Grief and Loss

Katherine Walsh has been teaching social workers and other helping professionals while maintaining her own grief work practice for 30 years. A past president of the Association of Oncology Social Work, Director of Psychosocial Services for Hospice, a Clinical Supervisor and tenured Professor of Social Work, Dr. Walsh has won numerous service and leadership awards, authored many book chapters and peer reviewed journal articles and led international exchange programs in End of Life Care in China, Cambodia and Hungary for the National Association of Social Workers. Her own practice and collaborative relationships with students and colleagues have produced a wealth of case examples from a wide variety of settings including schools, hospitals, correctional facilities and foster care agencies as well as traditional social service and mental health settings.

• IN THIS SECTION:1.) BRIEF TABLE OF CONTENTS 2.) FULL TABLE OF CONTENTS  BRIEF TABLE OF CONTENTS:  Chapter 1:  Introduction to Grief and LossChapter 2: Symbolic LossChapter 3: Self Preparation and Training for Professionals Chapter 4: Childhood and AdolescenceChapter 5: Young and Middle AdulthoodChapter 6: Older AdulthoodChapter 7:  Normal and Complicated GriefChapter 8: Culture and SpiritualityChapter 9: Anticipatory Grief in End of Life CareChapter 10: What Can We Do to Help Grieving Individuals and Families?Chapter 11: Helping Groups and Organizations Cope with GriefChapter 12: Communities and Traumatic GriefChapter 13: Professional Resilience: Sustaining Hope, Helpfulness and Competence in Working With Grief  FULL TABLE OF CONTENTS:  Chapter 1:  Introduction to Grief and LossBasic Facts About LossWhy Study Grief?Experiences That Generate Grief ReactionsSummary                            Chapter 2: Symbolic LossSymbolic LossSimilarities And Differences In Symbolic And Actual LossesSummary  Chapter 3: Self Preparation and Training for Professionals Reviewing Our Own Experiences and Attitudes Related To Grief Assessing and Enhancing Our Readiness to Address Grief Increased Recognition of the Impact of Grief on Professionals Supervision, Consultation and Collaboration Summary  Chapter 4: Childhood and AdolescenceLoss in the Formative YearsExternal Factors Influencing Grief in Children and AdolescentsThe Influence of Development on Grief ReactionsGrief Reactions at Different Developmental StagesSummary  Chapter 5: Young and Middle AdulthoodFactors in addition to age and developmental stage that influence grief reactions.Developmental and External Factors influencing grief reactionsSummary  Chapter 6: Older AdulthoodLoss and Grief Later In LifeThe Influence of Advanced Age and Longer Life ExpectancySymbolic and Actual Loss for Older AdultsWorking with Grieving Older Adults      Summary  Chapter 7:  Normal and Complicated GriefTheories That Inform Our Understanding Of Grief          Common Reactions in “Normal” Grief “Complicated Grief”                Interventions for Normal and Complicated Grief Summary  Chapter 8: Culture and SpiritualityThe Influence of Culture and Spirituality in Coping with Loss and Grief Culture Culture Awareness, Sensitivity, and Competence Gender and Media Influences Spirituality Summary Chapter 9: Anticipatory Grief in End of Life CareAnticipated Loss In Diverse Practice Settings“Anticipatory Grief”End of Life and Palliative CareAdvance DirectivesSummary         Chapter 10: What Can We Do to Help Grieving Individuals and Families?Misconceptions About Grief Empathic Communication Interventions for Normal and Complicated Grief             Bereavement Counseling Grief Therapy Collaborating With Other Helping Professionals             Summary Chapter 11: Helping Groups and Organizations Cope with GriefGroup Models               Identifying and Developing Organizational ResourcesEstablishing a Bereavement Protocol:  Interdisciplinary and Inter-Organizational Collaboration Summary  Chapter 12: Communities and Traumatic GriefTrauma Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)When Communities Experience Trauma and GriefCreating Remembrances and MemorialsSummary  Chapter 13: Professional Resilience: Sustaining Hope, Helpfulness and Competence in Working With GriefContinuing Education And Professional DevelopmentSelf-CareProfessional Support SystemsSummary AppendicesAppendix A: Common Losses Across the LifespanAppendix B: Helpful Strategies for Coping with GriefAppendix C: Strategies for Professionals Helping Children and Families Cope with Traumatic LossAppendix D: Remembrance Celebrations: Planning Your Own or Someone Else’s Memorial ServiceAppendix E: Expressive TechniquesAppendix F: Caregivers Retreat Agenda and Invitation  Internet ResourcesAnnotated Bibliography