How to Become a Grief Counselor

Grief counseling professionals work with clients coping with significant loss, including death, serious illness, life transitions, and other major bereavements. As they build a therapeutic relationship, grief counselors assess how a client is responding to loss and what kind of support may be most helpful. Every individual grieves differently; some experience depression, anxiety, or intense stress, while others may feel relief, confusion, numbness, or a mix of emotions. No matter what a client is experiencing, counselors in this field help clients explore their emotions and perceptions of their grief.

Northwestern University

The Family Institute at Northwestern University

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Master of Arts in Counseling

Earn a CACREP-accredited master’s in counseling online from top-7 ranked¹ Northwestern University.
 

¹U.S. News & World Report: 2026 Best National University Rankings 

• CACREP Accredited
• Earn your MA in Counseling from Northwestern in as few as 18 months
• Accelerated full-time, traditional, or part-time tracks available

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New York University

NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development

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master of arts in Counseling for Mental Health and Wellness

NYU Steinhardt’s online master of arts in Counseling for Mental Health and Wellness prepares students to work with diverse clients to create lives of health and meaning.

• Prepare to become a mental health counselor
• Accredited by the MPCAC
• As few as 21 months to complete
• GRE not required 

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Counselors specializing in grief guide clients who are or have experienced a loss, illness, are going through a divorce, or are experiencing a significant change in their lives. Rather than trying to erase grief, counselors help clients acknowledge their loss, work through intense emotions, and adjust to life after a major change. Grief counselors may use different frameworks to help clients understand their responses to loss, but grief does not unfold in the same way for every person. Certified grief counselors often help clients navigate bereavement, loss, and adjustment. Licensed mental health professionals may also assess whether a client’s grief is accompanied by depression, trauma, or other mental health concerns that require clinical treatment or referral.

A few ways Grief counselors serve their clients are:

Clients benefit from the shared experience and solidarity that come with knowing they are not alone in their emotional distress. This dynamic creates a sounding board for similar issues among diverse personalities, leading to unique insights and helping clients accept and navigate the grieving process.

The immense grief experienced after losing a spouse, partner, parent, or child can be devastating. Bereavement is often used to describe the period of mourning and adjustment after a loss. Counselors in grief work understand that grieving and bereavement are unique to each individual. How long it takes someone to cope and adapt depends on many factors, including the nature of the loss, the person’s relationship to it, past coping patterns, support systems, and emotional health. Grief can manifest as sadness, anger, numbness, anxiety, confusion, or difficulty concentrating. A grief counselor helps clients to accept their loss and adjust to their changed lives. An important part of grief work is recognizing when a client may need additional mental health evaluation, treatment, or referral for depression or other serious concerns. 

Earn an MA in Psychology Online from Pepperdine

Pepperdine University’s online Master of Arts in Psychology program prepares students to pursue doctoral study or a career in human services.

• Open to all undergrad majors
• No GRE required 
• Can be completed in about 18 months

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Grief counseling certification and state licensure are different. Voluntary grief-specific certifications exist, but state licensure may be required if you practice psychotherapy, diagnose mental health conditions, or use a protected professional title. For licensed counseling professions, requirements often include a graduate degree, supervised postgraduate clinical experience, and a passing licensing exam, though exact requirements vary by state.

Counselors can earn certification through the American Institute of Health Care Professionals (AIHCP). AIHCP’s Certified Grief Counselor credential is an additional professional certification that reflects specialized education and eligibility in grief counseling.  AIHCP also offers continuing education programs in grief counseling. 

The American Institute of Health Care Professionals offers this voluntary certification to guide practice for professional counselors seeking to pursue grief work. Required coursework for this optional certification includes: death, dying, and mourning; grief counseling for the helping professions; grief therapy; and working with grieving children.

Professional certification in thanatology (CT), the scientific study of death, dying, and bereavement, is also available through The Association for Death Education and Counseling (ADEC). 

The services of grief counselors are highly sought by those in need, often indirectly through referrals from primary care practitioners, health facilities, or government agencies. Demand for grief support may increase after public health crises, natural disasters, community trauma, or other large-scale losses that affect families and communities. Professionals in this field may work in private practice, community mental health centers, hospice programs, hospitals, funeral homes, rehabilitation centers, long-term care facilities, and social service agencies. 

As grief care continues to evolve, many counselors are also paying attention to the rise of “GriefTech,” including online bereavement platforms, memorial tools, telehealth services, and newer AI applications sometimes called griefbots. Reporting in Scientific American suggests these tools may offer some people a new way to reflect on loss, process unfinished conversations, or access support when human care feels hard to reach. At the same time, researchers caution that the evidence remains limited and that highly immersive AI tools may not be appropriate for everyone, especially those in the earliest and most vulnerable stages of grief. For now, the most balanced view is that these technologies may become part of the grief-support landscape, but they should complement—not replace—qualified counselors, support networks, and evidence-based mental health care. 

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New York University

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NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development

master of arts in Counseling for Mental Health and Wellness

New York, New York

Description:

NYU Steinhardt’s online master of arts program in Counseling for Mental Health and Wellness prepares students to become professional mental health counselors who guide clients of all identities toward healthy lifestyles. Counseling@NYU students receive the knowledge and hands-on training to work with adults both individually and in groups. The program is delivered through online live classes, asynchronous course work and in-person field experiences at NYU Steinhardt-approved sites near students’ communities.

Enrollment Type: Full-Time

Length of Program: As few as 21 months

Credits: 60

Admission Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited university 
• Minimum 3.0 GPA 
• Statement of purpose 
• Current resume 
• Transcripts 
• Two letters of recommendation

Request more info from NYU Steinhardt.

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Last updated: April 2020