Frank R. Campbell – Treating Complicated Bereavement: Clinical Approaches for Client & Community Following Traumatic Loss

Outline

DEVELOPMENT AND RESOLUTION OF A CRISIS

• How Crisis Theory is a guide to understanding your client’s loss journey
• The self-defined nature of crisis development in the face of loss
  • The ‘contributaries’ that facilitate complicated grief
  • The role of maladaptive coping
  • The role of alcohol and substance abuse (prescription and recreational)
  • Risk factors for clients who are coping with complex causes of death and how to lower their risks
• Equipment to help the bereaved take charge of their Journey:
  • Understand how their loss has unfolded into defining moments
  • Steps that lead to Post-Traumatic Growth rather than pathological grief
  • Identify thoughts of suicide and suicidal ambivalence and develop a plan to reduce risk
  • Self-care exercises for clinician and client

PREPARING TO TREAT SUDDEN AND TRAUMATIC LOSS

• The most common type of sudden and traumatic loss faced by communities
• The impact of sudden and traumatic loss on:
  • Children (including impact on child development)
  • Families and the potential for long-term negative consequences
  • Community
• Equipment to:
  • Identify and assist those who need additional treatment
  • Refer (available resources and evidence-based practices)
  • Provide treatment and support initially and through life milestones
• Ethical conflicts that create a risk for countertransference

SUDDEN AND TRAUMATIC LOSS: TOOLS FOR HEALING

• How metaphors can
  • Aid in the initial assessment of the client’s status
  • Benefit the client and therapist in the treatment of traumatic loss
  • Provide an understanding of the complexities of the traumatic loss and grief process
• Examples of metaphors used by clients
• Training clients to use metaphors activate their informal support system
• The Active Postvention Model
  • History of the LOSS Team Concept
  • Preparing your community to activate the LOSS Team model
  • The role of the Loss Team first responders in the initial and overall treatment of traumatic loss

ELICITING COMMUNICATION WITH CORE FEELINGS TO SUPPORT CONGRUENCY

• The benefits of going back to the basics
• Why the language of grief requires congruent feelings to be expressed
• Psycho-Educational Intervention
  • How substitution of thoughts has complicated clear communication between the bereaved and their informal caregivers.
  • How clients can become more clear in communicating their needs
  • Implementing psychoeducational interventions in your grief practice
• Equipment for:
  • Overcoming obstacles to hearing the emotions below the content of a client’s grief communication
  • Overcoming challenges to implementing strategies for clear communication