ABORTION - SUICIDE - AFFAIRS - PREGNANCY LOSS & TRAUMATIC BIRTH

 INCARCERATION - DOMESTIC VIOLENCE  

People experiencing disenfranchised or socially misunderstood grief often suffer alone and in silence. When a person's pain and suffering is unacknowledged unvalidated and socially unsanctioned or supported there is a greater chance for their grief to become complicated and prolonged.

Disenfranchised grief is grief that a person experiences when that loss cannot be openly acknowledged, publically mourned, or socially supported.

The concept of disenfranchised grief recognises that societies have sets of norms - in effect, what Doka (1989) has called "grieving rules"- an attempt to specify who, when, where, how, how long, and for whom people should grieve.

Disenfranchised grief occurs in 'secret', because open expression tends to be met with awkward silence and distancing behaviour. For others they are met with hostility and criticism at a time when support is vital to reducing secondary losses and suffering.

This 1 day seminar will address the impact of silent sorrow and ways to break the taboo around losses that our society still has difficulty addressing or accepting. The day will feature 6 guest speakers who will discuss their work with individuals experiencing some of the taboo areas in grief.

Presenters Include…

Anne Neville - Director of Counselling - Open Doors Counselling and Educational Services Inc, Melbourne

Lorraine Murphy - Senior Manager for Sydney Metro West and Bathurst for Relationships Australia NSW. Marriage and Family Counsellor, Family Dispute Resolution Practioner (Accredited AG member), Trainer.

Anne-Maree Hartley - Psychologist, NALAG Suicide Network, Suicide Prevention Specialist

Linda Leard - Counsellor, Central West Women’s Health, Bathurst

Trudy Hanson OAM - Manager NALAG Centre for Loss & Grief, Grief Counsellor and Educator, Dubbo

Julie Dusnmore OAM – MAPS Psychologist, President NALAG (NSW) Inc

Recently I attended the fabulous Seminar "Breaking the Taboo...." and I have to honestly state that it was the highlight of the past year for me in relation to professional development.’.—Natali Mestric-Bolton, Senior Psychologist