Seeking a Counselor

[qos]

I would like to find a counselor to help me with my grieving, but I am at a loss to know how to find one who would also accept what I'm experiencing on a spiritual level.

I suppose I have several options: to make some calls and simply ask up front what the counselor's own spiritual path is; to ask my spiritual director if he has any contacts who would be appropriate; to look in the plentiful 'alternative spirituality' directories in my region for a counselor.

The third is probably the best idea.

I am not suicidal, but I don't like the fact that when I get dragged down by the grief I begin to feel that an early death sounds like a more desireable option than living out a full span of years. It doesn't happen that often, but I would like to get some help.

Comments

[gryphons.livejournal.com]

you might also look for licensed clinical social workers.. they are counselors, but don't have the same type of indoctrination that psychologists and such get.. we've found them to be the more accepting of a lot of things.. alternative spirituality, sexuality.. they're more concerned in helping you cope than any fancy theories or forcing you to fit their ideas.

[blessed-harlot.livejournal.com]

Desiring release from your ordeal and your separation is a very natural response to have. I am glad you're availing yourself of whatever support is there for you. Surely there are counselors who can keep up with you. I haven't tried LCSWs for personal counseling, but your friend's characterization of them as focusing more on coping skills than on "orthodoxy" makes sense to me.