Job-loss Grief Recovery From “Victim” to “Survivor” of Workforce Reduction

1. Job-loss Grief RecoveryFrom “Victim” to “Survivor” of Workforce Reduction Pre-conference Workshop Careers Conference 2010 Madison, WI Monday, January 25th Michael E. Hall, PhD Presenter

2. Job-loss Grief Recovery • “Grief is an intense set of emotional reactions in response to a real, imagined, or anticipated loss.” ~L. Schupp, 2004

3. Job-loss Grief Recovery Grief vs. Trauma: Distinguishing Features Grief— a. focus on “what” or “who” loss; b. actively searches for reminders; c. presence of separation distress over. Trauma— a. fixation on “how” loss occurred; b. avoids reminders; c. hyper-vigilance—alert for similar threat.

4. Job-loss Grief Recovery • Recovery is… a reemergence of ordinary levels of personal, social, and vocational functioning. ~ M.E. Hall

5. Job-loss Grief Recovery The “Victim” Mode • Life orientation: present tense • Identity: defined by “trauma” • Functioning: poor (minimal) • Intervention: 1. Safety, 2. Stabilization, 3. Support • Contra-indicator: “Flooding”

6. Job-loss Grief Recovery The “Survivor” Mode • Life orientation: past tense • Identity: coping w/ crisis residuals • Functioning: good (moderate) • Intervention: 1. Symptom mngmnt, 2. deSensitize triggers, 3. belief Systems, • Contra-indicator: “Flashbacks”

7. Job-loss Grief Recovery Demonstration: “The Trauma Puzzle” • “What do you see?” • “What do you hear?” • “What do you smell?” • “What do you feel/sense?” • “What do you taste?” *Bradley, p. 29

8. Application • Analysis of Case Vignettes

9. What’s Next?? Workshop SequelCounseling The “Left Behind” Workers Who Remain After Workforce Reduction

10. Job-loss Grief RecoveryFrom “Victim” to “Survivor of Workforce Reduction Thank You! • Michael E. Hall, PhD Counseling & Consulting Services Charlotte, NC ~Board-certified Career Management Fellow • Email: careerenhance@carolina.rr.com • Phone: 704.858.2984