Coping with grief and loss - a dedicated course for educational counselors in the Middle and Upper Division.

The events of October 7 and the "Iron Swords" War created a complex reality of dealing with trauma, loss, and mass grief. Counselors in educational settings are experts in the developmental processes of the individual and the organization and constitute a central axis that connects the principal, the educational staff, the students, and the parents. Counselors represent the field of mental health in the system, and provide students with a solution for mental, social, and academic well-being. In the transition from initial treatment in a crisis to prolonged coping with loss and grief, appropriate knowledge and training are required to help the bereaved return to functioning and process the loss. Course Description: The course will address the development of the perception of death among children and adolescents, and the processes of coping with loss that are typical of the ages of 12 and upper secondary school (Group 2). We will review possible barriers and disruptions to natural grieving processes, and evidence-based interventions for integrative treatment to reduce grief disorder and treat ongoing grief disorder. During the course, we will practice interventions (individual, in the school setting and in dialogue with parents), while focusing on the unique role of the counselor. Course objectives: ✓ Learning about the development of the perception of grief among children and adolescents of different ages. ✓ Providing tools for identifying and locating difficulties and complexities in grief. ✓ Learning and practicing possible interventions to assist in the grieving process for students, parents and educational teams.