Who counsels the grief counsellor?
Speaking from personal experience, Fleming concedes that grief counsellors are often impacted by the problems of their clients who recount their tragic experiences so vividly. “To some degree, you absorb the tragedies of your clients and imagine yourself in their shoes. It’s hard not to be affected over time in some way. It really makes you appreciate the precariousness and preciousness of life. The issue of who counsels the grief counsellor is also becoming a major concern within the profession,” he says. Teaching the psychology of death and dying Fleming’s York course on the psychology of death and dying is always enrolled to capacity. Students have the opportunity to visit funeral homes, palliative care units and to interact with many guest speakers, including bereaved parents. “Students often want to discuss their own fears and concerns in the class. In addition to helping them become future potential clinicians, the course helps them cope on a more personal level when they have to
