WORKSHOP DESCRIPTIONS

Final Rights: Caring for People in the Final Phases of Life (2-7 hrs)

This workshop looks at the way we care for the needs of the dying, the “rights” of the dying. Topics covered: The Right To Be In Control, The Right To Have A Sense Of Purpose, The Right To Touch And Be Touched, The Right To Have One’s Beliefs And Values Respected, The Right To Hear The Truth, The Right To Be In Denial, The Right To Reminisce, The Right To Laugh.

Different Styles of Grieving, Different Ways of Healing (2-7 hrs)

This workshop looks at differences between “intuitive grievers” (feeling oriented people) and “instrumental grievers” (cognitive/action oriented people), their different styles of grieving, their different styles of healing. Lots of practical tools for the grieving are presented. Gender differences and similarities are also examined.

New Counseling Tools to Assist the Dying and Grieving (2-7 hrs)

This workshop is filled with practical tools gathered from Doug’s most recent research and writing, drawing upon two of Doug’s books which are scheduled to be published in 2006 and 2007. In this seminar, Doug also shares his personal experiences from losing his daughter in 2004 (his second loss of a child), how he worked with her as she was dying and how he has processed his grieving of two children. The workshop also explores the concept of being wounded healers.

Exploring and Enhancing Spirituality: How to Care for the Spiritual Needs of the Sick, Dying, and Bereaved (2-7 hrs)

This workshop looks at a “spiritual model of care” to complement the medical model. The medical model seeks to cure people of pain and suffering; the spiritual model seeks to help people find value in the midst of pain and suffering. This workshop also looks at various tools for assessing and addressing spiritual needs. It also examines several major spiritual traditions and their attitudes towards sickness, dying, and grieving.

Helping Our Clients and Ourselves Make Ethical Decisions (2-7 hrs)

This workshop will examine in depth four complex case studies that present moral/ethical dilemmas. We will look at ways of helping clients make decisions based upon their perceptions of what is ethical and what is not ethical. At the end of the workshop each participant will have formed guidelines for helping clients clarify their own personal perspectives. We will also look at establishing guidelines for the counselor's own personal ethics.

Continuing Education Credits and Advertising Assistance

Each workshop host site (if they wish) would be supplied with all the information they would probably need to get CEUs for nurses, social workers, and other health care professionals: a curriculum vitae, workshop objectives, workshop outline, handouts, etc.

Also, in having a workshop you’re bringing in a speaker who will provide CEUs to your entire staff for about the same price you would pay to have only two of your staff attend a national convention.

Each host site (if they wish) would be supplied with sample advertising brochures used by other host sites.

Scheduled Workshops

If you wish to know of possible additional scheduled workshops in your area or would like to schedule a workshop in your community, contact Doug at dougcsmith@juno.com