Thanatology - Psychology - Chapter 1

Define Psychology

The study of Human behavior

Define Funeral Service Psychology

The study of human behavior
and how it relates to funeral service.

Why do funeral directors need to know funeral service psychology and grief counseling?

• More we know about people in grief, the better we can
serve them
• The more we understand the reactions of grieving people
the better we can assist them through the process

• We work in an environment of grief – knowing everything
about it that we can possibly know helps us do our job
effectively and meet the expectations of families.

• Families know more about it so we must stay “ahead of the
curve”
• Courses are taught in colleges
• Books are articles are all over the place
• Grief support groups have emerged
• An educated customer is our best customer and an educate
funeral director is the best help a grieving family can receive
immediately after death.

Funeral Service Psychology &
Counseling

It is the combination of
• General psychology
• Psychology of Grief
• Psychology of Bereavement
• General Counseling
• Grief Therapy
• Grief Counseling

Since what date have our understandings of bereavement and grief been increased?

1970

Is the public more aware or less aware of grief and bereavement now?

More aware

Role of the funeral director

• Must be familiar with the purpose and techniques of
counseling
• FDs play the role of confidant, counselor, advisor, and
caregiver.

What are the advantages of having counseling skills?

Being able to communicate across a wide spectrum of
personalities and having counseling skills to assist those
personalities enhances your ability to be supportive.

What is currently accepted theory about funeral directors being counselors?

• In the past there were conflicted views of whether we are a
counselor or not.
• It is well accepted now that we are NOT a grief counselor and
should NOT be providing therapy, but we do ASSUME the
role of a counselor in a limited fashion.

Describe the helping process

Involves
• Assisting clients to better understand themselves
• Assisting clients to cope with problems

• Counselors have no special knowledge or wisdom about how clients ought to live their lives.

What does the helping process allow us to do?

Counselors bring empathy and specific helping skills to
guide clients in:
• Exploring their feelings and values
• Understanding their problems
• Making choices
• Implementing changes in thoughts, affect, and behavior

What are the stages of the helping process?

Three Stages
• Exploration Stage
• Insight Stage
• Action Stage

Exploration Stage

• Client and Funeral Director Enter into a helping
relationship
• Family notifies funeral home of death and asks the FD to make arrangements
• “Cry for help”

• Building of a helping relationship
• Moves from basic to helping as you build rapport
• Cannot occur if you are not
• Empathetic
• Warm
• Respectful
• Genuine

• FD must project these traits by
• Showing care
• Showing Concern
• Showing willingness to assist the family however is necessary

Insight Stage

• Exploration and Assistance in Helping the Family
understand their alternatives
• Gather information about the deceased, family’s needs,
wishes, and feelings by using:
• Active listening
• Skillful questioning
• Consolidation and Planning
• Explain and clarify all options, then assist in planning a funeral that meets their needs

Action Stage

• Implementation and Action
• Funeral director implements the family’s plan

• Conclusion of the funeral process
• Assist the family with a sense of closure
• Join with them in fellowship at the end of the funeral

• Post Funeral Follow up
• Aftercare