Identification and Treatment of Traumatic Grief in Adults
While loss is inevitable, most resume healthy functioning after a reasonable period of time. However, for a subset of people, grief is prolonged and profoundly disruptive, especially when the loss is sudden or traumatic. Often it is necessary to address the trauma associated with the loss before grief can resolve naturally.
This intermediate-level course explores multiple facets of traumatic grief. In a series of audio presentations, with transcripts provided, Dr. Larsen discusses differences between normal and prolonged grief, along with symptoms of, and assessments for, accurately identifying traumatic grief. In the second section she provides a discussion of treatment that begins with an overview of general concepts and then moves into describing specific methods that clinicians can incorporate into their work. Cultural and gender considerations are discussed as well, all highlighted with case presentations.
A recording of a hypnotic trance is included as a sample for those interested in utilizing this type of intervention. Additional resources are provided but are not part of the course content.
Educational Objectives
- Describe the differences between traumatic and normal grief
- Explain significant symptoms and comorbid conditions of traumatic grief
- Discuss at least three approaches to the treatment of traumatic grief in adults
- Identify cultural and gender considerations in the treatment of traumatic grief
Syllabus
- What is traumatic grief?
- How traumatic grief is different from normal grief
- How traumatic grief fits with newer conceptions of complicated grief in the DSM-5 and ICD-11
- Models of coping and understanding grief
- Symptoms of traumatic grief
- Diagnosis, assessment, and risk factors
- Comorbid conditions
- Treatment of traumatic grief
- General considerations
- Psychoeducation
- Complicated grief therapy and CBT EMDR therapyd
- Hypnosis
- Cultural and gender implications
- A tale of three bereavements