To not know how to feel about this?

[CallMeNutribullet]

I don't know if I'm being an awful person but someone I'm familiar with, who is a minor influencer, and who suffered the loss of a child a number of years ago has set themselves up as a "grief coach" and is running bereavement retreats.

This is someone who has done a lot of work to raise awareness and I believe their heart is in the right place but they're not a qualified counsellor, nor are they running a charity - the retreats are reasonably expensive.

I just don't know if it's OK to make money from this? I know people make money from death but surely the emotional side of bereavement should be handled by a qualified bereavement counsellor?

It sounds unethical unless she is very upfront about the profits and her lack of qualifications, although you can be a coach without a coaching qualification. She isn't doing anything illegal, but the combination of people's grief and her potential inability to meet their needs whilst taking their money is risky.

I can understand your concern but I think if she's not pretending to have any qualifications she doesn't have then she's not misleading anyone - and I can see why some people would value the experience of a fellow bereaved parent over someone who is a qualified counsellor but doesn't have personal experience. Lots of people in all areas of life prefer the advice of someone they personally admire on social media over someone with formal expertise - I don't particularly like that this is the case, but it isn't up to me where others get their advice from!

I don't really see why the ethics of profiting would be any different if she were qualified - ultimately it's still making money off grief. I would be quite concerned if I were her friend that she might be taking on more than she realises but I think that's her call, and the people who pay - again, so long as they're clear on what they are and aren't getting.