Part II: Autobiographical Reflection on Your LossesTHE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK Course Number: 393R18 Instructor: Khris Ford Unique Number: 66430 Email: [email protected] Semester: Fall 2007 Phone: (512) 923-4690 Meeting Time: Mondays Office Rm: 3.104A 11:30-2:30 p.m. Meeting Place: SSW 2.112 Office Hrs: By appointment : GRIEF COUNSELING I. Standardized Course Description The framework for this course involves theories of grief and loss, assessment, and intervention with children, adolescents, adults, and families. The interplay between normal grief and bereavement and clinical syndromes are analyzed for the purpose of developing empirically based interventions grounded in social work values and an ethical decision making process. Childhood, adolescence, adulthood and aging, as distinct life stages, require different knowledge and skills to assess and treat varied grief reactions. Students will develop an advanced understanding of the grief process experienced by people from diverse backgrounds, affirming and respecting their strengths and differences. This course is designed for students to engage clients in appropriate working relationships and identity needs, resources and assets for coping with grief reactions. Exploration of the workers’ own responses and reactions to grief work will be examined by the students in depth. II. Upon completion of this course, the students will be able to: 1. Demonstrate an in-depth understanding of the concept of loss and its implications for individuals throughout the life span; 2. Demonstrate the ability to assess, through empirical means, the physical and psychological responses to loss (both typical and atypical), coping mechanisms, and available support systems as they pertain to individuals and intergenerational families; 3. Demonstrate an advanced clinical knowledge of the relationship between adaptive mechanisms and counseling strategies of the grief processes of children, adolescents, adults, and elders as they relate to the strengths, capacities and resources of those individuals and families; 4. Demonstrate the ability to adapt an assessment model of normal and traumatic grief to reflect an understanding of persons from diverse backgrounds, including (but not limited to) race, ethnicity, culture, class, gender, sexual orientation, religion, physical or mental ability, age, and national origin; 5. Demonstrate an ability to evaluate outcomes and effectiveness of grief interventions; 16. Demonstrate advanced knowledge of social work values and the ethical decision making processes as they relate to ethical dilemmas in grief work and practice; 7. Identify and evaluate counselor loss and grief, burnout, and healthy adaptation. III. Teaching Methods A variety of teaching methods will be utilized, including: lectures, class discussions, case examples, video presentations, role plays, group role plays, and guest speakers with information addressing specific grief situations, particular types of interventions, and diverse populations. IV. Required and Recommended Texts and Course Materials:REQUIRED: Rando, T.A. (1993) Treatment of Complicated Mourning, Champaign, Il: Research Press. Webb, N.B. (2002), Helping Bereaved Children, Second Edition. New York, N.Y.: Guilford Press Course Packet: Grief Assessment and Intervention Workbook (Pomeroy and Garcia), To Be purchased at IT Copy 512 W. MLK Blvd, Austin. (476-6662) V. COURSE REQUIREMENTS1.Students are expected to attend all class sessions and to participate in an interactive framework between students and professor. Students are expected to complete the assigned readings prior to class and be prepared to participate in discussions and experiential learning assignments related to these required readings. Failure on the part of the student to regularly attend the class and demonstrate in class discussion a comprehension (or as a minimum, a hearty attempt at understanding) of the material will be considered in assigning the final grade. 2. Except in the case of extreme emergencies and then only with permission of the professor, a late assignment will not be accepted without penalty. Students are expected to turn in all required assignments on the agreed upon due date at the beginning of class. Late assignments will be assessed point penalties at the rate of four (4) points each day late. If the due date creates a major problem then the student should see the professor before the due date and negotiate an alternative due date. 3. Student feedback is important and welcome. Students are encouraged to be assertive, function as team members, and provide feedback about the course. This can be done during office hours, by phone, by email or by appointment as may be convenient and comfortable for the student. 4. If a student is concerned about class performance, the professor is very willing to work with the student to help improve the course grade. 5. Class discussion and experiential exercises can raise emotional issues. The professor and students have the ethical responsibility to each other to see that differences in values, opinions, and feelings of class members and guest speakers will be respected and that a safe class environment is maintained. Information shared in class is considered to be covered by the NASW Code of Ethics regarding the sharing of information. Complete confidentiality is expected. 2Special Accommodations for Students with a Disability Any student with a documented disability, physical or cognitive, who requires academic accommodations should contact the Service of Students with Disabilities of the Office of the Dean of Students at 471-6259 (voice) or 471-4641 (TTY for users who are deaf or hard of hearing) as soon as possible to request an official letter outlining authorized accommodations. Policy on Scholastic Dishonesty Students who violate University rules on scholastic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary penalties including the possibility of failure in the course and or dismissal from the University. Since such dishonesty harms the individual, all students, and the integrity of the University, policies on scholastic dishonesty will be strictly enforced. For further information, the student may refer to the Web Site of the Student Judicial Services, Office of the Dean of Students. VI. Course Assignments Class