SWK 6702 - Coping with Loss

Institution:

Yeshiva University

Subject:

Social Work

Description:

Coping with Loss is an elective for students in either their foundation or advanced year. Loss is a pervasive phenomenon throughout the life cycle. The course is designed to explore aspects of social work practice with clients experiencing loss and grief in a variety of situations. The course builds on psychosocial theories of human development as well as the work of internationally recognized experts in grief and bereavement. Since society generally associates grief with death, grief that accompanies life events such as separation from home (child welfare), divorce, immigration, retirement, homelessness or chronic illness, is frequently not addressed by clients or professionals. As with all human processes, the grieving processes are intertwined with each individual’s place in their life span, their strengths, vulnerabilities, cultural orientations, values and resources. Knowledge and skills concerning loss, grief and bereavement have been evolving in the helping professions rapidly in the last 30 years. Social work has contributed considerably to this evolution. The focus of this course is to provide a theoretical base for understanding and addressing the psychosocial aspects of loss, death and bereavement. The use of contemporary knowledge for strengthening the coping skills of grieving individuals, families or groups is emphasized. Areas of study include skills of assessment and treatment which are explored using films and personal and populations confronting loss, for whom services and programs need to be planned, are highlighted. The ethical dilemmas and social policy of “disenfranchised grief” associated with abortion, AIDS, suicide and physician-assisted suicide, are also explored. The losses of soldiers, veterans, their families and communities involved in the war in Iraq and Afghanistan will also b reviewed using evolving literature and guest speakers.

Credits:

2.00

Credit Hours:

Prerequisites:

Corequisites:

Exclusions:

Level:

Instructional Type:

Lecture

Notes:

Additional Information:

Historical Version(s):

Institution Website:

www.yu.edu

Phone Number:

(212) 960-5400

Regional Accreditation:

Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools

Calendar System:

Semester

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