Loss and Grief PG (10341.1)

Loss and Grief PG is designed to enable students to deepen their theoretical understanding and counselling skills through consideration of the specialised area of loss and grief. This unit will present the knowledge, theories, and models relevant to loss and grief; and the skills relevant to bereavement counselling. Students will be encouraged to develop a research-informed, integrative approach to this speciality area of counselling. Interventions for professional practice will be emphasised and students will be expected to demonstrate their understanding of interpersonal practice in loss and grief situations. Various frameworks will be utilised for understanding the nature and impact of loss experiences in people's lives. Loss and grief will be considered beyond bereavement (death-related) situations so that some appreciation is developed of the range of losses that affect potential clients.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
1. Demonstrate a critical understanding of major theories and models of counselling as they apply to loss and grief;

2. Demonstrate counselling techniques and interventions specific to loss and grief counselling; and
3. Formulate a working framework for counselling practice in loss and grief counselling, including issues related to professional and ethical practice.

Graduate attributes

1. UC graduates are professional - employ up-to-date and relevant knowledge and skills
1. UC graduates are professional - communicate effectively
1. UC graduates are professional - use creativity, critical thinking, analysis and research skills to solve theoretical and real-world problems
1. UC graduates are professional - work collaboratively as part of a team, negotiate, and resolve conflict
1. UC graduates are professional - display initiative and drive, and use their organisation skills to plan and manage their workload
1. UC graduates are professional - take pride in their professional and personal integrity
2. UC graduates are global citizens - think globally about issues in their profession
2. UC graduates are global citizens - adopt an informed and balanced approach across professional and international boundaries
2. UC graduates are global citizens - understand issues in their profession from the perspective of other cultures
2. UC graduates are global citizens - communicate effectively in diverse cultural and social settings
2. UC graduates are global citizens - make creative use of technology in their learning and professional lives
2. UC graduates are global citizens - behave ethically and sustainably in their professional and personal lives
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - reflect on their own practice, updating and adapting their knowledge and skills for continual professional and academic development
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - be self-aware
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - adapt to complexity, ambiguity and change by being flexible and keen to engage with new ideas
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - evaluate and adopt new technology

Prerequisites

Must have passed Counselling Skills and Models PG, 7743, AND Counselling Theories and Concepts PG, 7744.

Corequisites

Must be enrolled in Graduate Diploma in Counselling, 342JA, OR Master of Counselling, 341JA, OR Permission of the Course Convener.

Incompatible units

10341 Loss and Grief PG is incompatible with 7747 Counselling Applications PG 2 for students who completed 7747 in 2017.

Equivalent units

None.

Assumed knowledge

Applicants are expected to demonstrate a level of mature life experience and self awareness shown by the capacity to reflect on and learn from experience, including being open to giving and receiving positive and challenging feedback.