Traumatic Loss: New Understandings, New Directions
June 14, 2012
Monday, 2nd July 2012
The Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement is delighted to provide a unique opportunity to hear Dr John R. Jordan. He will present a session on current theoretical perspectives on loss and grief, and traumatic loss.
Bereavement after the sudden, unexpected, and violent death of a loved one creates one of the most difficult of loss experiences. The combination of grief and trauma responses creates a real challenge for even the most experienced of clinicians. This intensive workshop offers therapists an overview and update of the skills you need to work with clients after traumatic deaths, such as suicides, homicides, and accidental deaths.
After a brief review of new bereavement models and research findings, we will use the twin lenses of thanatology and traumatology to understand the impact of this type of loss. We will also explore the implications of this perspective for assessment and an attachment informed approach to intervention. New techniques that are emerging to help traumatised mourners will be described. These include interventions for trauma reduction, narrative retelling of the death, and relational repair with the deceased.
The workshop will also include experiential use of one of the techniques by participants in small groups to facilitate learning. Drawing primarily on Dr. Jordan’s extensive experience working with survivors of suicide loss, the workshop will have wide applicability to work with people who have lost a loved one to any type of sudden or violent death. The training will be informed by research and clinical experience, and will include the use of didactic lecture, case discussion, and audio-visual presentation.
Click here for more information and to download a registration form.
