Traumatic Grief and Loss

Catalog description

Childhood, adolescence, adulthood and aging, as distinct life stages, require different knowledge and skills to assess and treat varied traumatic grief reactions. The framework for this course involves theories of grief and loss, assessment, and intervention with children, adolescents and adults. The interplay between normal grief and bereavement, and clinical syndromes is analyzed for the purpose of developing empirically based interventions grounded in psychology values and an ethical decision making process. The effects of trauma, grief, loss, and life threatening illness on individuals, both negative effects as well as aspects of human resilience will be examined. Students will develop an advanced understanding of the grief process experienced by people from diverse backgrounds, affirming and respecting their strengths and differences. This course is designed to help students engage clients in appropriate working relationships, and to identify needs, resources and assets for coping with traumatic grief reactions.