Counseling Educational Opportunities

The target audience for the following education opportunites is the community-at-large.

Understanding Terminal Illness

End-of-Life Decision Making
Talking about the options and making decisions while facing the end of life can be difficult and stressful.  Designed to teach participants abuot their options so that these conversations and decisions can happen ahead of time.

The Patient's and Familiy's Reality
Designed to help the learner understand the emotional aspects of the dying process and how it affects both the dying person and his family members.

Walking with Others Through Terminal Illness
People often avoid reaching out to those who are dying because they are unsure of what to say.  Designed for anyone who wants to know how to open the lines of communication with someone who if facing a terminal illness.

Walking with Children and Teens Through Terminal Illness
The special needs of children and teens are often overlooked when a family is facing a terminal illness. Designed to provide information about how to support and include children and teens according to their developmental levels.

Nearing Death Awareness
The dying patient's apparent confusion often holds clear messages about her dying experience and what she may need to help secure a more peaceful death.  Helps participants recognize common themes and communications in those who are nearing death adn learn helpful ways to respond.

Caring for the Caregivers

Family Caregivers
There are joys and rewards in providing care for your loved one; there are frustrations and difficulties as well.  Helps participants find the balance between taking care of their loved on and taking care of oneself.

Professional Self-Care
Those who care for the terminally ill sometimes forget to take care of themselves.  Professional caregivers need to learn to balance the demands of caregiving with their own need for rest and rejuvenation.  Covers stress management technigques, boundary issues, and how to avoid burnout and over-helping.

Professional Boundaries
As healthcare professionals, we are nurturing and providing care for people at soem of the most vulnerable times in their lives.  Designed to teahc professional how to protect their patients' rights by identifying how and why boundary violations occur and how to prevent this from happening.

Personal Death Awareness
How often do caregivers think about their own death? How do caregivers continue to be effective when dealing with death on a regular basis?  Explorign these adn other questions teaches how personal attitudes toward death adn grief influence caergivers' ability to reach out to those who are dying.  Teaches caregivers how to avoid emotional exhaustion resulting rom cumulative loss.

Understanding Grief

Grief 101
Grief is a process, not an event.  Everyone's grief experience is unique to their relationship with the deceased and other circumstances.  Designed to provide information about grief, what to expect in the grieving process, and some common myths about grief.

Walking with Others Through Grief
What can one say and do to support a grieving family?  What should one avoid saying?  For anyone who wants to reach out and support someone through the journey of grief.

Complicated Grief
"I feel like I am losing my mind, is this normal?" Whether one is in need of support or supporting others, this may be a familiar question.  Will explore the difference between "normal" grief reactions and grief complicated by additional factors.

Traumatic Loss
Sudden deaths, such as an auto accident, drowning, suicide, fire or heart attack can cause trauma reactions, and, without intervention, can lead to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.  Will cover trauma reactions, how trauma is different from grief, and when and how to refer people for trauma debriefing and interventions.

Childrens' and Teens' Grief
Childrens' and teens' grief may not look the same as adults' grief, yet they need the acknowledgemnet and support of those around them.  Designed to provide information about the special needs of grieving children and teens and how to help them develop ways to cope.

Aging and Loss
The aging process includes many significant changes that involve loss, and the subsequent feelings of grief.  Participants will learn to recognize grief responses and develop ways to cope.

Holiday Grief
For people who are grieving, the holidays may be a time of mixed emotions, feelings of being overwhelmed with multiple demands, and the pain of loves lost.  Will help participants consider how to take care of themselves during this vulnerable time.