Parental Bereavement

Workshop postponed, new date to be announced.

Facilitator

Dr Cathy McQuaid

Fee

Early Bird (until 21 May 2022): £170

Course Fee: £190

Who is it aimed at?

Any therapist who works with grief and loss

Course Outline

This two-day workshop will explore the unique experience of parental bereavement, one of the remaining taboos. The death of a child, no matter what age, has a significant impact on those left behind, even on later generations especially if the loss is not acknowledged.

During this workshop, you will be introduced to the findings from Cathy McQuaid’s research. We will explore:

• How parents may cope with their grief
• How others can help and support them
• Discuss various theories that explain how someone may manage and transform their loss
• Consider our own reaction to grief and loss

The workshop will be informative, fun and experiential. So come with your questions, especially those that you are too afraid to ask, and leave with a greater sense of empowerment to help and support yourself and any others who are grieving.

Aims

To encourage dialogue about grief in general and parental loss in particular.

To inform participants of the findings of research and to encourage/empower them to face up to and support those who are grieving.

Learning Outcomes

1. To understand the unique experience of parental grief
2. To have at least two theories to help the participant to conceptualise their client's grief
3. To be able to explain the stages of the ABC of Grief and Transformational Loss
4. To have a range of options to help and support bereaved parents develop and build their resilience

Course Structure

This will be two days of interactive sessions. We will start with introductions and contracting and then the remaining time will be a mix of theory input, experiential work, small and larger group discussions, Q&As and experimenting with creative ways of working with loss.

Facilitator's Biography

Dr Cathy McQuaid is a bereaved parent. She is also a trainer, supervisor, psychotherapy training consultant and researcher.

Her most recent research project has resulted in her latest book Understanding Bereaved Parents and Siblings: A Handbook for Professionals, Family and Friends published by Routledge in May 2021. Her first book What You Really Need to Know About Counselling and Psychotherapy Training: An Essential Guide published by Routledge in 2014 is still available and is an excellent resource for anyone considering starting counselling or psychotherapy training, and for their trainers.

In addition to writing and researching Cathy runs a supervision and consultancy practice in the North West of England offering research, clinical and training supervision along with various CPD training courses and workshops.