Loss and Grief

Undergraduate / Graduate

Loss and grief are present in nearly every clinical situation that Social Workers encounter. This course will help students acquire skills in helping clients (and themselves) transition through grief in response to non-death and death experiences. The course builds on knowledge of direct practice, human behavior theory, life span development, and cultural diversity. Students will learn how to differentiate between various types of losses and grief, apply grief theories and concepts to loss experiences, and identify how personal and societal factors influence the grieving experience. The importance of understanding trauma and its relationship to grief and loss will also be addressed. Coping and resiliency in loss will be explored, emphasizing the diversity of human response and the need for cultural humility. In addition, students will be encouraged to understand the impact of grief and loss in their own lives and develop effective strategies for self-care.