Many community support and health care professionals may only have brief contact, or sometimes just a single session, with individuals experiencing grief or bereavement. Research tells us that a large percentage of bereaved individuals will be able to live with their grief with minimal support from professionals. However, it is acknowledged that complications and difficulties may occur over time if the bereaved individual has not had timely access to sound, basic information about the nature of grief, and how to identify when to be concerned for the wellbeing of themselves and others.

Effective bereavement support can be offered or initiated via brief contact or a single session, without compromising the quality of the support given. This workshop is aimed at community support staff and health care workers who have contact with bereaved and grieving individuals, even though their primary role may not be in the field of grief and bereavement. The workshop will offer a simple framework and strategies that can be used to ensure effective bereavement support when only having brief contact with bereaved or grieving individuals.

Designed for

Professionals working with those who might experience grief and bereavement, such as teachers, counsellors, nurses, therapists, psychologists and other allied health professionals.

Learning Outcomes

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

• describe the lived experience of grief and bereavement for individuals using contemporary grief and bereavement theories/models
  
• offer basic grief education to individuals by identifying common grief reactions, possible behaviours and when to be concerned
• identify strategies and resources that can assist people who are grieving
  
• understand when to refer to specialist grief and bereavement services for ongoing support.

Presenter

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

Cancellation and Refund Policy

The Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement reserves the right to cancel education programs that do not achieve minimum participation, in which case all fees will be refunded.

Registration cancellations will not be accepted unless made in writing to the centre. Cancellations made more than thirty (30) days prior to the event date will be refunded less 25% of the registration fee to cover administration costs. 

No registration refunds will be made after this date. Please note: The full invoiced amount will still be payable in the event of non-attendance on the day.