Full Course Description

Module 1: Introduction

The need for a revolution in the way mental health providers approach grievers is on the rise. The “quick fix” nature of American culture, a death-denying attitude and an outdated adherence to stage theories has created an epidemic for grievers.

The potential is high to include a formalized diagnosis for Prolonged Grief Disorder in the next revision of the DSM-5®. If this occurs, clinicians will have an even greater responsibility to understand treatment modalities, assessment tools and diagnostic criteria related to grief. Not long ago in American history, those in mourning would be quick to find comfort from family and faith. Yet, as our society shifts away from a faith-orientation and loneliness continues to escalate, clinicians have the unique opportunity to stand in the gap of this crisis and provide a respite for grieving people of all ages.

This recording provides fast and unique treatment tools that can be used in a wide variety of circumstances for grievers of all ages. The new complicated Grief Treatment Model will also be examined for use with individuals facing a more persistent response to grief. This treatment has been studied to have a significantly higher response rate than interpersonal psychotherapy.

Program Information

Objectives

Evaluate current models of grief theory that go beyond the five stages and the treatment implications of each model.
Distinguish the unique experience created by different types of loss in relation to assessment and treatment planning.
Assess a client’s understanding of death and response to grief from a developmental perspective across the lifespan.
Determine how grief impacts the family system (individually and together), and how to better equip them to support each other in grief.
Appraise current and cutting-edge modalities used to treat typical and complicated grief in the clinical setting.
Integrate specific creative counseling interventions that engage the individual, couple or family in the process of grief.

Outline

Grief Theory Beyond Kübler-Ross

Tasks of Mourning
Dual Process Model of Coping
Continuing Bonds Theory
Grief and Attachment Theory
Potential criteria for “Persistent Complex Bereavement Disorder”
Two creative interventions articulating these theories

Circumstances of Bereavement

Implications of Specific losses
- Pre-loss factors
- Relationship influence
- Type of and proximity to death
- Disenfranchised losses
- Living losses

Grief Counseling Strategies Across the Lifespan

Childhood and adolescence
- The occurrence of grief
- Developmental understanding of death
- Grief responses and adaptation to loss
- Six creative age appropriate interventions
Young and middle adulthood
- Grief circumstances
- Life stages and individual needs
- Assessments and interventions
- Family Systems
  - The family narrative
  - Use the Internal Family Systems Approach
- Six creative interventions appropriate for middle adulthood
Older adulthood
- Type of loss
- Grief responses and perception of death
- Treatment strategies based on developmental needs
- Six creative interventions specific for older adults

Grief Treatment – Current Evidence-Based Approach to Care

Typical Trajectory Griever
- Limitations to grief counseling/assessing effectiveness
- Assessment tools
- Expressive arts
- Companioning model
- Therapeutic presence
- Narrative therapy
- Creating space for suffering
- Limitations of the client-centered approach
Complicated Griever
- Assessment tools
- CBT
- Complicated Grief Treatment Model
- Grief and trauma intervention
- Meaning reconstruction
Ethical Considerations
- Socio-cultural context
- Gender bias
- Pitfalls in treating the family system
- Grief in the digital universe
- Spirituality and grief
- Personal death anxiety
- Countertransference
- The wounded healer
- Occupational stress
- The grieving therapist
- Self-care

Target Audience

Counselors
Social Workers
Psychologists
Case Managers
Marriage & Family Therapists
Nurses
Chaplains/Clergy
Nursing Home Administrators
Other Mental Health Professionals

Copyright : 02/05/2020

Module 2: Grief Theory

Program Information

Objectives

Evaluate current models of grief theory that go beyond the five stages and the treatment implications of each model.
Distinguish the unique experience created by different types of loss in relation to assessment and treatment planning.
Assess a client’s understanding of death and response to grief from a developmental perspective across the lifespan.
Determine how grief impacts the family system (individually and together), and how to better equip them to support each other in grief.
Appraise current and cutting-edge modalities used to treat typical and complicated grief in the clinical setting.
Integrate specific creative counseling interventions that engage the individual, couple or family in the process of grief.

