University at Buffalo (UB)
| Date/Time: | Monday, Oct. 30, 2017, 8:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| Location: | UB, Center for Tomorrow, Flint Rd. & Maple Rd., Amherst, NY |
| Hours: | 6.0 |
| CEUs: | 6.0 |
| Cost: | $135.00 |
| Discount Cost (Trauma Certificate Program participants): | $125.00 |
| Lunch Included: | Yes |
| Fulfills Hours in Trauma Certificate Program: | Elective |
Nancy Saxton-Lopez
Three copies of ‘The Pet Loss Companion: Healing Advice from Family Therapists Who Lead Pet Loss Groups’ will be raffled off to attendees!
Discount price for our trauma certificate participants and graduates is $125.
There is nothing like a relationship with an animal. Animals love unconditionally. There are no judgments, no criticisms, and no pre-conceived notions. They enrich our lives by making us live in the moment, by depending upon us to take care of them and offering comfort and joy. They are fiercely loyal, an active listener as well as warm and affectionate. Animals unfortunately do not live as long as we do and when this relationship is broken by death or loss, it can be devastating.
The primary goal of this workshop will explore the human-animal bond in all aspects; from the first day the new animal comes home, throughout the life cycle and ultimately the end-of-life through illness, accident or other life circumstances. Through the experience of co-leading a companion animal loss group for almost 30 years, it is common to find that some people grieve harder for their animals than for the humans in their lives. It is the relationship they grieve; how many legs are inconsequential.
The sections of the presentation will include a statistical and global overview of our connection to our companion animals and what the process of grieving is. Grief and bereavement issues specific to the loss of our pets will be a focus including: euthanasia, special populations, needs of children, rituals and memorials, influence of religion, culture, ethnicity, gender, age etc. In addition, counseling or therapeutic interventions that are helpful working with someone who has suffered the loss of their animal will be discussed. How one organizes and starts a support group is a topic that will include the common questions that are asked by participants. The workshop will end on a piece of how we as caretakers need to nurture ourselves as working with the bereaved can be emotionally draining.
Learning Objectives:
• Develop an emphatic grasp of the relationship between a guardian and their animal;
• Apply knowledge of the grieving process including specifics to gender, age, culture, ethnicity, relationship status, religion, etc.;
• Identify how grieving for a companion animal is different (the nuances);
• Apply therapeutic tools on how to respond to the bereaved when an animal dies;
• Identify the steps to organize and run a companion animal support group;
• Compose answers to questions that people ask specific to the death and/or loss of their animal;
• Explain techniques and tools on how to take care of the self when working with the bereaved.
Research:
This course is based on the foundation of social work theory and practice taking into consideration the entire eco-system on a person specifically in the realm of grief and bereavement. It is also empirical in nature based on almost 30 years of providing psychotherapy and counseling in bereavement with a specialty in companion animal loss.
Target Audience: social workers, mental health practitioners, creative arts therapists, marriage and family therapists, psychologists, and other interested individuals who work with loss of companion animals
Content level: beginning and intermediate
CEUs
New York Social Workers: University at Buffalo School of Social Work Office of Continuing Education is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #0001. Full attendance is required; no partial credit will be awarded for partial attendance. 6 live in-person contact hours are approved.
New York Mental Health Counselors: University at Buffalo School of Social Work Office of Continuing Education is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0008. Full attendance is required; no partial credit will be awarded for partial attendance. 6 live in-person contact hours are approved.
New York Creative Arts Therapists: University at Buffalo School of Social Work Office of Continuing Education is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed creative arts therapists. #CAT-0003. Full attendance is required; no partial credit will be awarded for partial attendance. 6 live in-person contact hours are approved.
New York Marriage and Family Therapists: University at Buffalo School of Social Work Office of Continuing Education is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists. #MFT-0007. Full attendance is required; no partial credit will be awarded for partial attendance. 6 live in-person contact hours are approved.
New York State OASAS, addictions professionals, Provider #0045: 6 hours approved for CASAC, CPP & CPS Renewal hours
Trauma-informed Certificate Programs: counts as 6 Elective hours in our Trauma-Informed Certificate Programs
ASWB ACE Credits: University at Buffalo School of Social Work Office of Continuing Education, #1312, is approved as a provider for social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) www.aswb.org through the Approved Continuing Education (ACE) Program. University at Buffalo School of Social Work Office of Continuing Education maintains responsibility for the program. ASWB Approval Period: 7/2/2015-7/2/2018. Social workers in states other than NY should contact their regulatory board to determine course approval for continuing education credits. Content level is intermediate. Social workers participating in this course will receive 6 clinical continuing education credits.
ADA Accommodations: If you require any support for your ADA needs in the United States, please contact us by email at least 3 weeks prior to the event by email at sw-ce@buffalo.edu or by phone at 716-829-5841.
Customer Service: We are happy to respond to any concerns or questions you may have. Please contact us at by email at sw-ce@buffalo.edu or by phone at 716-829-5841.