Spousal / partner loss is often experienced as a profound loss resulting in significant disruptions in one’s daily life and major changes in the social world.  Whether the couple relationship used to be loving and intimate or ambivalent and conflictual, the surviving spouse / partners commonly need to review their sense of identity, life goals and relationships with the surrounding others, as well as reorganize their daily routines and reset their relational roles and directions in life ahead.  At the same time, spousal / partner loss often implies parental / grandparental loss for the affected children / grandchildren in the family.  As parents / grandparents may play multiple roles and instill different influences in children’s daily life and personal development, regardless of age, the departure of such a parental figure may result in a great sense of loss and disorientation for the bereaved children as well. 

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In this module, we will examine the unique features in spousal / partner loss and parental / grandparental loss.  We will also introduce two conversation guides – the "RINGS for Life" and the "House the LIGHT" that are tailored for these two losses respectively as possible tools to facilitate meaning reconstruction with the bereaved spouse / partner and the bereaved children / grandchildren.

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LEARNING OBJECTIVES

• Describe the unique impacts resulted from spousal / partner loss and parental loss;

• Facilitate bereaved spouse / partner’s reflection of post-loss stressors and re-establishment of post-loss life and identity; and 

• Explore the parental influences in bereaved children’s lives and utilize the continuing bond as a resource for their post-loss adjustment.

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Note:  Completion of this program and return of the Responsive Journal satisfies 1 Technique Module required for Certification in Grief Therapy as Meaning Reconstruction or Certification in Family-Focused Grief Therapy.

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PROGRAM CONTENT

This program contains the following video segments:

1. Working with Widowhood:  Intrapsychic and Interpersonal Dimensions (43 mins)

2. Who am I Now:  Reconstructing the Self after Conjugal Loss (57 mins)

3. Loss of a Parent:  A “Holding Frame” for Bereaved Children and Teens (36 mins)

4. House the Light:  A Tool for Grieving Adult Children (27 mins)

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COURSE PACK CONTAINS...

• A PDF copy of the presentation slides;

• The RINGS for Life, a conversation guide to revisit the relationship history and to navigate the adjustments required after losing a spouse / partner; and

• The House the LIGHT, a conversation guide to reflect on the deceased parent / grandparent's life and extract the relevant imprints to incorporate into one's life; and

• The Responsive Journal that, upon completion and return, confers 1 Technique Module required for Certification in Grief Therapy as Meaning Reconstruction or Certification in Family-Focused Grief Therapy.

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