When something big happens, it can overwhelm and destabilise life as we knew it. This educational course is designed to support people experiencing loss, life transitions, and grief. Participants will explore the emotional, cognitive, behavioural, and practical impacts of loss and change, helping participants to understand common responses such as sadness, uncertainty, anxiety, withdrawal and situational stress across thoughts, feelings and behaviour. The course introduces evidence-informed coping strategies, reflective skills, and tools that can be applied in everyday life. In this supportive learning environment, participants will explore experiences of loss and change, develop self awareness, and build skills for adapting to new circumstances. It also focuses on the importance of self-compassion, and personal growth during periods of transition. This is not group therapy and does not provide clinical treatment or diagnosis. Instead, it focuses on education, personal development, and practical skills for coping with loss and change, empowering participants to navigate this space with greater understanding and confidence.
Intro Navigating Loss and Change
Course Description
Life can change in an instant.
Whether through the loss of a loved one, the end of a relationship, changes in health, work, family circumstances or other significant life events, periods of transition can leave us feeling unsettled, overwhelmed and unsure of how to move forward.
This educational course provides a supportive introduction to understanding the emotional, psychological and practical impacts of loss and change, helping participants make sense of common responses such as grief, sadness, anxiety, uncertainty and withdrawal.
Through a combination of psychoeducation, guided reflection and practical skill-building exercises, participants will explore evidence-informed approaches to coping with life's transitions.
The course focuses on building self-awareness, resilience and self-compassion while providing practical tools that can be applied in everyday life.
This is not group therapy and does not provide clinical treatment or diagnosis.
Instead, it offers a safe and supportive learning environment for personal growth, reflection and developing greater confidence in navigating change.
Participants may wish to bring a notebook, pen or laptop for note-taking and personal reflection activities.
No prior knowledge or experience is required. All activities are designed to be completed individually, and there is no expectation to share personal experiences with the group. This course is educational in nature and focuses on personal development, practical skills and understanding loss and change in everyday life.
Course Structure
This course combines accessible education, guided reflection and practical exercises designed to help participants better understand their experiences of loss and transition.
The session begins with an introduction to loss and change, exploring the many forms these experiences can take and how they commonly affect thoughts, emotions and behaviour.
Participants will then examine common responses to grief and change, including stress, uncertainty, avoidance and emotional reactions.
The course introduces practical coping strategies, communication skills and healthy boundary setting, with a focus on self-compassion and personal wellbeing.
Through individual reflection activities and guided exercises, participants will explore ways to move forward with greater awareness and confidence, while learning about the supports and resources available during times of transition.
Course Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Understand grief and the ways it can present following loss and change
- Recognise common emotional, cognitive and behavioural responses to life transitions
- Normalise and validate their thoughts, feelings and experiences
- Apply practical coping strategies to navigate periods of loss and change
- Understand the role of communication and healthy boundary setting during challenging times
- Recognise the importance of language when supporting themselves and others
- Identify avoidance and distraction behaviours and understand their impact
- Increase self-awareness through guided reflection
- Develop self-care practices to support wellbeing and resilience
- Understand the types of support and resources available during periods of transition.
Student Testimonial
“We thoroughly enjoyed your presentation. What stood out for us was the normalisation of a range of emotions associated with grief recovery. The way you presented it was very engaging and nurturing, immediately creating a sense of comfort for those in the room”.
Your tutor is Jodie Atkinson
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Jodie Atkinson has been teaching at WEA since 2026.
Jodie is a Certified Advanced Grief Recovery Specialist®, speaker, author, and artist. Her book Have You Met My Grief? inspired a multi-award-winning cabaret show, which she has performed at the Adelaide Cabaret Fringe Festival and Adelaide Fringe Festival over multiple years.
After a significant personal loss, Jodie recognised how unprepared she, and many others, are for grief. This led her to write her book and train in The Grief Recovery Method® to help others navigate loss and change.
She now delivers talks, workshops, and programs, creating supportive spaces where grief, loss and change are understood, and where healing can lead to reconnecting with identity, renewed purpose and connection.
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