Grief is a universal experience; however, the response to grief is different for many people. Individuals who have a prolonged or delayed reaction to a loss may develop complicated grief. The need for therapeutic intervention is important for people suffering from this type of grief.
Although the frameworks put forward by Kübler‐Ross and Lamb explain the grief process for many individuals, sometimes people do not progress through these natural stages and are unable to accept the loss and move forward with their own lives. The grieving process may be disturbed for these individuals. When this process is blocked or disturbed, complicated grief may arise. In this training, we will focus on the fundamentals of working with clients experiencing Complicated Grief.
Upon completion of this training, participants will be able to:
- Educate clients on grieving processes as unique to the individual.
- Identify observable symptoms of prolonged grief.
- Evaluate the client’s inner motivations for holding onto a prolonged grieving process.
- Construct a model for helping clients move forward.
- Implement 5 interventions the therapist can use to help clients move forward.
Syllabus:
Objective #1: Understanding the Grieving Process
- Grief is a universal experience, but expressions of it vary
- Grieving is nonlinear and unfolds uniquely for each individual
- Stages include shock, denial, anger, bargaining, depression, testing, and acceptance
- Acute grief involves intense yearning, sorrow, and intrusive thoughts
Objective #2: Uniqueness and Adaptation in Grief
- Grieving does not follow a set timeline or fixed pattern
- Most people grieve over 1–2 years with natural integration over time
- Grief changes form rather than disappears, eventually finding a new place in life
- Adapting is distinct from coping; it involves internal reorientation
Objective #3: Types and Complexities of Grief
- Anticipatory, normal, and complicated grief outlined
- Complications include chronic, delayed, absent, and distorted grieving
- Contributing factors: caregiver fatigue, avoidance, denial, and erroneous beliefs
- Cultural and relational contexts influence grief progression
Objective #4: Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD)
- PGD symptoms last over a year in adults and 6+ months in youth
- Features include identity disruption, emotional numbness, and avoidance
- Diagnosis requires multiple persistent symptoms causing daily dysfunction
- Common among those with prior trauma, mental health history, or poor support
Objective #5: Client Barriers and Inner Motivations
- Emotional blocks: bitterness, guilt, isolation, and rumination
- Motivations may include fear of letting go, unresolved trauma, or loss of identity
- Grief may provide continued connection to the deceased
- Sleep disturbances and suicidal ideation are possible complications
Objective #6: Grieving Model and Personality Dynamics
- Three grieving personalities: Doers (drive), Feelers (soothing), Thinkers (threat)
- Personality shapes how grief is processed and expressed
- Constant replay and belief systems keep grief active
- Use of Paul Gilbert’s Compassion-Focused Therapy systems model
Objective #7: Assessing Dysfunction and Therapeutic Impact
- Dysfunction includes inability to function, enjoy life, or maintain relationships
- Central question: how much disruption has the loss caused?
- Assess for self-blame, denial, persistent yearning, and avoidance behaviors
- Use psychoeducation to differentiate normal from disordered grief
Objective #8: Interventions to Move Clients Forward
- Five key tools: Position, Listen, Accept, Cry Out, Empathize
- Ask open-ended questions to uncover beliefs and obstacles
- Explore the impact of the loss and how the client wants to remember the deceased
- Use narrative therapy to reconstruct meaning and integrate the loss
Objective #9: Supportive Techniques for Grieving Well
- Encourage healthy expression through conversation, ritual, and reflection
- Normalize the “waves” of grief and identify emotional triggers
- Provide structure with small, actionable steps and validation
- Teach clients to access social, spiritual, and community resources
Resources and Continued Learning
- Recommended websites: What’s Your Grief?, Compassionate Friends, AARP Grief Tools
- Useful for client and clinician support through handouts and community groups
- Provide literature and podcasts to reinforce session themes and interventions
- Emphasize ongoing exploration and adaptation beyond the therapy setting
Social workers completing this course receive 3 Clinical asynchronous continuing education credits.
For other board approvals, this course qualifies for 3 Clinical continuing education training.
Instructor: Dr. Paul Hardy, D.Min. NMAC, CSAC
Recording Date: 9/07/2024
CEUS On-Demand, LLC, provider #2274, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 08/7/2026 - 08/6/2027. Social workers completing this course receive 3hrs Clinical continuing education credits.
CEUs On-Demand, LLC has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7091. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. CEUs On-Demand, LLC is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
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Request for Special Accommodations: Learners can request special accommodations by contacting the administrative team at admin@ceus-ondemand.com