Too often, we think grief to only feature bereavement. Yet we know that young people are experiencing many types of loss. Whilst this course covers bereavement we also understand that many young people will be coping with all sorts of grief resulting from different kinds of loss. It is important we have a human, compassionate and supportive toolkit to use when supporting our students with this.

The course takes us through practical and theoretical explorations of young people dealing with grief and loss. It focuses on many forms of grief and loss not only bereavement.

Objectives:

Be able to apply critical thinking to grief and loss theory

Further understand how loss can cause distress

Be able to expand definitions and understanding of loss and grief

Be able to observe physical manifestations of grief

Understand therapeutic principles behind working with loss

Whole school communication and sensitivities on loss

Be able to use one of the shared therapeutic tools

About Mike

Mike works within many areas but particularly; young people affected by trauma and emotional distress, care experienced children, suicide prevention and sport. Mike is a former Head of educational provisions specifically for young people affected by trauma, care experienced children and children with SEND and mental health needs. He also works with universities on models and approaches to student well being.

One of his main roles is that as a specialist advisor in relation to trauma and mental health. He supports health and education teams on trauma informed care/practice/response/systems. Mike’s work is often strategic at authority and trust level to implement systems, practice and change. His time is also spent advising leaders and system developers and supporting through reflective practice, coaching and school improvement. He currently supports several trusts with this work on a long term basis.

Mike also advises on creation of specialist care & education provisions, trains nationally and internationally and is the author of the Regulation framework- A whole school system and support planning framework for young people affected by trauma. This has now been adopted by health and education teams in 5 European countries. Mike works within mental health services and trains health professionals in suicide prevention/mitigation including response & assessment tools, supported the creation of www.stayingsafe.net