Distance Learning Grief Counselling Course
An essential course for anyone working with the grieving
ACS student comment: Being able to apply myself to distance education for the topic that interests me has been invaluable. Living in a remote area has a number of disadvantages. The lack of access to continuing education is one of great importance. Successfully completing the Grief Counselling course has enabled me to think ahead and possibly attempt future studies on this much needed issue. Mary Ann Cohen, Grief Counselling, Australia.
I have done several counselling courses in the past and the coaching course fitted in well with the learning experiences I had encountered previously. The reading material was detailed and interesting and the feedback was detailed and constructive.
- Sarah, Life Coaching
What is grief, why is it usually healthy and normal, and how can you help someone suffering grief?
Everyone suffers grief at some stage; and for some helping others deal with grief can be a significant part of their job.
Grief is either uncomplicated – “normal” grief or complicated. This is the reaction of a loved one to loss. Some grieving individuals may display symptoms that are characteristic of a Major Depressive Episode eg. Sadness, insomnia, poor appetite, weight loss. The bereaved person may think the depressed mood is “normal”, but others may seek professional help for the attendant symptoms, such as insomnia. The duration and expression of “normal” bereavement varies among different cultural groups.
This course provides a sound basis for understanding and working with grief, as a counsellor or in any other capacity where such an understanding is required.
BEREAVEMENT
Bereavement literally means being deprived by death. If someone close to us dies, we go through a process of mourning. Bereavement can have many physical and emotional effects on us, which will be covered later in the course.
LOSS
To experience loss, we need attachment. There are many theories about why humans and some animals make emotional attachments to others. Survival could be one reason. Some theorists argue that it is purely biological, whilst others argue that attachments form due to the need for safety and security. John Bowlby (1980) supported the latter view.
We learn attachment behaviour from the time we are born and this affects our relationships throughout our lives. If we learn to trust and have steady, dependable care, we are able to grow up with high self-esteem and independence. We are also able to love and be loved. The greater the attachment, there is obviously the greater potential for loss. We may experience many losses throughout our lives, the loss of a loved one, a pet, a job, financial security, but we may also experience the loss of potential, that is, what might have been – the job we might have had, the parent we never knew and so on. This course covers grief counselling, supporting clients through the difficult process of coming to terms with their loss.
COURSE STRUCTURE
The course is divided into eight lessons as follows:
- Nature and Scope of Grief and Bereavement
- Stages of Grief
- Grief and Children
- Grief and adolescents
- Adjustment to Bereavement
- Abnormal Grief
- Preparing for Grief and Bereavement
- Future outlook and long-term grief
COURSE AIMS
Describe the nature and scope of grief and bereavement counselling and individuals’ attitudes to grief.- To identify through continuing exploration, the meaning and responses of a wide range of loss situations, taking cultural variations into account.
- To describe the different ways that children may respond to grief and to develop appropriate strategies for helping them to cope.
- Determine the different ways that adolescents may respond to grief and to examine how these perspectives have translated into counselling practice
- To describe the different means through which individuals are able to adjust to loss and to consider other options available to them.
- To describe when an individual’s response to grief may be considered abnormal and to discuss methods of assisting such individuals.
- Define the different ways of preparing for grief and bereavement and to consider social, cultural and psychological perspectives.
- Describe separation, loneliness, the effects of long-term grief and long-term counselling support strategies.
Confront and master questions such as:
o List euphemisms for dying.
o Consider factors that can help set the conditions for the good death
o Discuss the ways that a wake or funeral service can be of help to mourners.
o Discuss attitudes toward death in society and how they affect the treatment of dying.
o Compare effective and ineffective support for people going through
o Explain why people pass through different stages at different times
o List mechanisms available to help a counsellor support someone who is grieving.
o Describe ways in which children might respond to grief.
o Explain why different children respond to grief in different ways.
o Describe counselling strategies for supporting the grieving child.
o Research how adolescents respond to grief.
o Outline counselling strategies for supporting the grieving adolescent.
o List suicide prevention strategies.
o Explain in general how we adjust to loss.
o List some dangers of loss.
o Describe some alternatives for loss recovery.
o Research how bereavement affects survivors.
o Describe some abnormal responses to grief, and how to determine they are abnormal.
o Describe some treatment methods for assisting a person suffering from abnormal grief.
o Briefly describe symptoms of PTSD
o Discuss socio-cultural perspectives in preparing for grief and bereavement.
o Research physiological and psychological effects of loneliness in the aged.
o Describe some effects of long term grief.
o Outline some long term counselling support strategies.
What qualification will I achieve for completing this course?
This is an individual module course. The individual module courses are 100 hour long usually and can be taken on their own or as part of a larger program of study.
If you wish to take an individual module course as a stand alone course, you can elect to sit an optional exam at the end of it.
If you successfully pass the exam and all assignments, you will receive a Statement of Attainment. You can take examinations at a time and location to suit you. If you enrol, you will be sent further information on how to arrange examinations at the end of the course.
If you do not wish to take the exam, you will receive a Course Completion letter when you have passed all assignments.
There is an assignment at the end of each lesson. So for example, if an individual module course contains ten lessons, you will need to complete ten assignments. Assignments can be sent to us via email, post or fax.
Other qualifications, such as certificates, diplomas etc may require examinations to be taken as part of the overall assessment process.
You can find further information on the examinations process by clicking on the “Enrolment” link above.
You can find further information on other courses by clicking on the “Courses” link above.
More Information on ACS Distance Education and our courses
Who are our tutors?
Our tutors are all highly experienced and professional, knowledgeable in their field of study. We have staff from around the world, enabling us to gain a wide variety of perspectives. We have a school in the UK and in Australia. If you would like to have a look at our tutors, then click on the “The School” in the boxes above and choose “The Staff” option.
Sample Course Notes
Our courses are all written by highly qualified tutors and writers, who also teach on the courses, so know them well. We strive to update our courses and improve them with new information, methods and knowledge on an ongoing basis. If you would like to see examples of some of our courses, then choose the “Enrolment” option above, and then click on “Sample Course Notes”.
What learning method should I choose?
We offer three learning methods – e-learning, correspondence and online. If you are not sure which is the right choose for you, then click on the “Enrolment” box above, then “Learning Methods.”
How Long will it take to complete the course?
This obviously varies from student to student. Some students will have more time for study than others. Some students may work quicker than others, so it is an individual thing. We estimate that most students will take, for example, 4 – 6 months to complete a 100 hour individual module, but we allow up to 12 months for you to complete it.
Longer courses will obviously take longer. You can find more information on the length of time required and so on the “Enrolment” box, then selecting “Terms and Conditions of Enrolment.”
What Do Our Students think of us?
If you would like to read comments from our previous students, then choose the “Enrolment” option above, then “Student Testimonials”.
I don’t think this is the right course for me.
If you’re not sure about this course, then why not look at our wide range of other courses. Click on the “Courses” box above.
You may also wish to design your own course to fit in with exactly what YOU want. To do so, click on the “Enrolment” box, then “Design your Own Course”.
If you would like more advice on a course, then you can contact us and ask a tutor about the courses. You can contact us by calling 0800 328 4723 or +44(0) 384 442752 or emailing info@acsedu.co.uk
Recognition and Accreditation
For more information on our recognition and accreditation, click on “The School”, then “Recognition”.
Who is ACS Distance Education?
If you want to know more about ACS and our history, then please click on “The School”, then “About us.”
