Joy R. Samuels – Counseling Grief Clients Certification Training: Functional Interventions for Everyday Use

Outline

THE JOURNEY OF GRIEFTHE JOURNEY OF GRIEF

• Models for understanding grief Models for understanding grief
  • Older, familiar modelsOlder, familiar models
  • Current theories and approachesCurrent theories and approaches
• Grief expressions Grief expressions
  • Emotional and cognitiveEmotional and cognitive
  • Physical manifestationsPhysical manifestations
  • BehavioralBehavioral
  • Social behaviors and societal reactionsSocial behaviors and societal reactions
• Predictors and mediators of the experience Predictors and mediators of the experience
  • Background: grief is highly individualBackground: grief is highly individual
  • Personality and other vulnerability factorsPersonality and other vulnerability factors
  • Who died; quality of relationshipWho died; quality of relationship
  • Social, contextual, and cultural influencesSocial, contextual, and cultural influences
  • Mode of deathMode of death
  • Other influencesOther influences
• Non-death lossesNon-death losses

ASSESSMENT AND DIAGNOSIS OF GRIEF-RELATED SYMPTOMSASSESSMENT AND DIAGNOSIS OF GRIEF-RELATED SYMPTOMS

• Differential diagnosis between depression, grief, and PTSDDifferential diagnosis between depression, grief, and PTSD
• Persistent complex bereavement disorderPersistent complex bereavement disorder
• Use of adjustment disorder diagnosis with grief clientsUse of adjustment disorder diagnosis with grief clients
• Measurement/assessment of grief symptomsMeasurement/assessment of grief symptoms

WHEN GRIEF BECOMES COMPLICATEDWHEN GRIEF BECOMES COMPLICATED

• Common trajectories for griefCommon trajectories for grief
• What is “complicated” grief and how do you recognize it?What is “complicated” grief and how do you recognize it?
• Treatment interventions for complicated griefTreatment interventions for complicated grief

TREATMENT STRATEGIES AND FUNCTIONAL INTERVENTIONSTREATMENT STRATEGIES AND FUNCTIONAL INTERVENTIONS

• Grief counseling Grief counseling
  • How is it different from other types of counseling?How is it different from other types of counseling?
  • Who often benefits (and who may not)?Who often benefits (and who may not)?
• Components of a general approach Components of a general approach
  • The 3 Rogerian conditionsThe 3 Rogerian conditions
  • Power of presencePower of presence
  • Being a companion/therapist for your grief clientsBeing a companion/therapist for your grief clients
• Cross-cultural and other diversity considerationsCross-cultural and other diversity considerations
• Dealing with emotional intensityDealing with emotional intensity
• Grief vs. traumaGrief vs. trauma
• When clients’ grief is disenfranchisedWhen clients’ grief is disenfranchised
• Working with couples or families who have experienced the “same” lossWorking with couples or families who have experienced the “same” loss
• Preparing for grief “spikes”Preparing for grief “spikes”
• Post-traumatic growthPost-traumatic growth

BEING A GRIEF COUNSELORBEING A GRIEF COUNSELOR

• The risks and joys of this workThe risks and joys of this work
• Self-awarenessSelf-awareness
• Self-careSelf-care
• Training opportunities in this fieldTraining opportunities in this field

LIMITATIONS OF THE RESEARCH AND POTENTIAL RISKSLIMITATIONS OF THE RESEARCH AND POTENTIAL RISKS

• Disparity in results across studies for griefDisparity in results across studies for grief
• Risk factors for complicated griefRisk factors for complicated grief