Description of the course

Not all losses offer an opportunity for people to find closure. Ambiguous loss—when someone or something important is physically absent but psychologically present, or physically present but emotionally absent—can leave people stuck in cycles of grief, confusion, and longing. This course explores how ambiguous loss shows up in the lives of those impacted by violence and trauma. We’ll consider examples such as a survivor of domestic violence mourning the loss of the relationship they hoped for, or a survivor of sexual assault grieving the loss of safety and trust in their own body. Participants will learn to recognize the signs of ambiguous loss, understand its emotional impact, and discover strategies to foster resilience and meaning amid uncertainty—for both clients and themselves.

Intended Audience

This course is appropriate for anyone!

Even though many of our courses are designed for victim advocates, family advocates, and child advocates who respond to cases of power-based violence, this course is designed for a more general audience. Anyone who is interested in the subject matter is welcome to enroll. 

About Elizabeth McElroy, LCSW

Elizabeth McElroy is a clinical social worker in private practice. She earned her MSW from the University of Maryland at Baltimore. Before launching her private practice, her professional experiences included home hospice, nursing home care, medical case management, and behavioral health counseling. She also provides clinical supervision to social workers seeking to fulfill their licensure requirements or enhance their practice. She occasionally blogs about her experiences as a social worker at www.elizabeth-mcelroy.com.

Are you finding what you're looking for?

We offer LIVE trainings (on Zoom with an instructor) or On Demand (with no live instructor). Each course's title indicates if it is "LIVE" or "On Demand."

FAQ

  • What can I expect from a "LIVE" course?

    Upon purchase, you will have access to a learning platform with a welcome message, a Zoom link, and some resources to review. On the date of the live course, you will log in to your Thinkific account and click the link to the Zoom meeting. There is no pre-work required, but some resources (articles, videos, etc.) might be available for you to enjoy ahead of time. Learners will have access to the platform and it's resources for 1 month after the live event.

  • What can I expect from an "on demand" course?

    Upon purchase, you will have access to a learning platform with videos, exercises, quizzes, and articles. Complete the course materials at your own place. Some learners will finish in one sitting, while others may take several days or weeks. Learners will have access for 90 days (3 months) from the time of purchase, unless they have purchased a subscription package, which allows ongoing access beyond 3 months.

  • I'm curious about the "custom" options. What are they?

    The Advocacy Academy can build a course tailored to the needs of your organization/ team. The course can be designed in many different ways: (1) In Thinkific (like an on demand course), (2) Live on Zoom, or (3) Live onsite at your company/ organization. Email [email protected] to set up a meeting to discuss.

  • Will I receive CEUs if I participate in a course?

    If you are looking for CEUs for credentialed advocates, NACP or D-SAACP are the accrediting bodies for that certification. On their websites, they indicate that you do not need pre-approval for CEU courses that you may take. Anything related to victim advocacy should count. The staff at The Advocacy Academy can help with any documentation that you need. If you are looking for social work, nursing, or any other kind of CEUs, please contact your accrediting body to find out the requirements. Typically, we able to provide the proper documentation needed for professionals across many disciplines to receive CEUs. It might just require a little leg work!

  • Can I enroll my entire team?

    Yes. If you have a large group of people to enroll, email [email protected] for assistance. You can just send a list with each person's name and email address. We can upload it to the system, rather than entering them one at a time.

  • How do I enroll in all of the courses at once?

    From our homepage, find the option titled "Ultimate Advocate Bundle." You can enroll in all of the on demand courses at a discounted rate, and you will receive a year of access, rather than the standard 30 days that usually comes with an on demand course.

  • I still have a question. What should I do?

    Email [email protected]