Grief counseling can be provided by

• A. Only licensed professionals
• B. Only professionals and trained volunteers
• C. Professionals, trained volunteers, or bereaved persons via self-help groups
• D. Only physicians

Answer: (C)

Grief support comes from a range of sources, not just clinicians. The idea is that people dealing with loss can benefit from different kinds of help: professionals provide clinical assessment, structured therapy, and crisis support when needed; trained volunteers offer empathetic listening, guidance, and practical coping strategies within organized programs or mentoring roles; and bereaved individuals themselves can participate in self-help groups where shared experiences, normalization of feelings, and mutual encouragement reduce isolation. Because grief reactions vary widely—from normal adjustment challenges to more complicated grief—having access to multiple formats increases the chance someone will find effective support. The other options are too limiting, either excluding non-professional helpers or narrowing support to doctors only.