Overview

Modern communication technologies have profoundly influenced social practices and views about death, dying and bereavement. Transcending the limits of space and time, the internet provides us with instant access and often-immediate feedback. This workshop will provide information on the emerging field of 'thanatechnology' and how technology can be enlisted to provide and enhance bereavement support. How can we use technology as a means of providing bereavement support? How does technology provide opportunities to deal with death, dying and bereavement? How can we best deliver bereavement support? What roles do blogs, social media, smartphones and web conferencing platforms play in providing effective bereavement counselling and support? This workshop will also examine the evidence on the effectiveness of telehealth programs and the delivery of bereavement services remotely.

Designed for:

Professionals working with those experiencing grief and bereavement, such as counsellors, therapists, psychologists, social workers and other allied health professionals. This will be of particular interest to practitioners with an interest in providing web based bereavement support.

Learning Outcomes: 

At the conclusion of this workshop participants will have:

• An enhanced understanding of how thanatechnology, or the use of communication technologies and emerging digital technologies, is dramatically changing social practices and views about death and bereavement.
• Explored a range of strategies which can be used in providing grief and bereavement support.
• Considered the implications of these new technologies upon the practice of bereavement support.

Anita Hoare

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.

Prices