Do You Need a Counselling Degree to Train as a Grief Coach?
If you’ve been drawn to supporting others through grief, you might be wondering: do I need to retrain as a counsellor first?
It’s an understandable question. Counsellors and psychotherapists often work with grief, and their qualifications usually take years. But grief coaching is a distinct and growing field — one that doesn’t require a counselling degree, but does demand professional training.
👉 For a full overview, see our Accredited Grief Coach Training Guide.
Grief counselling and grief coaching: different but complementary
Counsellors typically train for 2–4 years in therapeutic approaches such as Person-Centred Therapy or CBT. They are regulated, work within clinical frameworks, and may diagnose or work with complex mental health conditions.
Grief coaches, by contrast, are not therapists. Their role is to provide structured, compassionate support to people who are grieving but not in clinical crisis. Coaching is:
Action-oriented and forward-focused.
Often shorter-term.
Centred on tools, strategies, and emotional processing rather than diagnosis.
The distinction matters. Counsellors work with pathology. Coaches work with possibility. Both roles are valuable, but they are not the same.
So, do you need a counselling degree?
The short answer is no — you do not need a counselling or psychotherapy degree to train as a grief coach.
What you do need is:
Accredited training that teaches grief-specific tools.
A solid understanding of trauma-informed practice.
Clear boundaries about what is and isn’t coaching.
Without this, you risk stepping into unsafe territory — either overpromising what you can offer or failing to recognise when someone needs therapeutic or clinical support.
Why accredited training matters
Because grief coaching is an unregulated field, anyone can set themselves up as a coach. That’s why accreditation is vital. It signals that your training has been reviewed by a professional body and meets recognised standards of practice.
The STILL Method grief coach training is accredited by ACCPH and IPHM, two respected professional bodies. This gives coaches credibility, accountability, and reassurance for clients who want to know they are working with someone trained to a high standard.
👉 See our full course details: Life After Loss — Grief Coach Training.
Who can train as a grief coach?
Grief coaching attracts people from many backgrounds:
Teachers and educators who want to support pupils experiencing loss.
Care workers and wellbeing professionals.
Counsellors or therapists who want to add grief-specific tools.
People with lived experience of loss who feel called to support others.
The key requirement isn’t a prior degree. It’s a willingness to learn, to practise ethically, and to commit to providing safe support.
What you learn in grief coach training
High-quality grief training should prepare you to:
Understand different types of grief (anticipatory, ambiguous, complicated, secondary, collective).
Recognise how grief shows up in the body and nervous system.
Facilitate safe conversations about loss.
Use structured activities and metaphors to help people express emotions.
Deliver both one-to-one and group support safely.
Know your boundaries — and when to refer on.
At The STILL Method, our training includes a complete six-week group programme you can deliver straight away, alongside tools for one-to-one sessions.
Self-paced vs. live training
Many people wonder if self-study is enough. The truth is that grief coaching is best learned in a way that allows for feedback, questions, and practice. That’s why our training combines:
Live sessions via Zoom — interactive, with mentoring and practice.
Self-paced learning — modules you can revisit in your own time.
This flexibility means you don’t need to commit years of study, but you still gain depth and rigour.
Why boundaries protect both you and your clients
One of the most important aspects of training is learning boundaries. Grief coaches are not counsellors or therapists. They don’t diagnose, and they don’t treat mental illness.
Instead, coaches create safe spaces, offer practical strategies, and walk alongside clients as they adjust to life after loss. When deeper clinical issues arise, a well-trained grief coach recognises the signs and refers appropriately.
This protects both the client and the coach. It ensures the client gets the right help at the right time, and it keeps the coach working safely within their scope.
The bigger picture: why people are choosing grief coaching
With long NHS waiting lists and a shortage of bereavement support, grief coaching is becoming an important option for individuals, families, schools, and workplaces. Many people don’t need therapy, but they do need structured support.
That’s why grief coaching is attracting professionals from education, care, and wellbeing who want to step into this vital role without retraining for years as a counsellor.
Next steps
You don’t need a counselling degree to become a grief coach. But you do need training that is accredited, ethical, and practical.
Begin with the Accredited Grief Coach Training Guide.
Explore more articles in the Grief Coaching Insights Hub.
Ready to train? See full details of our accredited programme: Life After Loss — Grief Coach Training.
FAQs
Q: Can you become a grief coach without counselling experience?
Yes. Grief coaching does not require a counselling or psychotherapy degree. Accredited training equips you with the tools, boundaries, and models needed to support grieving people safely, even if you don’t have a clinical background.
Q: What qualifications do you need to be a grief coach?
Grief coaching is an unregulated field, but high-quality accredited training is strongly recommended. Programmes accredited by professional bodies such as ACCPH or IPHM provide credibility and ensure you’re practising ethically.
Q: How long does grief coach training take?
Unlike counselling, which can take several years, grief coach training can be completed over weeks or months, depending on the format. Accredited courses balance self-paced study with live, interactive sessions to provide depth and rigour.
Q: Can grief coaches work internationally?
Yes. Because much grief coaching is delivered online, accredited training allows you to support clients worldwide. Coaches should always check local guidelines, but international practice is common and growing.
