Overview

Defining and, therefore, diagnosing complicated grief often leaves practitioners feeling confused and overwhelmed. This results in differing levels of anxiety about working with clients with complex needs who present with symptoms consistent with complicated grief. What most practitioners do agree on is that complicated grief often presents as grief that doesn’t budge; leaving the bereaved feeling like it is impossible to move on from their grief and the practitioners feeling ‘stuck’ and unable to help their clients.

This workshop will introduce practitioners to theories of complicated grief as well as providing an introduction to Complicated Grief Treatment.

Designed For:

Mental health practitioners working with clients experiencing grief and bereavement, such as counsellors, therapists, psychologists and social workers.

Learning Outcomes:

At the conclusion of the workshop, participants will be able to:

• understand the symptoms and clinical presentation of complicated grief
• determine the differences between complicated grief, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder
• recognise and assess for complicated grief
• understand the procedures and processes involved in Complicated Grief Treatment
• identify and implement the key strategies and techniques used in Complicated Grief Treatment.

Presenter



Anita Hoare

BA(Psych), VocGradDipCounsSupervision, VocGradCertBerCouns, DipProfCouns, CertIV TAE

Anita has a Masters in Counselling and Human Services from La Trobe University and a Graduate Qualification in Bereavement Counselling from the Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement, Anita is also a registered educator and supervisor.

Anita has extensive experience in private practice working with families, children and individuals using both face-to-face, telephone and Skype sessions.  Anita's areas of specialisation are grief and bereavement counselling with specific expertise in Complicated Grief Therapy (CGT). Anita has recently completed the advanced training in Complicated Grief Therapy with Dr M. Katherine Shear at Columbia University in New York, under the supervision of Dr M. Katherine Shear and Dr. Gorscak - the developers and researchers of CGT. Anita is a member of the Australian Counselling Association (ACA) and the Loss and Grief Practitioners' Association.