Abstract
The authors collaborated and shared equal responsibility in all aspects of the development of this project, which reviews current research focusing on Ambiguous Loss. The primary purpose of this project is to disseminate information about an increasingly more common type of loss experience and about how school mental health professionals might appropriately respond to students experiencing ambiguous loss. In addition to targeting students experiencing ambiguous loss, the social-emotional supports suggested and provided by this project may be appropriate to helping all students succeed in school. It is expected that as a result of attending this workshop, mental health professionals will be more aware of the unique aspects of ambiguous loss and be better equipped to address the mental health needs of students coping with ambiguous loss. The prepared project is a 2-hour training workshop with a presenter’s manual, slides, and presenter notes. An associated counseling resource binder that expands on interventions and activities suggested during the workshop is also provided as part of the project. Any credentialed school mental health professional can train a target audience of other school mental health professionals. Workshop participants will better understand ambiguous loss and appropriate mental health supports for students experiencing this type of loss.