Screen Shot 2021-12-01 at 9.56.39 AM.png

Mary-Frances O'Connor, PhD

The Grieving Brain: The Surprising Science Of How We Learn From Love And Loss

August 14th - August 18th, 2023

This course is also available Live-Online!

JOIN THE IN-PERSON WAITLIST HERE!

This course is no longer available.

Quantity

IN-PERSON COURSE SOLD OUT!

Price:

$0.00

VIEW CART

ADD TO CART

Error text

15 Hour In-Person & Live-Online Course

Monday - Friday: 9:00a.m. - 12:30p.m. EDT / 30-Minute Break Daily

Check your local time

Sold out

Course Description

Why does grief hurt so much? Why does death, the permanent absence of a person with whom you are bonded, result in such devastating feelings and lead to behavior and beliefs that are inexplicable, even to the grieving person? Taught by a neuroscience professor and clinical psychologist, this course will discuss the what of grief—what it feels like, what problems it causes, and common neurobiological and physiological reactions. But more importantly, it will discuss the why. Some of the answers to our questions about grief can be found in the brain, the seat of our thoughts and feelings, motivations, and behaviors. By looking at grief from the perspective of the brain, we will discuss the contemporary science of the how of grief in order to better understand the why.

While this course will utilize the lens of neurobiology for understanding and working with grief and

grieving, the course material is accessible without a need for a neuroscience background. fMRI

neuroimaging has shown that the most significant impact of the death of a loved one is in those who

have the most severe psychological grief reactions. Understanding bonding and separation in animal neurobiology can help explain what happens in humans during acute grief. Knowledge about how the brain learns new information is helpful to understanding the trajectory of adaptation during bereavement. Studies of cognitive functioning are particularly relevant for older adults following the death of a loved one. The course culminates in discussion of empirically-based psychotherapeutic interventions for prolonged grief that are proven effective, including Prolonged Grief Disorder Treatment, guided mindfulness meditation, and exposure therapy. Participants will explore these findings and clinical experiences in light of the neuroscientific research on grief.

Monday

To understand grief, understand bonding and attachment

Differentiating attachment processes from attachment styles
Neurobiology of attachment in prairie voles
Neurobiology of attachment in humans, including reward learning
Developmental aspects of attachment theory

Tuesday

Neurobiology of grief and grieving

Difference between grief and grieving
Cognitive neuroscience of grief
Gone But Also Everlasting theory
Structural brain constraints on learning during grieving
The utility of basic science as a lens on grief

Wednesday

Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD)

Distinguishing grief and trauma
Debunking the myth of the 5 stages of grief
Empirical data on the grieving trajectories
Stigma vs. benefit of psychological diagnosis
Diagnostic criteria and cultural considerations

Thursday

Grieving as a form of learning

Complications for learning are also complications for grieving
Bereavement as a health disparity
Older age cognitive decline and grief: chicken or egg?
Role of social support

Friday

Toolkit of coping strategies and psychotherapeutic intervention

Emotion regulation flexibility, the right strategy for the right moment
Avoidance
Rumination
Psychotherapeutic intervention (Prolonged Grief Disorder Treatment, CBT, mindfulness)

Mary-Frances O’Connor, PhD is an Associate Professor at the University of Arizona Department of Psychology, where she directs the Grief, Loss and Social Stress (GLASS) Lab. She earned a PhD in clinical psychology from the University of Arizona in 2004 and following a faculty appointment at UCLA Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology, she returned to the University of Arizona in 2012. She served for three years as Director of Clinical Training in the Psychology Department. Her research focuses on the wide-ranging emotional responses to bereavement. In particular, she investigates the neurobiological and psychophysiological aspects that vary between individual grief responses via functional neuroimaging, immune, and endocrine analysis. Dr. O’Connor also researches difficulties adapting following the death of a loved one, termed prolonged grief (newly included in the revised DSM-5). She believes that a clinical science approach toward the experience and physiology of grief can improve psychological treatment. Dr. O’Connor’s recent book, The Grieving Brain: The Surprising Science of How We Learn from Love and Loss (2022; HarperOne) has garnered praise from peers and literary critics alike, and has led to speaking engagements around the world. In addition to her outstanding record of scholarship, Dr. O’Connor is a highly proficient and beloved teacher and mentor, honored with the Undergraduate Biology Research Program (UBURP) “Outstanding Mentor Award” in 2014. In 2020, she organized an international multidisciplinary research group called the Neurobiology of Grief International Network (NOGIN). Under her leadership, the group has held three international conferences supported by the National Institute on Aging. Dr. O’Connor is a highly sought-after speaker, giving numerous talks and workshops to community organizations around the world, including in-service trainings to healthcare professionals and volunteers at hospices. She has authored research papers published in a wide range of peer-reviewed journals, from American Journal of Psychiatry to NeuroImage to Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. Dr. O’Connor’s work has been discussed in the New York Times, The Guardian, Washington Post, and Scientific American.

Speaker Disclosures:

Financial: Mary-Frances O'Connor has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations. She receives a speaking honorarium from MAK Continuing Education, LLC, Cape Cod Institute.

Non-financial: Mary-Frances O'Connor has no relevant non-financial relationships with ineligible organizations.

