working with bereavement and grief

This is a generally a two day course for small groups of up to 14 staff who, as part of their work in counselling or support services, may become involved in working with those who have been bereaved. The two days explore the process of grief, the range of emotional distress and effective ways of responding. The training is structured to the needs and learning outcomes of the group and the outline detailed below is a guide only. This workshop can also be presented in a one-day format for non-clinical staff such as managers and emergency services personnel whose work brings them into contact with, for example, grieving staff or relatives.

Objectives

.         This course is designed to enable attendees to:

.         Have an informed understanding of the emotional distress in grieving people

.         Develop a full awareness of the potential grief reactions

.         Gain a deeper understanding of the process of grief

.         Increase their confidence and competence when counselling or in contact with grieving people

.         Know where and how to study bereavement issues in greater depth

Course Content

Day 1
Introductions and ground rules
Learning expectations
Personal loss and the relation of this loss to present day
Working with grief
Trauma transmission
Grief theory (current theories)
Listening skills

Day 2
Emotional responses to grief
Video input and responses
Role play and experiential exercises
Family trees
Grief rituals
Taking care of the counsellor or carer
Summary and close