Professional Diploma in Bereavement and Grief Studies

This Grief and Bereavement course includes the following learning aims:

• Introduction to bereavement and grief – introduction to the course and a focus on attachment theory & separation anxiety.
• Theories & models of grief – providing a critical awareness of the stage & task models of grief, dual-process model, continuing bonds, meaning-making & benefit-finding.
• Death and dying – what are normal grief, anticipatory grief and complicated grief? Considering cultural sensitivity of bereavement. Introduction to sudden death focusing on accidents and illness.
• Suicide – providing a thorough understanding of the theories and models of suicide, risk and protective factors, research on suicide and the experiences of the suicide bereaved.
• Homicide and Homicide-Suicide – examining prevalence, trends and research.
• Exploring the experience of homicide on bereaved families and considering the impact of justice and the legal system.
• Death and the family life cycle – death of a partner/spouse/child; theories of psychosocial development; death and the family life cycle; the importance of rituals, memorialising. Adapting to life after bereavement (roles & identity).
• Grief in children – Understanding grief reactions within a developmental framework. The impact of the death of a parent. Key considerations in talking to children about difficult death. The impact of grief in adolescence – social contexts, managing multiple losses.
• Trauma – understanding the interplay between trauma and grief; the neurobiology of trauma; PTSD; recognising trauma in adults, children & adolescents; intergenerational trauma.
• Interventions for trauma and grief – Working therapeutically with grief and trauma; providing bereavement support, tools to help the bereaved, effective therapeutic interventions, promoting resilience. Evidence-based approaches to treatment and outcomes.
• Self-care for professionals – recognising and managing compassion fatigue and vicarious trauma.

*Course content is subject to review after each intake and may be updated in line with industry standards.

A pass grade on the written assignment will be required for awarding the Diploma for this Grief and Bereavement course.

A written assignment of 2,500 is the assessment requirement for this diploma.

The assignment/project must be handed in on the due date unless a sound reason for lateness is provided. In such instances, an extension may be awarded at the discretion of the lecturer.

For anyone whose job brings them into contact with individuals grieving after the death of someone close.

A City College Dublin’s Professional Diploma Course is a focused, practical programme designed and delivered by an industry practitioner, that consolidates, upskills or reskills learners in a professional area. They are stand-alone qualifications that indicate that you have been trained in a particular area or specific subject matter.

City College Dublin Diplomas are suitable for career minded learners wishing to advance their professional skills and prospects. They are widely accepted by employers and many students are sponsored to study here by their organisation.

In addition to our scheduled Professional Diploma courses, City College Dublin can provide bespoke training over 3 – 4 days, please contact [email protected] for further details.