PA820CE Introduction to Grief Counseling and Ministry
This course is designed to allow the participant to explore the many facets of a person who is grieving the loss of someone close to them. Completion of this course will allow the participant to identify with those who bereave and allow the participant to experience a methodology of counseling that will be healing and helpful to the bereaved.
The participant will explore the attitude that we have toward death; define what grief and bereavement mean; identify factors that influence different reactions to grief; examine different bereavement scenarios; identify memorial and funeral services used to heal the bereaved and bring closure; consider cultural differences among various religions; explore the healing process through counseling; learn how to develop a good grief group; and list professional organizations and helpful resources for the bereaved and those who help them.
In addition, each participant will be assigned the role of acting as a counselor to another participant who will play the role of a bereaved person, thereby allowing the participants to gain practical insight into the theoretical basis of the course. Participants will be required to give a weekly report on the progress of their assigned counselee, and each counselee will give a weekly report on the work of their assigned counselor.
Completion of the course does not certify the participant to act as a licensed or certified grief counselor but serves as an introductory level course that will help the participant understand the grieving process and successfully conduct individual or group grief counseling sessions.
Course Syllabus
Introduction to Grief Counseling
Course Description
This course is designed to allow the participant to explore the many facets of a person who is grieving the loss of someone close to them. Completion of this course will allow the participant to identify with those who bereave and allow the participant to experience a methodology of counseling that will be healing and helpful to the bereaved.
The participant will explore the attitude that we have toward death; define what grief and bereavement mean; identify factors that influence different reactions to grief; examine different bereavement scenarios; identify memorial and funeral services used to heal the bereaved and bring closure; consider cultural differences among various religions; explore the healing process through counseling; learn how to develop a good grief group; and list professional organizations and helpful resources for the bereaved and those who help them.
In addition, each participant will be assigned the role of acting as a counselor to another participant who will play the role of a bereaved person, thereby allowing the participants to gain practical insight into the theoretical basis of the course. Participants will be required to give a weekly report on the progress of their assigned counselee, and each counselee will give a weekly report on the work of their assigned counselor.
Completion of the course does not certify the participant to act as a licensed or certified grief counselor but serves as an introductory level course that will help the participant understand the grieving process and successfully conduct individual or group grief counseling sessions.
- Course Outline
| Modules | General Topic of Discussion with links to the Internet | Assigned Textbook Readings* | Grief Counseling Component** |
| Module 1 | Exploring our Attitude Toward Death | ORDER TEXTBOOKS | Introduction to Grief Counseling Process (assignment of counselor/griever) |
| Module 2 | Defining Grief & Bereavement | Introduction | 1 Open to the Presence of your Loss |
| Module 3 | Identifying Factors that Influence Grief Reaction | 1 Universal Grief Process and Responses | 2 Dispel the Misconceptions about Grief |
| Module 4 | Discussing Therapeutic Interventions with Grievers | 2 When Grief Becomes Complicated | 3 Embrace the Uniqueness of your Grief |
| Module 5 | Examining Different Bereavement Situations (part I) | 3 Dysfunctional Grieving | 4 Explore your Feelings of Loss |
| Module 6 | Examining Different Bereavement Situations (part II) | 4 The Spiritual Side of Grief and Loss | 5 Recognize you are not Crazy |
| Module 7 | Identifying Memorial and Funeral Services | 5 How Perceptions, Thoughts, and Beliefs influence Care | 6 Understand the Six Needs of Mourning |
| Module 8 | Considering Cultural Differences | 6 Therapies and Treatment Priorities | 7 Nurture Yourself |
| Module 9 | Exploring the Healing Process through Counseling | 7 Positive Strategies and Helpful Interventions | 8 Reach out for Help |
| Module 10 | Developing Good Grief Groups (part I) | 8 Reorganization and Reclaiming One’s life | 9 Seek Reconciliation, Not Resolution |
| Module 11 | Developing Good Grief Groups (part II) | Appendices | 10 Appreciate your Transformation |
| Module 12 | Listing Professional Organizations and Helpful Resources | ||
| *Bereavement Counseling by Junietta Baker McCall (Recommended) | |||
| **Required: Understanding Your Grief by Alan Wolfelt, On Grief and Grieving by Elizabeth Kubler-Ross & David Kessler | |||