Grief is a natural process that looks different for everyone, and it can deeply affect a person’s emotional, physical and spiritual health. Clinicians receive basic knowledge and practical skills for supporting clients through loss of many kinds, including death, ended relationships, life transitions and non-death losses. Topics include major grief theories, widespread misconceptions, cultural considerations and the therapist’s role in offering a safe, caring space for mourning and meaning-making. You will learn to notice how differently grief can appear and to respond with interventions that respect what all grief shares and what is unique in each client’s experience.
Upon completion of this training, participants will be able to
- Describe at least three theoretical models of grief and their implications for clinical practice.
- Identify common myths and cultural variations in the grieving process that may affect client expectations and experiences.
- Explain how to implement at least two evidence-based strategies for creating a supportive therapeutic environment for clients experiencing grief.
Syllabus:
Introduction
Objective #1: Foundations of Grief
- Definitions and Types of Loss
- Common Misconceptions
- Individual Nature of Grief
Objective #2: The Grieving Process
- Emotional, Physical, and Cognitive Responses
- Grief Models and Theories
- Variability in Grief Experiences
Objective #3: Cultural and Contextual Considerations
- Cultural Influences on Grief
- Non-Death and Disenfranchised Grief
- Impact of Life Transitions
Objective #4: Clinical Support Strategies
- Creating a Safe Therapeutic Space
- Communication and Presence
- Supporting Meaning-Making
Summary/Q&A
Social workers completing this course receive 1.5 Clinical asynchronous continuing education credits.
For other board approvals, this course qualifies for 1.5 Clinical continuing education training.
Instructor: Dreya Blume, LCSW
Recording Date: March 9, 2026
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 1.5hrs 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.
System Requirements: Firefox, Chrome, Brave, Safari, Edge on any modern operating system (Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS). A desktop browser is recommended. We do not provide support resources for issues encountered using a mobile device.
Request for Special Accommodations: Learners can request special accommodations by contacting the administrative team at admin@ceus-ondemand.com