When Loss is Complicated: Supporting System Involved Youth Affected by Stigmatized, Disenfranchised & Ambiguous Loss

Wendy Kessler, MSW, FT

Training Description

Grief is our natural response to loss. It is an innate process that is wired into human beings so that we can process painful emotions, understand what we need, adapt to unwanted changes, and grow through loss. However, there are multiple factors – internal and external – that complicate grief, causing this natural process to become stalled or derailed. This training will educate participants about common grief complications - with a focus on the non-death losses created by ambiguity, stigma, and disenfranchisement. Instruction includes techniques and interventions to effectively support system-involved youth and caregivers experiencing complicated grief. Participants will be informed through presenter instruction, a slide presentation, small group discussion, explanation of supportive techniques, and intervention demonstration. To increase participant engagement and content retention, the presenter will also utilize the chat box, reaction emojis, guided participant discussion, and Questions & Response.

Learning Objectives

Participants will be able to:

● Identify 3 external factors that complicate grief for system-involved youth and their caregivers;

● Acquire 4 techniques to bolster system-involved youth and caregivers experiencing complicated grief; and

● Apply 3 strategies for effectively supporting system-involved youth and their caregivers who are experiencing complicated grief.

Agenda

10:00 – 10:15am  Welcome & Introductions

10:15 – 10:45am  Understanding Typical Grief versus Complicated Grief

● Grief is Our Natural Response to Loss

● What is Normal Grief?

   o Typical Grief

   o Acute Grief

   o Complicated Grief

   o Prolonged Grief

   o Traumatic Grief

● Grief vs Depression

● Guided Discussion

10:45 – 11:15am  When Grief Gets Complicated by Internal Factors

● Assumptive World

● False Narratives

● Binary Thinking

● Emotional Repression

11:15 - 11:35am  Breakout Room

● Partner Conversation

   ○ What surprises you about this explanation for grief?

   ○ What internal factors complicate grief for your clients?

   ○ How will you apply this information to your work?

11:35 – 11:45am  Main Room Participant Reflection & Group Sharing

11:45am – 12:15pm  Lunch (CE Hours will not be offered for this time)

12:15 – 12:30pm  When Grief Gets Complicated by External Factors

● Ambiguous Loss Defined

● Stigmatized Loss Defined

● Disenfranchised Loss Defined

12:30 – 12:45pm Ambiguous Loss

● Factors that Contribute to Ambiguous Loss

● Impact of Ambiguous Losses on System Involved Youth & Caregivers

12:45 – 1:00pm Stigmatized Loss

● Factors that Contribute to Stigmatized Loss

● Impact of Stigmatized Losses on System Involved Youth & Caregivers

1:00 – 1:15pm Disenfranchised Loss

● Factors that Contribute to Disenfranchised Loss

● Impact of Disenfranchised Losses on System Involved Youth & Caregivers

1:15pm – 2:00pm Bolstering System Involved Youth & Caregivers at Risk for Complicated Grief

● Psychosocial Education

● Building Resilience

● Managing Distress

2:00 – 2:15pm Closing

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 grief) by the Association of Death Education and Counseling, and is certified as a Mental Health First Aid Instructor, by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing. Wendy’s approach to grief work is characterized by nonjudgmental, compassionate, strengths based counseling; as well as the belief that grieving - an essential life skill that enables us to

adapt to unwanted change and grow through loss - can be learned. Her support services include individual counseling, group facilitation, team training, and corporate consulting. When the path forward through loss is uncertain, it helps 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 (3.75) 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.