Essential Grief and Loss Skills for Companioning Mourners

Description

This comprehensive presentation is designed to provide participants with a deep understanding of grief and its multifaceted nature. Through interactive discussions, we will explore the emotional and physical responses to grief, recognize its manifestations at different stages of life, and address common misconceptions that often accompany loss.

Participants will also learn to identify various types of grief and the specific challenges they present, such as feelings of guilt, depression, and anxiety. Through this process, participants will acquire skills for effectively supporting and companioning mourners as they navigate their grief.

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Presenter

David McLawhorn, MSW, LCSW, is a clinical social worker in the Memory Counseling Program (MCP) at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist (AHWFB) hospital, counseling people living with dementia and their care partners. He also develops and facilitates training for AHWFB geriatric and palliative care fellows, focusing on grief and dementia-related topics. David volunteers his time educating staff, interns, and volunteers with NC non-profit, Arts For Life, which provides art programming to pediatric cancer patients at hospitals throughout North Carolina. He received his Master of Social Work degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design from Savannah College of Art and Design. Before entering the field of clinical social work, David worked as a designer and website developer in the marketing and advertising industry. While pursuing his graduate degree, David served as the Anderson Endowment Social Work Intern with MCP where he gained valuable experience providing individual and group therapy services to people living with dementia and their care partners. His post-graduate clinical focus has been on providing mental health services for adults with an emphasis on grief and loss.

This presenter is being supported through a partnership between UNC-CH, School of Social Work and the NC AHEC Program.

Target Audience

Psychologists, Licensed Clinical Social Workers, Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselors, Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialists, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists, mental health providers, and all healthcare professionals interested in this topic

Objectives

Upon completion of this program, participants will be able to:

• Discuss the basics of grief including emotional and physical responses
• Recognize grief throughout the lifespan
• Articulate common misconceptions about grief and loss
• Identify types of grief and loss
• Discuss cultural considerations in supporting the grieving
• List common grief responses (guilt, depression, and anxiety)
• Demonstrate the ability to implement techniques for supporting the grieving

Faculty

• David McLawhorn, MSW, LCSW