Grief certainly occurs after the death of someone we love, but it also manifests in the midst of losses that may not be as obvious or easily described. These are living losses — the loss experiences and their accompanying ambiguity that we must learn to live with as we continue with our lives. Some living losses are readily apparent, such as the loss of functionality, loss of roles, or the absence of loved ones through other means than death. Other losses may not be so obvious, such as the loss of our hopes and dreams, our innocence, our beliefs, or our vision of how we thought life should or would be. Utilizing case studies and examples, we will identify the unique features and implications of many types of non-death losses.
Learners will engage in the creation of a loss history diagram, followed by mapping specific aspects of loss experiences onto a provided template, which can be utilized when working with clients. This module will also include the use of a validated measure (non-death loss version) to trace the impact of non-death losses on one’s comprehensibility and footing in the world.
