“Weep with those who Weep”: Understanding and Helping the Crying Person

Abstract

The expression of pain, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual, in the form of tears is often difficult for the professional helper to deal with. However, crying is a God-given gift and a therapeutic outlet. Scriptural examples give us a wide range of situations where crying is treated as normal and expected behavior. The role of the counselor is thus to support and encourage crying rather than to inhibit it or “put it down” as a sign of instability or spiritual immaturity. The professional helper who understands the emotions and responses evoked in him by a crying individual is better able to support people in distress. There are practical ways the counselor can “lower the crying threshold,” thus encouraging the release of tension through tears.