Copyright : 02/05/2020

Module 3: Circumstances of Bereavement

Program Information

Objectives

Evaluate current models of grief theory that go beyond the five stages and the treatment implications of each model.
Distinguish the unique experience created by different types of loss in relation to assessment and treatment planning.
Assess a client’s understanding of death and response to grief from a developmental perspective across the lifespan.
Determine how grief impacts the family system (individually and together), and how to better equip them to support each other in grief.
Appraise current and cutting-edge modalities used to treat typical and complicated grief in the clinical setting.
Integrate specific creative counseling interventions that engage the individual, couple or family in the process of grief.

Copyright : 02/05/2020

Module 4: Grief Counseling Strategies Across the Lifespan

Program Information

Objectives

Evaluate current models of grief theory that go beyond the five stages and the treatment implications of each model.
Distinguish the unique experience created by different types of loss in relation to assessment and treatment planning.
Assess a client’s understanding of death and response to grief from a developmental perspective across the lifespan.
Determine how grief impacts the family system (individually and together), and how to better equip them to support each other in grief.
Appraise current and cutting-edge modalities used to treat typical and complicated grief in the clinical setting.
Integrate specific creative counseling interventions that engage the individual, couple or family in the process of grief.

Copyright : 02/05/2020

Module 5: Grief Treatment - Evidence Based Approach to Care

Program Information

Objectives

Evaluate current models of grief theory that go beyond the five stages and the treatment implications of each model.
Distinguish the unique experience created by different types of loss in relation to assessment and treatment planning.
Assess a client’s understanding of death and response to grief from a developmental perspective across the lifespan.
Determine how grief impacts the family system (individually and together), and how to better equip them to support each other in grief.
Appraise current and cutting-edge modalities used to treat typical and complicated grief in the clinical setting.
Integrate specific creative counseling interventions that engage the individual, couple or family in the process of grief.

Copyright : 02/05/2020

Module 6: Ethical Considerations

Program Information

Objectives

Evaluate current models of grief theory that go beyond the five stages and the treatment implications of each model.
Distinguish the unique experience created by different types of loss in relation to assessment and treatment planning.
Assess a client’s understanding of death and response to grief from a developmental perspective across the lifespan.
Determine how grief impacts the family system (individually and together), and how to better equip them to support each other in grief.
Appraise current and cutting-edge modalities used to treat typical and complicated grief in the clinical setting.
Integrate specific creative counseling interventions that engage the individual, couple or family in the process of grief.

Grief in the DSM-5®: Changes in Diagnosing Grief-Related Disorders

Designed for mental health professionals, this course discusses the hotly debated bereavement-related DSM-5® changes: the bereavement exclusion in major depressive disorder, uncomplicated grief, specified trauma and stressor related disorders, and the proposed diagnosis of complicated grief. You will learn, based on empirical research, why the changes were needed, what the implications of those changes are in clinical practice, and how those implications can enhance or detract from differential bereavement assessments. Also discussed are the reason why the changes remain problematic and what the implications are for future DSM® editions.

Program Information

Objectives

Analyze how the current research in the field of bereavement is related to the changes that made in the DSM-5®
Evaluate the changes in the DSM-5® and respond to those changes in differential diagnosing
Theorize why the changes made in the DSM-5® are still problematic
Evaluate the implications in regard to future editions of the DSM®

Outline

Bereavement in the DSM® - historical context

Why were changes needed

What are the changes in the DSM-5®?

Uncomplicated grief
Other Specified Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders
Persistent Complex Bereavement Disorder - conditions for further study (Section 3)

Why are these changes still problematic?

How to use the DSM-5® for diagnosing uncomplicated and complicated grief - implications for the bereaved

Differential diagnosing
The "note" under Major Depressive Disorder

Future DSM® implications

Target Audience

Psychologists, Counselors, Social Workers, Case Managers, Addiction Counselors, Marriage & Family Therapists, Nurses, Chaplains/Clergy, and other Mental Health Professionals