Workshop 10 - GRIEF Approach: A Comprehensive Treatment Model for Traumatic Loss
Saturday, November 19, 2022
8:30 AM – 11:30 AM EST
Location: Gotham, 7th Floor
Earn 3 CE Credit
Keywords: Grief / Bereavement, Trauma Level of Familiarity: Basic to Moderate Recommended Readings: Rheingold, A.A. & Williams, J.L. (2018). A Module-based comprehensive approach for
addressing heterogeneous mental health sequelae of violent loss survivors. Death Studies, 42, 164-171. DOI: 10.1080/07481187.2017.1370798 Williams, J.L., Rheingold, A.A., McNallan, L.J.*, & Knowlton, A.W.* (2018). Survivors’
perspectives on a modular approach to traumatic grief treatment. Death Studies, 42, 155-163. DOI: 10.1080/07481187.2017.1370796 PMID: 29300145 Rheingold, A. A., & Williams, J. L. (2015). Survivors of homicide: Mental health outcomes, social support, and service utilization among a community-based sample. Violence and Victims, 30, 870-883. doi: 10.1891/0886-6708.VV-D-14-00026 Pearlman, L. A., Wortman, C. B., Feuer, C. A., Farber, C. H., & Rando, T. A. (2014). Treating traumatic bereavement: A practitioner’s guide. Guilford Press. Bordere, T., Rheingold, A., & Williams, J. (2021). Grief following homicide. In H. L. Servaty-Seib & H. S. Chapple (eds.), Handbook of thanatology, 3rd ed. (pp. 388-416). Association for Death Education and Counseling.
Assistant Professor University of Missouri-Kansas City Kansas City, MO
She was no longer wresting with the grief but could sit down with it as a lasting companion and make it a sharer in her thoughts. -G. Eliot
Grief Recovery with Individualized Evidence-Based Formulation Approach (GRIEF Approach) is a modular treatment for adult violent loss (homicide, suicide, traffic crash) survivors that integrates evidence-based cognitive behavioral strategies from existing trauma and grief interventions to address mental health problems associated with traumatic death. GRIEF Approach targets symptoms underlying three main mental health issues associated with traumatic loss: posttraumatic stress, depression, and prolonged grief. The model includes 8 modules encompassing cognitive, behavioral, and experiential techniques, including behavioral activation and therapeutic exposures. Module selection is guided by a thorough assessment of symptoms with a multicultural lens. GRIEF Approach is comprehensive and flexible, ensuring treatment is tailored to each survivor’s unique symptoms. This workshop offers an overview of responses to violent loss and latest research on recovery trajectories. Participants learn assessment driven conceptualization strategies to guide module selection as well as empirically supported techniques for working with violent loss survivors. Video demonstrations and real-time exercises designed to teach clinicians how to implement the treatment are provided.
Outline: Grief terminology and definitions Prevalence of violent loss Grief trajectory PTSD vs Prolonged Grief Disorder vs Depression after violent loss Other clinical considerations Grief and trauma interventions overview and limitations GRIEF Approach overview Grief and trauma assessment considerations GRIEF Approach decision tree GRIEF Approach Module 1: Psychoeducation GRIEF Approach Module 2: Emotion Identification and Cognitive Restructuring GRIEF Approach Module 3: Identifying and Building Strengths GRIEF Approach Module 4: Managing Strong Emotions GRIEF Approach Module 5: Building Positive Support Network GRIEF Approach Module 6: Meaningful Behavioral Activation GRIEF Approach Module 7: Revising Bonds GRIEF Approach Module 8: Therapeutic Exposure Putting it all together Case Example Discussion and Examples
Learning Objectives:
At the end of the session, the learner will be able to:
Identify common trauma and grief responses to traumatic loss (homicide, suicide, traffic crash) and how these reactions can appear differently in the context of individual and sociocultural factors.
Distinguish between prolonged grief, depression, and PTSD and 2 ways to assess each both within a clinical interview and self-report assessments.
List 3 existing evidence based interventions for PTSD, depression, and prolonged grief.
Describe 8 modules based on a tailor an individualized treatment plan based upon symptom presentation of a traumatic loss survivor.
Describe 3-4 evidence-based strategies (e.g., meaningful behavioral activation, therapeutic exposure, revising bonds) for trauma and grief difficulties.
Long-term Goal: Attendees will be able to synthesize literature from both the trauma and grief field into treatment conceptualization of violent loss survivors’ difficulties and walk away with specific empirically supported techniques for working with violent loss survivors.