Trainings
Merimna - Educational Programs
Merimna regularly conducts trainings for health and mental health professionals on loss management – bereavement and pediatric palliative care.
Merimna’s Bereavement Counseling Centers in Athens and Thessaloniki, announce and annually implement trainings on bereavement support and counseling for grieving children, adolescents and families.
This period (September 2023 – January 2024) a training program is being implemented that includes one cycle:
‘A’ Cycle Training: Support and Counseling for Bereaved Children, Adolescents and Families
Objectives:
For participants to acquire theoretical knowledge and clinical skills to assess and support children, adolescents and families experiencing a period of normal grief, and to apply the principles of counseling to the school community grieving the loss of a community member.
Participation Requirements:
Mental health professionals who:
- Have a professional license
- Have at least three years of clinical experience (postgraduate placement or work-based clinical experience)
Participants were selected after a personal interview.
Duration: September 2023 until January 2024
Days: Friday 18:00-21:00 and Saturday 10:00-17:00
Total: 50 hours
Participants will receive a certificate of attendance if they attend the entire first training cycle.
Cost: €600 (€200 in advance – the remaining amount until January 2024).
Method of teaching:
Meetings will take place at the Counselling Centre of Thessaloniki, 13 Fragon Street, 7th floor.
‘B’Cycle Training: Psychotherapeutic Support of Children, Adolescents and Families who are Grieving the Loss of a Loved One.
Objectives:
Clinical assessment of children, adolescents and families experiencing traumatic loss,
Psychological support in crisis situations and longitudinal psychotherapeutic intervention for bereaved families,
Long-term support for families when a family member suffers from a life-threatening illness.
Participation requirements:
Mental health professionals who:
- Hold a master’s degree (or have been trained in psychotherapy or counseling)
- They have a professional license
- Have at least three years of clinical experience (postgraduate placement or work-based clinical experience)
- Have completed the first cycle of a training course or training program of Merimna (this does not apply to participation in individual seminars).
The number of participants is limited.
Duration: September 2021 – February 2022
Days: Friday 18:00-21:00 and Saturday 10:00-17:00
Total: 60 hours
Participants will receive a certificate of attendance if they attend the entire second training cycle.
Cost: €600 (€ 200 in advance and the balance up to January 2022).
Method of teaching: The meetings are held via the zoom platform, and will also be live for some two-day sessions, after consultation with the participants and if the pandemic conditions allow.
Training Seminars/Webinars
Merimna implements seminars/webinars on issues related to the management of loss, mourning and life-threatening illness, upon invitation from institutions and organizations. These seminars are designed in collaboration with each organization in order to meet the needs of the participants.
Specifically, in 2021, Merimna trained the staff of ELEPAP – Rehab for Disabled Children, in Greece and PASYKAF Cyprus Association of Cancer Patients and Friends in Cyprus ,in the management of life-threatening illness and loss. It was also invited to train teachers of primary and secondary schools in Northern Greece, in cooperation with the Regional Centers of Educational Planning (PEKS) of Thessaly, the North Aegean, and of Central Macedonia as well as with related school units.
For any further clarification/information, please contact the offices of the Thessaloniki Counseling Center at: 2310 510010 or email: thessaloniki.support@merimna.org.gr
The training of health professionals in Pediatric Palliative Care includes 2 training cycles (A’ and B’).
Goal of the ‘A’ Cycle Training:
…is to enable participants to acquire basic knowledge in pediatric palliative care, as well as skills that will enable them to assess the organic and psychosocial needs of children and adolescents with life-threatening illness and their family members.
Goal of the ‘B’ Cycle Training:
…is to give participants the opportunity to deepen their knowledge of pediatric palliative care and its applications with neonates, children and adolescents who have various life limiting diseases requiring specialized care. Particular emphasis will be placed on communication with all family members and the immediate environment, critical decision making in the final stage of the disease and support for parents, siblings and friends during the period of bereavement.
Participants: Health and education professionals (pediatricians, pathologists, nurses, psychologists, social workers, child psychiatrists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, music therapists and special educators), who either provide services to children and adolescents or come from the field of adult palliative care and wish to be trained in palliative care for children and adolescents.
The number of participants in both cycles is limited. Duration of each training course: 60 hours
In order to attend the second training cycle, one must have completed the first cycle or an earlier training program of Merimna.
No training course is running at this time.
For any further clarification/information, you can contact the offices of Merimna at 210-6463367 or email: palliativecare@merimna.org.gr