You Don’t Have to Be a Therapist to Support Someone Grieving

How to be a good comforter to a friend facing loss—no master’s degree required!Photo by Nick Page on Unsplash

When someone we care about is grieving—a friend, a family member, a coworker, a neighbor—one of our first instincts is to reach out and offer them support. But one of the thoughts that can prevent us from taking action is, “I’m not a therapist. Who am I to help?”

Many supporters of grievers worry that they’re not qualified enough to talk about loss. Or they worry that they’ll say the wrong...