Psychology: Grief Verbatim

Grief Verbatim
Assignment Overview
Helping professionals must be able to provide empathetic and appropriate communication to a person
who is experiencing grief. This assignment provides you with an opportunity to write a hypothetical,
verbatim (word-for-word) dialogue between a helper and a person experiencing grief.

Assignment 1. Review the I am Second video to learn about the story of Jim Munroe in order to prepare
for this assignment.
2. Assume that you are in the role of a professional helper speaking to Jim from the video.
3. Address the assignment requirements below to write a verbatim dialogue between Jim
(from the video) and yourself.
Assignment Requirements
 Throughout the dialogue, portray what Jim has experienced and what he may be thinking and
feeling. Include behaviors in parentheses, e.g., (Client stares off into the distance in silence).
 Consider what to say/what not to say throughout the dialogue, as well as appropriate actions,
(e.g., Helper leans forward slightly, with eyes on client). Use your comprehensive knowledge
from the course.
 Incorporate normal grief responses and special issues that may come up due to the type of loss,
and appropriate responses based on what you have learned throughout the class. For example,
it would be normal for a client to be angry, depressed, withdrawn, anxious, etc.
 Logical progression of dialogue; extensive use of open-ended questions; limited use of closeended questions and no “why” questions. Praise/encouragement and empathetic statements
included. No advising.
 Brainstorm options for effective coping within the verbatim: Identify at least 3 relevant and
clearly stated brainstorming possibilities. (Hint: ask the client what has worked in the past to aid
in challenging times, and then brainstorm more options together. Other options may revolve
around support persons, faith practices, support groups, music, play, art, sports, journaling, etc.
Be sure that options are stage and circumstance appropriate.
 Create an action plan with the client: Evidence that counselor collaborated with the client to
create a specific plan. Specific times, dates, and details are included within the plan.
o For example: In the morning you said you want to turn on some uplifting music as soon
as you get out of bed to help you get through the mornings. You also said that when you
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are having a particularly challenging day you will reach out to your mom, dad, best
friend, and members of your church’s small group until you find someone available to
talk for a while. Other resources you want to incorporate each day are: drawing in your
journal over lunch and attending the support group at the center on Wednesdays at
6:00 pm.
 Your dialogue picks up from the following scene:
o It has been 5 days since Jim’s diagnosis of Leukemia. Jim sets up a time to meet with you
in your office.
o The information you are provided from the intake report is brief.
o You know that the client has experienced a severe loss related to a medical diagnosis,
and he is having difficulty coping with the loss.
o Your dialogue begins with the initial greeting at the door.
 (It is likely that you have previously written verbatim dialogues in other courses. It might be
beneficial to review your previous submissions in other courses as a refresher. However,
previous submissions cannot be submitted toward credit for this assignment.) See sample for
reference as well.

*Caution statement: Do not copy any portions from the sample. You are to
create your own unique verbatim dialogue. The suggestion is to review the sample once to
better understand the assignment and then to NOT look at it anymore, in order to prevent
potential plagiarism of exact/similar wording and/ or the essence of the dialogue. All of the
requirements are listed in the instructions and rubric.
Helpful Hints
Note emotions, body language, the passing of time, tone, and the like in parentheses.
For example:
(Client displayed intense anger. Client sat quietly for 10 minutes, looking down at the floor. I sat
patiently with client in silence while he was trying to calm down.); or (Client continued to share details
related to the event for the next 10 minutes.)

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