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Follow the links below to find material targeted to the unit's elements, performance criteria, required skills and knowledge

Elements and Performance Criteria

1. Elements define the essential outcomes
2. Explore the client’s understanding of grief and loss
   • Engage with client using their framework and language to establish an environment of safety and trust
   • Join with the client to explore client’s understanding of grief and loss
   • Assist clients to understand how their unique context has impacted on their experience of grief and loss
   • Explain the role of the counsellor in dealing with loss
3. Assist clients to understand the different impacts of grief and loss
   • Explain the possible range of responses to grief and loss
   • Use intervention techniques to assist the client to normalise their responses to grief and loss
   • Use correct terminology and concepts in the grief counselling process
   • Identify the key issues in bereavement counselling setting
   • Apply counselling strategies to diverse responses to grief
4. Formulate counselling responses to grief and loss
   • Monitor and respond to client presentations including safety and assessed risks
   • Assist client to set goals or outcomes for the grief and loss process, dependant upon clients position in grieving process
   • Match therapeutic interventions to client’s needs and goals
   • Facilitate referrals to other support services where appropriate
5. Terminate counselling sessions
   • Recognise when the counselling is no longer serving the interests or needs of the client
   • Discuss with the client when counselling no longer appears to serve their interest or needs and either renegotiate the professional relationship or terminate the service
   • Engage the client in determining any further external interventions as identified and arrange appropriate referrals
6. Seek feedback from clients about the counselling service provided
   • Review counselling progress and provision regularly with the client
   • Obtain feedback from the client throughout and at the conclusion of the counselling service
   • Use feedback strategies to encourage client contribution to improved counselling practice
   • Review client feedback and use this to inform practice reflection and improvement in conjunction with supervision
7. Explore the client’s understanding of grief and loss
   • Engage with client using their framework and language to establish an environment of safety and trust
   • Join with the client to explore client’s understanding of grief and loss
   • Assist clients to understand how their unique context has impacted on their experience of grief and loss
   • Explain the role of the counsellor in dealing with loss

Performance Evidence

The candidate must show evidence of the ability to complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage tasks and manage contingencies in the context of the job role. There must be evidence that the candidate has:

worked collaboratively with clients and provided counselling to at least 3 different individuals or family groups experiencing grief and loss, including:

adults

children

people from different cultures

used specialised counselling communication skills

addressed a diverse range of loss and grief issues, including those relating to:

child and parental loss

relationships

employment

missed opportunities.

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Knowledge Evidence

The candidate must be able to demonstrate essential knowledge required to effectively complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage tasks and manage contingencies in the context of the work role. This includes knowledge of:

legal and ethical considerations for grief and loss counselling, and how these are applied in organisations and individual practice:

codes of conduct

discrimination

duty of care

practitioner client boundaries and implications of unequal balance of power

privacy, confidentiality and disclosure, including limitations

records management

rights and responsibilities of workers, employers and clients

work role boundaries – responsibilities and limitations, including situations where usefulness of counselling may be limited and referral is required

work health and safety

different types of grief and understanding attitudes, attachment and anxiety issues associated with grief

difference in grief responses in men and women,

developmental stages and how grief is likely to affect young people and children

impacts of separation and divorce on couples, parents, children and other family members

indicators and dynamics of domestic and family violence and complexities of interpersonal interactions

main approaches used in grief counselling, their underpinning theories, how they compare and their strengths, limitations and contraindications

responses to grief and how these are addressed in different counselling models, including:

disbelief

avoidance

anger

sadness

withdrawal

dissociation

suicidal ideations

self-harming

stress reactions

post traumatic stress disorder

depression

numbing

denial

anxiety

considerations for the counselling process when working with diverse people experiencing loss and grief, including factors relating to:

ability

age

class

culture

ethnicity

gender

sexual orientation

spirituality

counselling and case work processes, including those related to:

contracting and what needs to be agreed

documentation

interactions with other professionals and service providers

interactions with the client, their family, significant others and carers

type and scope of referral options and pathways to support clients seeking interventions and supports beyond or in conjunction with counselling

own prejudices and stereotyping attitudes and the potential influence on counselling practice.

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