Understanding Grief as a Process of Learning as a Tactic to Support System Involved Youth Experiencing Loss

Wendy Kessler, MSW, FT

Training Description

This training explores ground-breaking research on the neuroscience of grief and the remarkable ability of our brain to change so that we can adapt to loss. This training will educate participants about understanding grief as a process of learning, as well as instruct participants on identifying protective factors for grieving youth that build resilience and increase coping ability. Participants will be informed through interactive presenter education, a slide presentation, small group conversation, skills instruction, and guided discussion.

Learning Objectives

Participant will be able to:

● Identify 5 key principles of understanding grief as a process of learning.

● Identify 3 interrelated protective factors that build resilience in grieving youth.

● Identify 5 strategies that support coping skills for grieving youth.

Agenda

10:00 – 10:15am  Welcome & Introductions

10:15– 11:00am  Understanding the Grieving Brain

● Where There is Loss, Grief Follows

● The Neuroscience of Grief

● Adaptation to Loss Through Learning

11:00 - 11:30am  Guided Discussion

● How does Grief differ from Grieving?

● What is the relationship of memory and attachment during grief?

● How does informational knowledge versus transformational knowledge affect grief?

● What is the role of rumination in grief?

● How is the brain shaped by love and grief?

11:30am – 12:00pm  Breakout Rooms

● Small Group Discussion

● Guided prompts

○ How does this information influence your understanding of grief?

○ How can you apply this information to your role supporting system-involved youth and caregivers?

12:00 – 12:15pm  Main Room Discussion

● Sharing about small group discussion and insights gained

12:15 - 12:45pm  Break (CE hours will not be offered for this time)

12:45 – 1:30pm  Exploring Adaptation To Loss & Building Resilience in System-Involved Youth:

● Developing caring relationships

● Maintaining high expectations

● Providing meaningful opportunities for participation and contribution

● Protective factors to discover and develop

● Strategies that support resilience

1:30 - 1:40pm  Questions & Conversation

1:40 – 2:00pm  Closing

● Review

● Resources

● Upcoming Trainings

● Contact Info

Meet Our Trainer

Wendy Kessler, MSW, FT is a Grief Specialist. She is credentialed as a Fellow in Thanatology (the study of death, dying, and bereavement) by the Association of Death Education and Counseling, and a Certified Mental Health First Aid Instructor. Wendy worked as hospice Bereavement Counselor from 2017-2022 – offering grief care to patients’ loved ones, hospice staff, and community partners. Through hospice work she recognized a gap in grief education for helping professionals, as well as the need for better support for grievers. As a result, she left corporate hospice care and launched Grief Guide Consulting, LLC in 2022. Her private practice grief services include individual counseling, support group facilitation, group education, and consulting. She believes that grief is not a problem to be fixed. It is a journey that we can learn to navigate, and when the path is unfamiliar or uncertain it can help to have a guide. You can learn more about Wendy or contact her at her website: www.griefguideconsulting.com.

This course meets the qualifications for (3.50) BBS CE hours for LCSWs, LMFTs, LPCCs, and LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences & is provided by Fred Finch Youth Center, CAMFT Provider #045295.