Psychosocial Care of the Dying and Bereaved Course

Our next course will be February 20-24, 2012 in Victoria BC. 

Download a copy of the course brochure.

For more information, or to register for this course, please contact Education Services at 250-370-8283.

This Victoria Hospice introductory one-week course presents a psychosocial perspective on hospice palliative care including self-care and team issues, the impact of disease transitions and holistic care, counselling and bereavement support. Victoria Hospice developed this course and has offered it since 1996. The course is instructed by the Victoria Hospice psychosocial team along with other professionals from their team and allied agencies.

This program meets the accreditation criteria of the College of Family Physicians of Canada, and is accredited for 27 hours MAINPRO-M1 credits. In addition, course graduates can earn valuable MAINPRO-C study credits by conducting an evidence-based practice reflection exercise after the course. The Victoria Hospice Palliative Care: Medical Intensive course is also accredited for up to 29 hours MAINPRO-M1 credits and up to 29 hours of AMA PRA Category 1 credits (UBC CPD).

This course is for:

• counsellors and social workers in acute, geriatric or community care
• hospice/palliative care physicians, nurses, and other professionals
• hospice bereavement coordinators or program coordinators
• spiritual care providers, counsellors, and social workers who are new to hospice/palliative care

Participants explore issues from both personal and professional perspectives. The course includes opportunities for reflection, experiential activities and small group discussions.

Find out more about the Psychosocial Care of the Dying and Bereaved Course goals, content, fee, or the textbook, Transitions in Dying & Bereavement: A Psychosocial Guide for Hospice and Palliative Care.

Course Goals

• to increase awareness and sensitivity to personal learning and issues around death, dying and bereavement
• to increase understanding of theory and interventions related to psychosocial care of the dying and bereaved
• to provide opportunities for participants to integrate their personal and professional experience and build practical skills
• to explore the role of social work and counselling in hospice/palliative care
• to address self-care, team, spiritual and cultural issues
• to network with professionals with similar interests

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General Course Content

• Philosophy and principles of care
• Interdisciplinary team
• Spiritual and cultural considerations
• Psychosocial care:
  • grief and loss
  • patient & family issues and perspectives
  • special populations
  • cancer and non-cancer patients
• Counselling interventions:
  • transitions
  • bereavement
  • relationship management
  • children
• Self-reflection and self-care
• Special topics
  • family conferences
  • suffering
  • dementia
  • sexuality and intimacy
  • rituals
  • other topics may be added

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Course Fee

The fee for the course is $800 ($775 early bird rate). This includes registration, a copy of Transitions in Dying & Bereavement: A Psychosocial Guide for Hospice and Palliative Care, course reading materials, nutrition breaks, and lunch on Monday and Friday.

Participants are urged to register early as space is limited and courses fill quickly.

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Course Textbook

The Victoria Hospice textbook Transitions in Dying & Bereavement: A Psychosocial Guide for Hospice and Palliative Care is included in the registration fee for the Psychosocial Care of the Dying and Bereaved one-week course. You can also order this textbook directly from Victoria Hospice. Read book reviews for this award-winning book.

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