Living in the Aftermath of Death; Counselling Approaches to Bereavement (P02938)

? Credit Points : 20 ? SCQF Level : 11 ? Acronym : HEA-P-CAB

This course provides a comprehensive exploration of issues of grief and bereavement as they might be presented following either recent, or previous and unresolved bereavement experiences. The course will examine the theoretical frameworks we have to describe and work with the expected or the prolonged or the complicated distress of the bereaved. It will also examine the impact of this work on the practitioner and how we respond to that.

The course is designed for counselling and related practitioners to whom bereavement is presented as an immediate or underlying issue. The concepts and practices of working with bereavement and loss are explored within the dialogue between the person-centred approach and psychodynamic perspectives.

Topics include theoretical models of grief and bereavement, the impact of bereavement at different developmental stages and the implications of this for practice, issues of personal, societal and cultural difference, diversity and power in the experience of bereavement, and the impact on the practitioner of working with death and loss.

Students are required to draw on their personal and professional experience with bereaved people within class sessions. The ethical and confidentiality issues raised by this are discussed in the first session.

Entry Requirements

? Pre-requisites : This is an optional course for students within Counselling Studies, for students from other subject areas and for visiting Continuing Professional Development students who may take the course as a free-standing learning opportunity. All students need to meet the specific entrance requirements below. In addition to holding an undergraduate degree or equivalent, applicants need to be able to meet the following entrance requirements: 1. A qualification in counselling or psychotherapy or 2. Professional experience of working therapeutically with the bereaved. NB The course is not suitable for those who have been recently bereaved.

Subject Areas

Home subject area

Counselling Studies, (School of Health in Social Science, Schedule D)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : Postgraduate

? Delivery Period : Semester 1 (Blocks 1-2)

? Contact Teaching Time : 3 hour(s) 30 minutes per week for 8 weeks

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course students should be able to:
? Conceptualise and critically appraise different theoretical models of grief and bereavement.
? Analyse the impact of bereavement at different developmental stages
?Evaluate issues of personal, societal and cultural difference, diversity and power in the experience of bereavement
?Critically appraise how these theoretical ideas inform the practices of counselling in this field
?Conceptualise and analyse key themes in the practice of working with bereavement with reference to the student?s own self-awareness and practice.

Assessment Information

One 4,000 to 5,000 word essay analysing a key theme in the practice of working therapeutically with bereaved people. Students will critically reflect on the practice theme, integrating relevant research and literature, and drawing on their own therapeutic practice, as relevant.