Dr. J. William Worden to Present on Grief Support
Groups and Best Practices

WASHINGTON, April 6 -- Hospice Foundation of America’s upcoming professional webinar, Innovative Techniques in Managing Grief Groups, will feature J. William Worden, PhD, ABPP, a distinguished expert in the field of grief counseling and therapies, who also served as Co-Principal Investigator of the Harvard Child Bereavement Study. During the 90-minute, May 9 webinar, Dr. Worden will be accompanied by Kenneth J. Doka, PhD, MDiv, senior bereavement consultant for HFA.
 
Through his professional lens as a Fellow of the American Psychological Association and as the recipient of five major National Institutes of Health grants, Dr. Worden will discuss on the webinar the intricacies and details of grief support groups, including different considerations when planning or beginning such a group.
 
Dr. Worden will explain the benefits of different group sizes and structures, as well as how to define proper expectations for the participants. Additionally, he will outline the complexities of interpersonal dynamics that have the potential to negatively or positively affect grief support groups.  Regardless of group size, structure, or dynamics, Worden will make a strong case for the focus of the group always being on growth.
 
In an interview with HFA on his role in Harvard’s Child Bereavement Study, Dr. Worden noted the importance of determining the varied types of support that grief groups can offer, using the example of a men’s bereavement program that focused on “skills for single parents” rather than on the loss alone.
 
“Some of the work may just be in re-thinking what type of support is offered…we made a change…and were able to reach out and really help those men,” Dr. Worden said.
 
To register for this program, click here.1.5 CEs are available from a range of professional boards. Presenters will answer question from the audience during the live event. For more information on this upcoming professional webinar, please visit hospicefoundation.org or call 800-854-3402

About the Presenters 

J William Worden, PhD, ABPP

Dr. Worden served as Co-Principal Investigator of the Harvard Child Bereavement Study. He is the author of Grief Counseling & Grief Therapy: A Handbook for the Mental Health Practitioner, which has been translated into 14 languages and is considered the standard reference on the subject.  Dr. Worden is also widely known for his “Four Tasks of Mourning,” which outlines a path to adjusting to the loss of a loved one.  
 
Kenneth J. Doka, PhD, MDiv

Dr. Kenneth J. Doka is a Professor of Gerontology at the Graduate School of The College of New Rochelle and Senior Consultant to the Hospice Foundation of America. He is the author of numerous books and articles on grief and bereavement, including his most recent book, Grief is Journey. Known for his work identifying the concept of disenfranchised grief, Dr. Doka has appeared on more than 20 HFA Living with Grief® programs and serves as editor of HFA’s Journeys: A newsletter to help in bereavement.