Grief, loss, transition and change: creative ways of working

Grief, loss, transition and change: creative ways of working with children, adolescents and adults to promote mental health

A live online workshop.

This experiential training invites you to experience for yourself a range of creative ways of working with children, adolescents and adults

Time: The workshop comprises three sessions (two x half day sessions and one full day session)

Tuesday July 23, 9 am – 1.30 pm AUS EST

Wednesday July 31, 9 am – 4 pm AUS EST

Thursday August 8, 9am – 1.30 pm AUS EST

Presenter: Anthony Hillin BSW, M Adol MH

Certified Interpersonal Psychotherapy Trainer; Co-author, Interpersonal Psychotherapy for adolescents: a clinician’s guide, 2020, Routledge

Anthony has been delivering this popular workshop for 30 years (with updates). He has facilitated over 80 of these workshops internationally, primarily in the UK .

The number of participants is limited to facilitate an intensive learning experience.

This workshop involves 14 hours of active learning CPD

Fee: Earlybird $590 (before 25 June), Full fee $670

Target audience

This course is designed for clinicians and has been highly evaluated by participants (see below), including psychologists, clinical psychologists, social workers, nurses, psychiatrists, psychotherapists, counsellors and occupational therapists.

Learning objectives

By the end of the course participants will have:

• Reviewed and developed their skills in working with children, adolescents and adults who are bereaved or experiencing loss resulting from transition or change
• Gained confidence in using a range of creative ways for working with young people and adults including story telling, art, writing, salt sculptures and other experiential approaches
• Explored how these techniques can be used in individual, family and group contexts
• Developed skills in assessing when normal grief reactions become disorder and choosing appropriately from a spectrum of interventions
• Explored how the theory of grief and loss can inform their work in practical ways
• Considered approaches to working on loss from a number of treatment perspectives including Interpersonal Psychotherapy, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and Mindfulness
• Identified social, cultural, psychological, spiritual and biological factors in grief and loss work
• Considered risk and protective factors
• Increased their awareness of the possible impact of this work on themselves as workers and developed strategies for coping with this.

Learning methods

A significant portion of the course comprises experiential learning. Participants are invited to experience creative therapeutic techniques, including stories, art and salt sculptures (a craft activity), utilising real material from their own lives. This will take place individually with the option of reflecting on the process in pairs and small groups. Experiential learning in this context has the dual purpose of:

1. giving clinicians direct experience of the potential power and subtleties of these techniques to inform their work with clients;

2. increasing awareness of ways in which the clinician’s own experience of loss may influence them when working professionally on issues of loss and transition, eg in terms of countertransference and self-care.

The course briefly reviews relevant research and literature and combines this with practical skill development through interactive learning experiences and comprehensive course handouts. A range of learning methods are utilised including: didactic presentations, experiential exercises, small group activities, video and self-reflection.

NB Participants will derive maximum benefit from the course if they are willing to reflect on their own feelings, attitudes and beliefs.

For some of the workshop activities you will need access to some basic materials, including pens, pencils, paper, chalk and salt. Further information will be provided for participants prior to the workshop.

About the trainer

Anthony Hillin, B Soc Stud (SW), M Adol MH, has over 30 years experience as a clinician, educator, writer and consultant in child, adolescent and adult mental, emotional and social wellbeing. Anthony grew up and studied in Sydney. He worked in the UK for 17 years, initially as a social worker and senior youth worker. Anthony helped to establish and manage some of the UK’s first counselling and health promotion organisations dealing with HIV, gay and lesbian issues. He then worked for 10 years as a freelance trainer and consultant. After relocating to Australia, Anthony was employed as a counsellor with the Family Court of Australia and manager of a child and adolescent mental health service.

While based at the NSW Institute of Psychiatry for 12 years, Anthony co-developed Australia’s most comprehensive interagency training program in adolescent mental health for the NSW School-Link and Queensland Ed-LinQ initiatives. Anthony delivered this suite of five two-day workshops in depression, anxiety and related disorders to over 4,000 mental health clinicians, school and TAFE psychologists, social workers and related staff. Anthony also co-developed and delivered the NSW Aboriginal Grief and Loss Training Program.

Anthony has conducted 15 annual teaching tours of the UK focused on grief and loss, mental health, team building and organisational change. His training and consultancy has been commissioned by over 100 agencies in Europe, USA, India and New Zealand. Anthony is a certified trainer in Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT).

