Grief and Addiction (HS 095963 Kessler)

Course overview

As a result of the opioid epidemic, the United States saw its largest recorded increase in overdose deaths last year. Overdoes are now officially the leading cause of death among adults under 50. What do we need to do differently for clients grieving for a loved one who overdosed? And how do therapists themselves deal with the loss of an addicted client? Full of strategies for healing after the trauma of loss, this workshop will help you explore: - Why addiction grief is often weighted in self-blame and guilt - How to help loved ones sort through the shame, isolation, and the roles they played in an addiction death - Particular tools for helping clients deal with addiction grief and the "if only's" that accompany it, such as responsibility clarification and separating out the loved one's voice from the addiction.