Unit Description
In this unit, students will develop an understanding of the issues and processes of holistic counselling and psychotherapy when working with people experiencing loss and grief, death and dying.
Classic and contemporary theories and approaches to working with grief, loss and death will be covered, including the work of Elizabeth Kubler-Ross, Arnold Mindell, Rudolf Steiner, Worden and Niemeyer, and models arising from palliative care. The holistic model will be differentiated from other models.
Students will discuss case studies weekly as a way of applying their understanding of the holistic model to a range of loss and grief circumstances, across the lifespan, and with culturally diverse clients.
Palliative care is introduced during the intensive by a palliative care specialist. Counselling skills for loss and grief are taught and practiced under supervision at the intensive and will be demonstrated by students through the submission of an audio-visual assignment and critical analysis of the session.
Unit Code
206
Unit Type
Core Unit
Study Period
Year 2, Semester 2
Credit Points
3.0
Consultation Times
30 minutes before and after workshop intensives and by appointment during the semester
Topics Covered
- Understanding loss and grief across the lifespan
- Classic theories and approaches to loss and grief
- Contemporary theories and approaches to loss and grief
- The holistic model of working with loss and grief
- The role of the psychotherapist in dealing with loss and grief
- Bereavement and palliative care counselling contexts
- Holistic counselling and psychotherapy: Key practice skills for loss and grief
- Ethical and professional aspects of loss and grief counselling
Learning Outcomes
- Critically analyse and compare classical and contemporary theories of grief, loss and death with the holistic model
- Articulate and analyse key concerns and challenges in grief and loss counselling and therapy
- Skilfully demonstrate and evaluate holistic counselling and psychotherapy interventions for bereavement and palliative care
- Accurately define and apply concepts and terminology for loss and grief counselling and psychotherapy
- Identify and analyse ethical and professional aspects of grief and loss counselling and psychotherapy
Delivery Mode
Workshop intensives on-campus
Workshop Intensive 1:
9:00 am to 5:30 pm
3.25 hours of teaching and learning
Workshop Intensive 3:
9:00 am to 5:30 pm
3.25 hours of teaching and learning
Online delivery
1.5 hour Zoom discussion mid-semester
Student Workload
(add student work load)
Available in Courses
This unit is available in the following courses:
Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy (Holistic Practice)Created: April 28, 2021, 4:48 p.m. • Updated: April 4, 2022, 9:22 a.m.