Feedback from Australian participants

“An excellent workshop which was skill based to provide practical ways to work with young people experiencing grief. Highly Recommended.”

Peter Aldrick, District Guidance Officer, NSW Department of Education and Communities

“I appreciated the theoretical perspectives on grief and loss in combination with practical strategies for working with individuals whether it be children, adolescents or case workers/employees. In addition the well sequenced experiential aspect of the training helped participants to connect in a very personal, yet safe way, to the core concepts of loss. Networking with the mix of participants led to helpful exchanges of knowledge, issues, skills.”

Kath Jones, Social Worker/Manager Sutherland Shire Family Services Inc.

“This was an amazing workshop presented beautifully by Anthony. The interactive activities evoked some deep emotions which helped me to understand how powerful this kind of work can be.”

Robyn Zelvis, School Counsellor, NSW Department of Education and Communities

“It was one of the most valuable courses I have been on.”

Alyson Officer, School Counsellor, Illawarra Christian School

“A complex topic handled with knowledge, sensitivity and poised presenting skills”.

Kaveri Rutherford, District School Counsellor, NSW Department of Education and Communities

“Anthony will take you on a journey where others fear to tread – be prepared to be trained in a safe, caring yet informative workshop that will be different to anything you have ever experienced. There was so much in this course that I loved. Anthony did any extraordinary job and I feel very privileged to have been part of this.

Diane Manns, Operations Manager, Sutherland Shire Family Services.

“The most useful aspect of the workshop for me has been the amazing info …, especially when dealing with other cultures!

Personally I derived great delight and healing from doing the projective work and getting other ideas e.g. quilts. Also didn’t realise til then that I was holding on to some unresolved issues that are now dealt with.”

Jude Calland-Green, School Counsellor, NSW Department of Education and Communities

“Spending two days with such a lovely group of people and such an experienced, authentic and relaxed presenter, it would be impossible not to have made personal and professional growth”.

Althea Phillips, School Psychologist, NSW Department of Education and Communities

“As a trainer of 10 years, I know how difficult it is to create a safe and sharing environment, especially so quickly. I am intrigued how it came about as it worked really, really, really well. I loved the workshop and couldn’t recommend any changes at all! The combination of theory, stories and practice were well balanced and Anthony crafted the days brilliantly. He made everyone feel comfortable, valued and safe so that the group as a whole was supportive. I have recommended this workshop to many people.”

Margaret Shaw, Trainer and Behavior Support Practitioner, TAFE and Department of Ageing, Disability and Homecare

“An insightful and practical course to improve my understanding of my own and others experiences of grief and loss. Highly recommended.”

Erin Zammit, School Counsellor, NSW Department of Education and Communities

Feedback from UK participants

Written feedback from previous participants includes:

The most useful aspect for me was exploring alternative ways to express grief – very creative and powerful.

I would highly recommend this course for colleagues, not only for professional development, but also in promoting staff well being.

I’m taking away practical ideas for engaging with clients, greater understanding of my own responses to loss and insight into other culture’s responses to grief.

I cannot imagine a better course or tutor.

I thoroughly enjoyed the gentle reflective approach of the tutor – nurturing and excellent ‘containment’ of fear/emotions/feelings.

I feel the programme was spot on, it got people working together. Wonderful!

An excellent course – powerful and emotional highs and lows over the days. I have learnt so much about myself and new skills to take away with renewed enthusiasm.

The tutor’s obvious experience about the subject gave a very non-threatening form of delivery.

The most useful aspect was the opportunity to work through various therapies personally in a “real” way, not just with scenarios. Very powerful.

Another brilliant learning experience with Anthony. The content and experiential learning were very valuable.

Excellent – This course should be available to the widest audience possible.

Cancellation

Cancelled bookings will receive a full refund up until 25 June. After this date you are welcome to transfer your booking to another person, provided they are a member of the target audience (see above), but the fee will be non-refundable and non-transferable for credit on other workshop dates.

Booking

The number of places is limited to facilitate an intensive learning experience.

Registration: payment by credit card here on eventbrite or email us for details for payment by EFT or cheque

Enquiries: Colin Bisset or Anthony Hillin

email: anthony@anthonyhillin.com

phone: 0438972449