Welcome to Grief, Dying and Death, a Doctorate Level course in
the curriculum for the Degree, Doctorate in Grief Counseling.
I'm pleased to offer you this course, which will be a foundational
course for the remainder of your studies in the doctorate program.
This is an exciting course. This course will provide practical,
specific intervention strategies in grief, dying and death.
This
is a six-semester hour course. This course is allotted ten weeks
of time. You must complete all of the requirements for the course
successfully by the end of the ten-week period. The first day
of week one will begin the day that you register for the course,
or the day which you notify me that your text book(s) have arrived
and you are ready to begin your studies. Please be cognizant of
the time frame. It is rare that extensions of time are permitted,
unless you have good justification. Upon successful completion
of this course, you will be awarded six semester hours of credit.
You may accelerate, but may not complete this course in less than
four weeks.
There
is one (1) required textbook for this course.
Book 1: Grief, Dying and Death: Clinical Interventions for Caregivers.
Research Press: 1984.ISBN # 0-87822-232-4.
There are no examinations
for this course.
The grading scale for
this course is as follows:
90-100% = A
80-89% = B
70-79% = C
Below 70% = Fail
Nine Exercises - 45%
Self evaluation - 5%
Research Report - 20%
Discovery & Intention Statement - 10%
20 Case Studies - 20%
TOTAL 100%
The aim of education
about grief, dying and death is to assess each individual’s
unique situation within a psychological, sociological, physiological,
and socioeconomic framework. Also to understand your personal
and professional feelings, fears and expectations, those factors
affect patient care.
You are encouraged
to communicate with me. I am available as a teacher, coach, and
mentor to assist you in meeting your goals for this course. Primarily,
communication is through email. However, I am also available for
conversation by telephone if you would like. Our classroom for
this course has a "chat" room. I am also very willing
to meet with you one-on-one in the chat room at your request.
From time to time, depending on how many students are enrolled
in this course at a particular time, we will have some scheduled
group chats. You will receive more detailed information at the
time such chat sessions are scheduled. Please keep my email address
handy so that you can contact me whenever necessary. Upon registration,
you will receive my email address. If at any time during this
course you change your email address, please be sure to notify
me right away.
1). Our Attitudes Towards Death.
2). Grief: The Reaction to Loss.
3). Factors Influencing the Grief Reaction.
4). Unresolved Grief.
5). Therapeutic Interventions With Grievers.
6). Different Bereavement Situations.
7). Funerals and Funerary Rituals.
8). Death and the Dying Patient.
9). The Dying Patient’s Reactions.
10). The Dying Patient’s Coping Mechanisms.
11). Caring for the Dying Patient.
12). The Family of the Dying Patient.
13). The Dying Child.
14). The Caregiver’s Personal Concerns.
Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:
1). Self-examination of your own personal feelings about death.
2). Discuss the topic of death, thereby opening up previously avoided lines of communication with family and friends.
3). Understand the grief process.
4). Develop new skills to understand and communicate with terminally ill and bereaved individuals.
5). Considerate of the factors affecting individuals’ grief reactions.
6). Understand the forms and causes of unresolved grief.
7). Be knowledgeable of the specific interventions for the bereaved.
8). Understandthe benefits of funerals and how can they can be adapted to suit the needs mourners.
9). Understand the dying patient.
10). Understand the patient’s experience of the living-dying interval.
11). Understand the dying patient’s reactions to the approach of death.
12). Be knowledgeable of the coping mechanisms that can be used to handle this threat.
13). Use guidelines for working with dying patients.
14). Understand attitudes towards patients.
15). Be knowledgeable to communicate with patients.
16). Be knowledgeable to select proper interventions.
17). Understand the treatment of pain.
18). Understand the roles of clergy and ancillary personnel.
19). Understand the reactions and effects of terminal illness on the entire family system.
20). Understand the stresses created when the dying family member is a child.
21). Be competent enough to challenge systems that continue to make our society one, which is death denying.
22). Explain common reactions to loss and suggestions for coping with it.
23). Know the factors that contribute to the intensity of grief reactions.
24). Be knowledgeable about ethical issues and decision making.
25). Understand the caregiver’s stress from working with the dying and bereaved.
26). Become more motivated to live now, take risks, and accomplish life’s goals.
