Universitat Internacional de Catalunya
Intervention in Grieving Processes
Other languages of instruction: Catalan, English
Teaching staff
Students will be seen after class and/or by making an appointment.
Introduction
The death of a loved one has been recognized as one of the most transcendental life stressors that human beings face throughout their lives and, therefore, one of those that can have the greatest impact on health and psychological well-being. Most people eventually manage to adapt and develop strategies that allow them to cope adequately with the suffering and stress caused by the loss. However, in some cases, it can develop into a Persistent Grief disorder that has been included as a diagnostic entity in both the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR) and the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11).
In this course the student will have the opportunity to learn about grief, its different approaches and its characteristics and manifestations in different situations and lifespan moments. Students will also learn about risk factors for complicated grief and diagnostic criteria for persistent grief disorder. Finally, this course includes learning about different approaches and interventions that can be applied in bereavement.
Pre-course requirements
N/A
Objectives
a) To acquire knowledge about the manifestations of grief in different life situations and the existing models to understand this process and design intervention strategies.
b) To promote the development of emotional repair strategies to be able to help others in the processes of illness, death and grief.
c) To develop knowledge about bereavement support throughout the life cycle.
d) To enable the student to promote healthy grief and detect complicated grief.
Competences/Learning outcomes of the degree programme
- CE1 - Acquire, develop and implement an integrative health concept, where the biopsychosocial components of health are included, in accordance with the guidelines established by the WHO.
- CE12 - Extensive understanding of the psychological nature of human behaviour, as well as the social and biological factors that can affect it.
- CE13 - Extensive understanding of the psychological nature of human behaviour disorders.
- CE14 - Extensive understanding of the psychosocial factors associated with health problems and disease.
- CE21 - Carry out promotional and educational activities for individual and community psychological health.
- CT9 - Ability to integrate psychological knowledge and developments in the practice of their profession.
Learning outcomes of the subject
a) To recognize the grieving process, its phases and the psychological, physiological and social manifestations of grief.
b) To differentiate between normative grief processes and pathological grief processes.
c) To recognize the differences and characteristics of grief in different situations throughout the life cycle.
d) To design adapted therapeutic programs or interventions in different grief situations throughout the life cycle.
e) To establish clear therapeutic objectives in bereavement intervention processes.
Syllabus
Topic 1. Introduction to grief and bereavement
1.1. Conceptualization of grief and bereavement
1.2. Conceptual models of grief (relational, trauma and specific models of grief)
1.3. Bereavement as a process: Tasks and needs
1.4. Normative and pathological grief
Topic 2. Bereavement throughout the life cycle
2.1. Perinatal bereavement
2.2. Childhood and adolescence bereavement.
2.3. Bereavement in adults and the elderly
Topic 3. Bereavement intervention
3.1. Preventive interventions and bereavement support
3.2. Psychotherapy in bereavement
Teaching and learning activities
In person
The training activities and methodologies that will be implemented in this subject are:
- The master class will be the setting to learn and use terminology and linguistic structures related to the field of study, to practice and develop oral and written communication skills and to become familiar with bibliography and didactic support material for a greater integration of the contents of the subjects.
- The case study is a learning technique in which the subject is confronted with the description of a specific situation that poses a problem, which must be understood, evaluated and solved by a group of people through a process of discussion. Case studies are generally carried out through group work that encourages student participation, developing their critical spirit. Additionally, it prepares the student for decision making, teaching him/her to defend his/her arguments and to contrast them with the opinions of the rest of the group.
- Reading texts in order to access critical thinking, which plays a fundamental role in the formation of conscious and responsible citizens.
Evaluation systems and criteria
In person
1ST CALL
30% Resolution of cases methods proposed during the lectures.
70% Final exam of the course.
2ND CALL
100% Final exam of the course.
Bibliography and resources
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Payàs, A. Las tareas del duelo: psicoterapia de duelo desde un modelo integrativo-relacional. Barcelona: Paidós, 2015.
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Stroebe M, Hansson R, Schut H, Stroebe W. Handbook of bereavement research and practice: advances in theory and intervention. American Psychological Association, 2008.
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Payàs, A. El mensaje de las lágrimas: una guía para afrontar la pérdida de un ser querido. Barcelona: Paidós Ibérica, 2014.
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Neimeyer, R. Aprender de la pérdida: una guía para afrontar el duelo. Barcelona: Paidós, 2007
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Kübler-Ross E. La muerte: un amanecer. Barcelona: Ed. Luciérnaga, 1991
The student will have a Bibliography to facilitate consultation.