How to Support Families Dealing with Loss Across the Lifespan

Program Description
This program explores the ways grief is expressed across the lifespan, with special attention to how perinatal loss and end-of-life care may differ. Through the perspectives of experienced doulas and educators, participants will learn supportive approaches—such as presence, touch, and communication—for accompanying families during the moments surrounding death. The session will also highlight the shared human processes at the beginnings and endings of life, examining how birth and death doulas or hospice professionals frame these experiences in practice.

Learning Objectives:

1. Describe common emotional, physical, and relational expressions of grief across the

lifespan, and differentiate how these may appear in perinatal loss versus end-of-life

care.

2. Identify and explain supportive approaches—including presence, touch, and

communication—when accompanying individuals and families in the moments

surrounding death.

3. Analyze the intersections between beginnings and endings of life and compare how

birth and death doulas or hospice professionals frame these shared human processes in

practice.

Please note participants must attend the event in its entirety and fill out a CE survey within 24 hours of the event to receive credit.

One (1) Continuing Education (CE Credit)/Professional Development Credit (PDU) offered for Psychology, Social Work, PhysicalTherapy, and Occupational Therapy*

*Chatham University has been approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The Chatham University Psychology Continuing Education Program maintains responsibility for this program and its content. Please contact Jennifer Morse at jmorse@chatham.edu with questions.

In Pennsylvania, individuals from other professions (social work, counseling, marriage and family therapists) are able to count CE credits from psychology approved events toward their CE requirements.

This program is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of financial assistance awards totaling $3,749,998 with 100 percent funded by HRSA/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, HRSA/HHS or the U.S. Government.