Global Grief Network logoGGN Advanced Applied Grief Practice
Global Grief Network Education Center
Module 6 of 6

Demonstrated Competencies

About 1 hour

If you or someone you know may be in danger right nowCall 988Text 988Immediate danger: call 911

988 is the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline in the United States. It is free, confidential, and open 24/7 by call, text, or chat at 988lifeline.org. Veterans: dial 988 then press 1. Outside the US, use your local emergency number or crisis line. This program is education, not crisis care. If you are struggling as you read, please pause and reach out now.

Lessons in this module
  1. Core competencies
  2. Self assessment
  3. Demonstrating competence

Objectives

By the end of this module you will be able to:

Lesson

Core competencies

This program focuses on eight competencies: compassionate listening, safety response, scope awareness, ethical decision making, boundary management, cultural humility, referral and coordination, and reflective self care.

Self assessment

For each competency, rate yourself as beginning, developing, or confident. Be honest. Identify one or two to focus on, and gather examples of where you have shown each.

Demonstrating competence

Competence is shown through action: role plays, observed practice, reflective writing, and feedback from mentors or supervisors. The final assessment in this program checks knowledge, and your growth plan shows how you will keep practicing.

1Assess2Decide3Act4Reflect
GGN reminder: Competence grows through practice, feedback, and reflection over time.
GGN practiceCompetency plan (about 20 minutes)

Rate yourself on each of the eight competencies. Choose two to grow, and write one practice activity and one person who can give feedback for each. If this brings up pain, pause and reach out to someone you trust, or call or text 988.

Fictional composite caseFictional Composite Case 6.1: The role play

This case is a fictional composite written by the Global Grief Network for learning. It does not describe any real person.

In a training session, Asha practiced responding to a role play where a grieving father says he cannot keep going. She asked directly about suicide, listened, and described how she would connect him to 988. Her mentor praised her calm and suggested she slow down her pace.

Questions to consider:

  1. Which competencies did Asha demonstrate?
  2. How could she keep growing?

Discussion: Asha demonstrated safety response, compassionate listening, and referral. She could keep growing by practicing pacing in more role plays and reflecting with her mentor.

Reflection Prompts

  1. Which competencies are your strengths?
  2. Which do you want to grow?
  3. How will you demonstrate them?

Module 6 Quiz

Choose one answer per question, then check your answers. You need 4 of 5 correct to pass, and every critical item must be correct. You can retake it any time.