Summary:
This workshop will review research and information on how the human brain and body experience loss and the impact of grief. Licensed mental health professionals, medical personnel, and ministry leaders can better understand how attachment bonds form in the brain and the impact of thinking, feeling and the entire system when an attachment bond is broken through death or other loss. Participants review techniques to assist grievers in a healthy process and path for resolution and discuss how to help grievers avoid pitfalls that could “derail” the grief process and result in depression, addiction or prolonged grief disorder. Presenters will describe different grieving styles, including head focused, heart focused, and blended patterns, and how these influence coping. Practical applications include rituals, memorials, and continuing bonds that help the brain adapt while honoring the loved one. The role of faith for willing Christian clients is emphasized as an important source of comfort and hope, especially the Christian belief in reunion and God’s presence in suffering. Participants are encouraged to companion grieving individuals with sensitivity, listening, and care.
Learning Objectives:
Summarize how the brain encodes attachment bonds and why separation creates strong grief responses.
Differentiate between common grief patterns, prolonged grief, and factors that may derail the process.
Apply practical strategies such as companioning, rituals, and continuing bonds that support healthy grieving in those they serve.