Experiential Action Methods and Tools for Healing Grief and Loss-Related Trauma Life, Death, and Transformation

Experiential Action Methods and Tools for Healing Grief and Loss-Related Trauma introduces innovative psychodramatic and creative expression methods for helping those affected by bereavement and trauma.

Each section focuses on a particular acute or secondary grief issue, providing supportive and explanatory material that can be given to clients, and experiential action methods for providers. Real-world vignettes and psychodrama tools delineate a unique approach to unlocking and shifting entrenched perspectives related to persistent grief and loss-related trauma, with chapters organized for practical use and application by counselors and therapists. The book also includes critical incident stress training material specifically for first responders, a frequently overlooked population.

The practical guidance offered in this book will be of great interest to all who work with grief and trauma, including practicing and trainee psychologists and therapists, counseling centers, hospice organizations, bereavement support programs, and ministers.

1. Approaching the Grief Journey: Four Components to Healing: Acknowledge, Express, Act, Reconnect 2. Centre for Living with Dying Grief Program 3. Psychodrama and Sociometry with Grief Work 4. The Beginning: Sharing the Story 5. Tools for Coping 6. Loneliness 7. Fear 8. Sadness 9. Anger 10. Unfinished Business 11. Frozen Moments 12. Guilt 13. Mementos: The Power of Action Steps in the Aftermath of Loss 14. Unique Issues After Violent Death and Suicide 15. Grief Work beyond the Acute Stage 16. Faith and the Grieving Process 17. Creative Expression Activities for Larger Groups and Day-Long Retreats 18. Grief Work with Fragile Populations 19. Family Dynamics with Loss and Change 20. Stress, Trauma, and Critical Incident Stress Management 21. Grief Training for Clinicians and Caregivers Conclusion: Final Thoughts

Lusijah S. Darrow, LMFT, CP, is a licensed marriage and family therapist. She is nationally certified in psychodrama and group psychotherapy and is a continuing education provider. Previously, she managed a biomedical research lab at Stanford University and served as the state chairperson of her spiritual community. She maintains a private practice in Soquel, California.

Rev. Janet Childs, DD, is the director of the Bay Area Critical Incident Stress Management Team at the Centre for Living with Dying program, Bill Wilson Center, San Francisco, USA. For over forty years, Janet has dedicated her life to providing support, education, and crisis intervention to people facing loss, grief, and serious illness, as well as to responders and caregivers on the front lines.