suicide or wanting to die so you can be with your loved one?

Are you worried about how you are coping with the death of your loved one?

Has your sleep, appetite, or weight changed considerably since the death of your loved one?

Do you have intense confusion or a very difficult time concentrating since your loved one’s death?

Do you feel extreme rage or paralyzing sadness on a regular basis?

Do others tell you that you are not coping well?

If you feel that many of the above items apply to you, it may be time to seek out professional help. The most important way to know if you might need help is if you feel that your quality of life has been significantly, and negatively, changed and you have been unable to find relief over time.

Most people will not want or need grief counseling. However, others find comfort in having a neutral place to go where you can talk with a professional about your thoughts and concerns. Some people seek this out immediately after a death – others wait months or years.

Grief counseling may be short or long term. It might involve individual, family, or group therapy. Many clients only come one or two sessions to ask questions, others come regularly for months. There is no set plan for grief counseling; you can work with the counselor to figure out what will be most helpful for you.

If you want to speak with a grief counselor by phone or in person, you may contact Amanda Nelsen, CMHC, at amanda.nelsen@securitynational .com or 801-718-1520. We do not charge for our grief services .

Amanda is a Clinical Mental Health Counselor, specializing in individual and family therapy for people of varying backgrounds. She works for Memorial Estates, running their Grief & Loss Counseling program.

She has extensive experience working with adolescents and families in the community. Amanda received her Master’s Degree in Educational Psychology from the University of Utah. There she focused on Multicultural and Client Centered Counseling.

Amanda started her career working for Salt Lake County Youth Services, serving families from all backgrounds and with a wide variety of issues. She further developed her passion for helping people recover and heal from trauma and loss.

In counseling, Amanda values the trust and safety of the therapeutic relationship. She creates a counseling environment full of compassion, safety, empathy, and understanding. She constantly strives to help to cultivate strong relationships and assist families to cope with the loss of a loved one. Through her open attitude, and the warm environment that she facilitates, families can begin to feel peace as they work through their bereavement.

Memorial Estates, with the help of Amanda Nelsen, is committed to helping you through the loss of your loved one. You may contact Amanda at (801) 718-1520 or amanda.nelsen@securitynational.com

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