How might communication aids help practitioners in loss and grief counselling?

Abstract

Background: Although there is a considerable amount of research into the experiences of people with learning difficulties regarding bereavement. The area of how communication aids could help with grief and loss counselling is under-researched.

Purpose: This research looks at how communication aids might help practitioners support individuals with learning difficulties in sharing their grief or loss narratives. This research also explores how methods of communication, which exist in educational settings and speech and language therapy, could help individuals share their grief or loss narratives more effectively within a counselling environment.

Sample: A purposive sample of three professionals who support grief and loss conversations was used.

Design and method: The research method was three semi-structured interviews, each with a professional who supports grief and loss conversations, during which we discussed the communication methods they use with individuals. The data from this small-scale interpretivist research were analysed using Thematic Analysis.

Results: Results showed that by being creative, a practitioner can use current inclusive and creative methods within bereavement support to better support individuals with learning difficulties in sharing their grief or loss narratives. The research also found that communication aids, which are more commonly found in education and speech and language therapy, can enable a more profound and more empowering conversation during grief or loss counselling with individuals with learning difficulties.

Conclusion: Communication aids are of benefit when working with individuals with learning disabilities to help them share their grief or loss narratives.

Date of Award	2024
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Canterbury Christ Church University