Trauma-Informed Counselling in the Context of Loss and Grief (CO2003Z)

Content

Loss and grief are normal human experiences. However, when they overwhelm a person’s ability to cope mental health and wellbeing are negatively impacted. Using the bio-psycho-social model this unit will explore: (1) the psycho-biology of stress; (2) effective helping for a variety of losses faced by people; (3) stages of grief, complex grief, and grief counselling; and (4) traumatology with a focus on trauma-informed counselling to promote post-traumatic growth.

Learning outcomes

Unit sequence

Offering: This unit is to be taught in year 2, semester 1 (term 2).
Prerequisites: CO1005Z Introduction To Counselling

Pedagogy

Scaffolded learning In practice: This is a collaborative way of learning that takes note of the learner’s zone of proximal development (ZPD). By repeatedly extending the learner’s ZPD they develop a comprehensive and integrated system of knowledge/skills. Scaffolded learning is achieved through the provision of online modules which clearly guide a student’s learning; through activities of increased complexity during intensives; by face-to-face seminars which are tailored to induce academic/professional growth in an ordered and coherent way; and by assessments which not only seek to identify that key knowledge/skills have been learnt, but that the student is developing an integrated understanding of counselling.

Indicative Bibliography

1. Byock, I. (1997). Dying well: Peace and possibilities at the end of life. Riverhead Books.
2. Harris, D., & Winokuer, H. (2019). Principles and practice of grief counselling (3rd edition). Springer Publishing Company.
3. Levers, L. (2022). Trauma counselling (2nd edition). Springer Publishing Company.
4. Rothchild, B. (2010). The body remembers: The psychophysiology of trauma and trauma treatment. W. W. Norton & Company.
5. Tedeschi, R., & Moore, B. (2020). Transformed by trauma: Stories of posttraumatic growth. Independently published.
6. Tedeschi, R., & Moore, B. (2016). The post-traumatic growth workbook: Coming through trauma wiser, stronger, and more resilient. New Harbinger Publications.
7. Tedeschi, R., & Shakespeare-Finch, J. (2018). Posttraumatic growth: Theory, research, and applications. Routledge.
8. Van der Kolk, B. (2014). The body keeps the score. Penguin.

Assessment