Innovations in End-of-Life Care
an international journal of leaders in end-of-life care

SESSION 1:
INTRODUCTION TO THE PROGRAM

CONTENT OBJECTIVES

• Share information about the grief process and the impact of this process on family functioning;
• Encourage discussion of grief related issues and feelings within the family;
• Provide an organizing framework and discuss specific objectives for the Family Bereavement Program; (briefly mention the experiences/skills that some families have found helpful in this process).

PROCESS OBJECTIVES:

• Build cohesion and rapport;
• Normalize and validate family discussion and feelings about grief related issues;
• Identify goals for the program

SESSION 2:
FAMILY TIME

CONTENT OBJECTIVES:

• Parents will identify "personal hurdles" and set personal and family goals;
• Parents will learn about positive and problematic parent-child relationships; and
• Parents will learn about "Family Time."

SESSION 3:
COMMUNICATION: CATCH 'EM BEING GOOD & LISTENING:
PART I

CONTENT OBJECTIVES

• To provide rationale for good communication;
• To introduce Catch 'em Being Good; and
• To teach Listening Part I (The Four Talk-to-Me's).

PROCESS OBJECTIVES

• Model good listening skills; and
• Encourage parents to try these skills at home and at work.

SESSION 3.5:
FIRST INDIVIDUAL SESSION (1½ hours)

CONTENT OBJECTIVES

• Review and trouble-shoot Family Time, One-on-One Time, Catch 'em Being Good, the 4 Talk-to-Me's; and
• Address reasons for parental demoralization.

PROCESS OBJECTIVES

• Enhance parents' competence by helping them recognize changes they have made;
• Help parents feel that they can benefit from the program;
• Provide personalized feedback so parents are using program skills correctly;
• Trouble shoot and problem-solve around contributing causes to parents' demoralization; and
• Motivate parents to use program skills at home.

SESSION 4:
COMMUNICATION: ONE-ON-ONE TIME & LISTENING:
PARTS 2 & 3

CONTENT OBJECTIVES

• To teach One-on-One Time; and
• To teach Listening Part 2 (Think) and the first half of Part 3 (Respond: Summary Responses)

SESSION 5:
COMMUNICATION: LISTENING: PART 3 (FEELING RESPONSES)
& SAYING NO

CONTENT OBJECTIVES

• To teach Feeling Responses;
• To integrate the three parts of listening; and
• To introduce saying no.

SESSION 6:
GUIDED PROBLEM-SOLVING AND USING LISTENING SKILLS TO
HEAR YOUR CHILDREN TALK ABOUT GRIEF

CONTENT OBJECTIVES

• Teach parents problem-solving when listening isn't enough; and
• Have parents practice listening skills with children as they talk about grief.

PROCESS OBJECTIVES

• Continue to model listening skills and to shape parents' use of them;
• Help parents listen to their children talk about grief; and
• Increase communication between parents and children.

SESSION 7:
PARENT DEMORALIZATION

CONTENT OBJECTIVES

• Continue working on personal and family goals;
• Discuss life changes following death of a loved one that contribute to being blindsided by grief and strategies for dealing with those feelings; and
• Teach parents to recognize and reframe negative thoughts into helpful and hopeful ones.

PROCESS OBJECTIVES

• Normalize grief-related feelings and experiences; and
• Develop a sense of hopefulness and competence in members.

SESSION 8:
DISCIPLINE I:
STEPS 1 & 2: ADOPTING CLEAR AND REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS
AND SIZING UP THE PROBLEM

CONTENT OBJECTIVES

• To introduce the big picture of discipline. Be Clear, Be Consistent, Be Calm; and
• To introduce the first two steps of a change plan: adopting clear and realistic expectations and sizing up the problem.

PROCESS OBJECTIVES

• To develop a sense of self-efficacy and competence in members, regarding discipline.

SESSION 9:
DISCIPLINE II:
STEP 3: DEVELOPING A CHANGE PLAN

CONTENT OBJECTIVES

• To teach parents to develop and communicate a change plan; and
• How to choose consequences when expectations are met or not met.

SESSION 9.5:
SECOND INDIVIDUAL SESSION (1½ HOURS)

CONTENT OBJECTIVES

• Review and trouble-shoot skills taught so far (Family Time, One-on-One Time, Catch 'em Being Good, Listening, Discipline and Guided Problem Solving to prepare for conjoint session);
• Have parent use listening and problem solving skills when child/children present "I Message" problem in conjoint session; and
• Process conjoint session and address parents' personal grief goals and demoralization issues.

PROCESS OBJECTIVES

• Provide personalized feedback so parents are using skills accurately;
• Motivate parents to use skills at home; and
• Trouble-shoot and problem-solve around grief issues.

SESSION 10:
DISCIPLINE III:
STEP 4: USING THE CHANGE PLAN, EVALUATING AND REEVALUATING IT IF NECESSARY

CONTENT OBJECTIVES

• To problem solve difficulties parents are having with their children;
• To teach them the fourth step of the change plan (using, evaluating and reevaluating it);
• To review previous concepts; and
• To give them practice in developing a new change plan.

SESSION 11:
HELPING YOUR KIDS DEAL WITH TOUGH TIMES

CONTENT OBJECTIVES

• Problem solve difficulties parents are having with their change plan for misbehaviors;
• Review coping strategies taught in the child and adolescent programs; and
• Discuss reducing the impact of negative life events on their children, specifically the impact of dealing with holidays and other special days, parental distress, parent beginning dating and conflict within and outside the family.

SESSION 12:
REVIEW, MAINTENANCE STRATEGIES AND CLOSURE

CONTENT OBJECTIVES

• Help parents problem solve difficulties they may be having with the skills;
• Discuss strategies to keep program going; and
• Discuss the changes the parents and their kids have made.

PROCESS OBJECTIVES

• Help parents recognize and own changes they have made;
• Motivate parents to continue using the program skills after the group ends; and
• Help parents achieve a sense of closure about their participation.

[Back to Innovations in End-of-Life Care Featured Innovation]
[Back to Innovations in End-of-Life Care Resources & Tools]