Erica Sirrine – Certification Course: The Ultimate Grief Treatment Toolbox: Over 60 Interventions to Promote Healing & Hope Among Grieving Children, Adolescents & Adults

Description

Handouts

Outline

Types of Grief & Their Implications for Treatment

• Grief vs. mourning
• Depression & bereavement: A distinction
• Secondary losses after death
• Non-death losses
• The problem with “getting over it”
• Misconceptions about grief & mourning
• Limitations of the research & potential risks

Assessment: Intake Considerations for Grieving Clients

• Grief & coping models
• Factors that influence the mourning process
• Assessment of continuing bonds
• Loss line: The ultimate assessment tool
• Normal vs. complicated grief vs. prolonged grief
• Persistent Complex Bereavement Disorder

Assessment of Grief & Loss in Children & Adolescents

• How children, adolescents & adults cope differently
• Considerations for different age groups
• ”De-code” the meanings of behaviors
• Six common questions following a death
• ”Things we want adults to know about our grief”
• Signs of concern/red flags

Interventions & Strategies for Anticipatory Grief

• Normalize the dying process & grief experience
• Model healthy mourning behaviors
• Spot opportunities for memorialization
• Provide death education & practical support
• Strategies to prepare children & adults for the funeral

OVER 60 INTERVENTIONS TO PROMOTE HEALING WHEN IT’S TOO HARD TO TALK

Therapeutic Games

• Preschool/Early Elementary
  • Doll house scene depiction
  • Puppets & stuffed animals
  • Sand tray therapy
• Youth
  • Therapy ball
  • Shades of feelings
  • Card games
• Youth & adults
  • Constructive use of punching bags/pillows
  • Topic starters
  • Questions games
  • Group sharing: Cards, web of feelings
• …and more

Art with Children, Adolescents & Adults

• ”I am” board
• Colors of grief
• Support circles
• Memory peacock
• Photo flower pot
• Clay/Play-Doh
• Photography
• Memory boxes & stones
• …and more!

Poetry, Writing & Music Interventions for All Ages

• Bibliotherapy
• Journaling
• Poetry: “I am” exercise
• Letter writing
• Remembrance music
• Song/rap writing
• Sticky note regrets
• …and more!

Memorialization Rituals

• Candle-lighting
• ”I remember” book
• Online memorial page
• Rice paper/balloon release
• Memory patio stones
• Tree planting
• …and more!

Interactive Activities for Healing as a Family

• Web of feelings
• Labyrinth with reflection stations
• Memorial service
• ”Broken to whole”
• Bibliotherapy for families
• Holiday activities: Memory ornaments & stockings
• …and more!

Grief & Loss Support Groups for Children, Adolescents & Adults

• Grief camps for kids
• Support group considerations
• Family involvement
• Curriculum & session topics (for individual therapy too!)

Faculty

Erica Sirrine, Ph.D., LCSW, FT Related seminars and products: 2

Professor

Southeastern University

---

Erica H. Sirrine, Ph.D., LCSW, FT, is a licensed clinical social worker, qualified clinical supervisor and an associate professor of social work at Southeastern University. She has over 17 years of experience in the field of death, dying and bereavement and has been awarded the distinction of Fellow in Thanatology by the Association for Death Education and Counseling.

She has conducted and published research on the continuing bonds maintained by survivors following a death, and she recently authored and published Sammy’s Story, an anticipatory grief counseling book for young children experiencing the serious illness of a loved one. Dr. Sirrine has extensive expertise providing individual and group therapy to bereaved children, adolescents, adults and families. She has implemented numerous interventions and programs aimed at improving the emotional health of clients experiencing loss.

Dr. Sirrine presents seminars on bereavement and loss throughout the United States and is known for her interactive and engaging workshops. She has been distinguished as “Professor of the Year” and the National Association of Social Workers Heartland, Florida Unit’s “Social Worker of the Year.” Dr. Sirrine is passionate about equipping professionals with the tools necessary to help clients reconcile their losses, move toward healing, and regain meaning and purpose in their lives.

Speaker Disclosures:

Financial: Erica Sirrine receives compensation as an Associate Professor at Southeastern University. She receives a speaking honorarium from PESI, Inc.

Non-financial: Erica Sirrine is a member of the National Association of Social Workers, The Association of Baccalaureate Program Directors, the National Alliance for Grieving Children, and the Florida Association of Deans and Directors. She does not receive compensation.