What Will You Learn?

This course is part of the   Bachelor program in Grief Counseling at the School of Grief Education at AITU. It is a 6-hour semester course that must be completed within 6 weeks. The aim of this course is to introduce stu- dents to the theory and practice of grief counseling. The coursework topics include: the nature of the experience of grief, attachment/loss, the major factors that medi- ate the mourning process, “uncomplicated” vs. “complicated” grief processes and how they can be facilitated by the counselor, special types of loss (such as through suicide), grief in the family system, preparing to deal with loss/grief as a counselor.

1.  Gain an understanding of the nature of grief/mourning

2.  Understand how attachment plays a role in the experience of grief

3.  Understand the major factors that mediate the grief experience

4.  Apply the theoretical understanding of the material to case vignettes

5.  Understand “uncomplicated” grief vs. “complicated” grief and how to facilitate them in counseling

6.  Understand how grief can affect the family system

7.  Learn how a counselor can prepare him/herself for working with issues of loss and grief

8.  Gain skills to appropriately approach clients processing different types of grief/ loss situations