Upon completion of this course participants will be able to:

1. Identify how attachment in social mammals built upon the brain’s ability to map time and space

2. Explain how after the death of a loved one, the brain can believe conflicting information from

memories of the death and the everlasting nature of attachment beliefs

3. Compare bonding and separation in pair-bonded animals to the effects of acute grief in humans

4. Describe how the neurobiological attachment system instantiates relationship bonds, requiring

neurochemicals like oxytocin, dopamine, and endogenous opioids

5. Explain the difference between grief and grieving and how we would ask a person about each

6. Apply knowledge about learning and memory to the process of grieving

7. Distinguish between grief and trauma, and consider which should be treated first

8. Define prolonged grief disorder, and justify the existence of this disorder using neuroscientific

data

9. Apply knowledge of cognitive functioning in bereavement to older adults with and without

complicated grief

10. Explain how rumination and avoidance can prolong the process of updating the prediction (i.e.,

learning) that the deceased is no longer available

11. Identify which mechanisms of mindfulness meditation intervention reduce grief severity and

which do not

Creative Arts Therapists:

New York: MAK Continuing Education, LLC, Cape Cod Institute is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed creative arts therapists. # CAT-0090.

Educators:

For eligibility information contact your State certifying authority.

Massachusetts: Educators in Massachusetts are eligible for 15 Professional Development Points (PDPs) for each program attended. MAK Continuing Education, LLC is a registered Professional Development Provider (PD number: U20190001) with the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).

Marriage and Family Therapists:

Massachusetts: This activity has been certified by NEAFAST on behalf of the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Allied Mental Health & Human Services Professions, for LMFT professional continuing education. Certification # PC- 041868.

Physicians & Nursing Professionals:

A.C.C.M.E. This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of The Milton H. Erickson Foundation, Inc., and MAK Continuing Education, LLC, Cape Cod Institute. The Milton H. Erickson Foundation, Inc., is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

A.M.A. The Milton H. Erickson Foundation, Inc., designates this live activity for a maximum of 15 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Professional Counselors:

MAK Continuing Education, LLC, Cape Cod Institute has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7187. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. MAK Continuing Education, LLC, Cape Cod Institute is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

Psychoanalysts:

MAK Continuing Education, LLC, Cape Cod Institute is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychoanalysts # P-0052.

Psychologists:

APA:

MAK Continuing Education, LLC, Cape Cod Institute is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. MAK Continuing Education, LLC, Cape Cod Institute maintains responsibility for this program and its content. CE varies by program, please see CE details on each course page to determine APA credit availability or the list below.

California: MAK Continuing Education, LLC, Cape Cod Institute is approved by the CPA OPD to sponsor continuing professional education for psychologists. MAK Continuing Education, LLC, Cape Cod Institute maintains responsibility for this program and its content. CPA OPD Provider Code: MAK001.

Canada: MAK Continuing Education, LLC, Cape Cod Institute is approved by the Canadian Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists. MAK Continuing Education, LLC, Cape Cod Institute maintains responsibility for the program.

Connecticut: CE credit is available. This course consists of 15 continuing education credit hours for Connecticut Psychologists. CT Gen Stat Sec. 20-191c Continuing Education (b)(3) confirms acceptance of continuing education programs relevant to psychology from a nationally recognized provider of continuing education seminars. MAK Continuing Education, LLC, Cape Cod Institute is a nationally recognized provider of continuing education seminars with multiple national CE approvals.

New York: MAK Continuing Education, LLC, Cape Cod Institute is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists # PSY-0102.

North Carolina: CE credit is available. This course is designed to meet the Category B Requirements of the North Carolina Psychology Board, provided it is within your scope of practice of psychology. Please retain all documents to provide to your board should this be requested of you. NC psychologists can report up to 9 Category B credit hours per renewal period.

Ohio: MAK Continuing Education, LLC, Cape Cod Institute is a OPA-MCE Approved Provider. Approved Provider: #854261519.

Pennsylvania: MAK Continuing Education, LLC, Cape Cod Institute is approved by the Pennsylvania State Board of Psychology to offer continuing education for psychologists. Provider # PSY000226. MAK Continuing Education, LLC, Cape Cod Institute maintains responsibility for the program. This live program qualifies for 15 continuing education hours.

Social Workers:

ASWB ACE: MAK Continuing Education, LLC, Cape Cod Institute, Provider #1197, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. MAK Continuing Education, LLC, Cape Cod Institute, maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period: 8/20/2022- 8/20/2025. Social workers completing this course receive 15 continuing education credits.

ASWB ACE Individual Course Applications (NJ Social Workers): The Grieving Brain: The Surprising Science of How We Learn from Love and Loss, Course #4933, is approved by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program to be offered by MAK Continuing Education, LLC, Cape Cod Institute as an individual course. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE course approval period: 5/2/2023 - 5/2/2025. Social workers completing this course receive 15 General continuing education credits.

New York: MAK Continuing Education, LLC, Cape Cod Institute is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers # SW-0649.

For all other CE approval statements, please visit our CE page and search by your discipline.

Course Content Level: beginner, intermediate, and advanced. This course is open, and content is suitable for all clinicians and learning levels, beginning, intermediate and advanced.

Downloadable Course Brochure

Hear more from

Mary-Frances O'Connor, PhD

00:00 / 01:04

What Alumni are Saying...

Learn more about the Cape Cod Institute from former participants

Questions?

0

Mary-Frances O'Connor, PhD