Loss, Grief and Bereavement Issues in Pastoral Ministry Contexts (DP3004Y)

Content

This unit examines the more common loss-related events and some key theoretical approaches with regard to loss, grief and bereavement. Loss and grief contexts considered here include: family related loss, assault and domestic violence; abuse; discrimination; complicated grief; loss in educational contexts; unemployment and financial loss; natural, and human disasters; asylum-seeking, and refugees. It includes pastoral, spiritual, and theological considerations in addressing loss, grief and transition experience, and examines ethical and boundary issues in pastoral contexts. It also considers collaborative, resilience-based approaches in the context of providing holistic care for those impacted by loss, grief and bereavement experiences.

Learning outcomes

Unit sequence

1x DP unit

Pedagogy

Synchronous and asynchronous lectures and tutorials

Indicative Bibliography

• Attig, Thomas. How we grieve. Relearning the World. 2nd ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2011.
• Boss, Pauline. Ambiguous Loss: Learning to Live with Unresolved Grief. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Prews, 2000.
• Brownell, Philip. Spiritual Competency in Psychotherapy. New York: Springer Publishing Company, 2014.
• Earle, Sarah, Komaromy, Carol and Bartholomew, Caroline (Eds.). Death and Dying: A Reader/Making Sense of Death, Dying and Bereavement: An Anthology. London: Sage Publications, 2009.
• Giddings, Philip, Down, Martin, Sugden, Elaine, and Tuckwell, Gareth. Talking about dying. Help in facing death and dying. London: Wilberforce Publications, 2017. *
• Kelley, Melissa M. Grief: Contemporary Theory and the Practice of Ministry. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2010.
• Machin, Linda. Working with Loss and Grief: A Theoretical and Practical Approach. 2nd ed. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 2013. *
• Mallon, Brenda. Dying, Death and Grief: Working with Adult Bereavement. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 2008.
• Musgrave, Beverley A., and McGettigan, Neil (Eds.) Spiritual and psychological aspects of illness: Dealing with sickness, loss, dying and death. New York, Mahwah: Paulist Press, 2010.
• Nolan, Steve. Spiritual care at the end of life: The Chaplain as ‘hopeful presence’. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2012.*
• Read, Sue. Supporting People with Intellectual Disabilities Experiencing Loss and Bereavement: Theory and Compassionate Practice. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2014.

Assessment