Grief counseling efficacy: Have we learned enough?

Abstract

Henk Schut responds to Larson and Hoyt's challenge (see Bereavement Care 28 (3), winter 2009) to the prevailing pessimism about the effectiveness of grief counselling. Studies indeed show that the more formalised professional therapeutic interventions with those experiencing complicated grief reactions can be effective, but for those who have simply lost a loved one, the evidence suggests that counselling is unlikely to be effective unless the individual feels they need help, and so actively seeks it. This article summarises the evidence and goes on to argue that we are unlikely to achieve more lasting outcomes with those considered at risk of complicated or prolonged grief until we are able accurately to pinpoint what the risk factors are, and target our interventions accordingly.