Webinar Presenters and Topics

Jennifer Cisney, M.A.
Jennifer Cisney is the Director of Professional Relations for the AACC and Director of Production for the AACC training curriculums. She has a Master Degree in counseling and has worked in both hospital-based and private practice settings. She specializes in working with grief, crisis and trauma and currently serves as a lead trainer and director of the AACC’s crisis response efforts.

Susan Zonnebelt-Smeenge, R.N., Ed.D.
Susan J. Zonnebelt-Smeenge recently retired from her position as a licensed clinical psychologist at Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services, Grand Rapids, MI. Early in her career she was a practicing registered nurse and taught nursing at St. Mary and Butterworth Hospitals in Grand Rapids. Shortly after her first husband was diagnosed with a brain tumor, she returned to school to receive her doctorate in counseling psychology from Western Michigan University. While she maintains her credentials as a registered nurse, her career as a psychologist involved treating a wide variety of issues including physical illness issues, depression, marital and family issues, anxiety as well as dying, death and bereavement matters. Her doctoral dissertation was on grief and bereavement. She has also experienced bereavement first hand through the tragic death of her brother in a plane crash and the death of her first husband after 24 years of marriage.

Robert DeVries, D.Min., Ph.D.
Robert C. DeVries is professor (emeritus) of Church Education at Calvin Theological Seminary where he also served as the director of the Master of Arts programs.  He is an ordained minister in the Christian Reformed Church and has served two congregations – the first in Boca Raton, FL and the second in Big Rapids, MI.  He served Calvin Seminary first as the Coordinator of Field Education from 1977 to 1987.  He then occupied the chair of Church Education from 1987 until his retirement in 2006.  He has experienced the death of both of his parents, an older brother, and his first wife after 28 years of marriage.

Title: Effective Counseling Outcomes with Grieving and Traumatized Individuals and Families

Abstract
Anytime a major loss is experienced, it affects people as individuals and as a family system.  In counseling following a significant loss, it is critical to take into account both individual and family needs.  This webinar will address significant issues surrounding grief and loss in families and address specific types of trauma and situations which can lead to complicated and/or unresolved grief.  Presenters will also provide practical information, exercises and techniques that can be used when working with grieving families.

Objectives
Participants will:

1. Be able to describe the desired outcome of grieving by clarifying the concept of grief resolution or saying the final “goodbye” as expressed in five intentional and active goals of grief supported by sound psychological and biblical premises
2. Be able to identify and explain the interactive grief process within the family system by differentiating specific role losses and describing the benefits and challenges of grieving collectively, including the different styles or ways people grieve
3. Explore specific types of traumatic loss or difficult circumstances which can complicate the grieving process such as suicide, homicide, or having a loved one missing without closure