Deep Dive Grief Skills Mastermind Self-Paced Course

Overview: This Grief Skills training course is designed for mental health clinicians seeking to specialize in grief counseling. This program offers a comprehensive exploration of grief theory, practical interventions, and specialized techniques to support individuals and families through various experiences of loss.

Course Structure: The program is divided into six modules, each focusing on specific aspects of grief counseling:

1. Foundations of Grief Counseling: Participants will gain a deep understanding of grief awareness, explore various grief theories, learn to identify symptoms across different domains, and familiarize themselves with valuable resources for therapy sessions.

2. Disenfranchised Grief and Specific Loss Types: This module delves into the complexities of disenfranchised grief, addressing specific types of loss such as suicide, substance-related deaths, and violence-induced trauma, with a particular emphasis on the unique needs of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) communities. Participants will learn how to diagnose Prolonged Grief Disorder and differentiate it from other mental health disorders.

3. Family Dynamics in Grief: Participants will explore how grief impacts family systems, focusing on adult loss dynamics including parent loss, adult child loss, and spouse/partner loss. Strategies for supporting individuals within the context of family dynamics will be emphasized.

4. Childhood and Adolescent Grief: This module focuses on understanding grief from developmental perspectives, providing age-appropriate strategies for working with children and teenagers experiencing loss, and addressing the unique dynamics of sibling grief.

5. Grief in Pregnancy, Infant, Child, and Teen Loss: Participants will gain insights into the unique grief experiences associated with pregnancy, infant, child, and teen loss. Emphasis will be placed on recognizing disenfranchised grief elements and providing effective support for parents and families.

6. Supporting Pet Loss: The final module explores the profound emotional bond between individuals and their pets. Participants will learn strategies to help children and families anticipate and cope with pet loss, facilitating healthy grieving processes.

Overall Course Objectives:

• Develop a comprehensive understanding of grief theory and its application in counseling practice.

• Recognize and address various types of grief, including disenfranchised grief and specific loss types.

• Identify symptoms of prolonged grief disorder and differentiate it from other mental health disorders.

• Understand the impact of grief on family dynamics and develop strategies for family-centered interventions.

• Provide age-appropriate support for children and adolescents experiencing grief.

• Recognize the unique challenges of grief in pregnancy, infant, child, and teen loss, and provide effective support for parents and families.

• Acknowledge and support individuals and families grieving the loss of a pet, including anticipatory grief and healthy grieving processes.

This is a self-paced course designed to span 6 months, offering interactive learning experiences through videos, audio files, questionnaires, sorting activities, flashcards, and knowledge checks to ensure your engagement throughout. The modules are delivered monthly at the end of the 3rd week (starting in March 2024).

The self-paced course offers 14 CE credits.

Additionally, for participants who have signed up for the consultation group, which runs concurrently with the course, there will be live online sessions available. These sessions serve as a platform for addressing your questions, receiving support, and engaging in discussions on grief-related cases. Sessions are scheduled for the 4th Saturday of the month (starting March 23 2024) and continuing through the consecutive 6 months.

The live online group meetings offer 6 CE credits (attendance required).

Virtual meetings on the 4th Saturday of the month meet from 8:30-10 am PST