Grief is a natural response to the loss of a loved one. For most people, the symptoms of grief begin to decrease over time. However, for some people, the feeling of intense grief persists, and the symptoms are severe enough to cause problems and stop them from continuing with their lives. Prolonged grief disorder is characterized by intense and persistent grief that causes problems and interferes with daily life. An estimated 7%-10% of bereaved adults will experience the persistent symptoms of prolonged grief disorder (Szuhany et al., 2021). Among children and adolescents who have lost a loved one, approximately 5%-10% will experience depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and/or prolonged grief disorder following bereavement (Melhem et al., 2013). This webinar addresses the symptoms, causes, and treatment for prolonged grief.
Upon completion of this training, participants will be able to:
- Define Prolong Grief Disorder.
- Recognize several of the possible symptoms of the disorder.
- Develop a list of open-ended questions to help grieving clients share their stories.
- Identify high-risk factors for prolonged grief.
- Apply the “PLACE” method to help clients find a place for their grief.
Syllabus:
Objective #1: Understanding Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD)
- Define PGD and distinguish it from normal grief reactions
- Review the evolution of diagnostic criteria from Persistent Complex Bereavement Disorder to PGD in DSM-5
- Recognize how PGD is included in ICD-11 as a codable diagnosis
- Understand the societal relevance and increasing prevalence of PGD post-COVID
Objective #2: Identifying Symptoms of Prolonged Grief Disorder
- Explore core symptoms including identity disruption, disbelief, avoidance, and emotional pain
- Recognize additional signs such as extreme bitterness, anger, meaninglessness, and social withdrawal
- Assess criteria related to persistent yearning, functional impairment, and cultural norms
- Identify risk factors for suicide and intense loneliness in clients experiencing PGD
Objective #3: Exploring Barriers to Grieving and Contributing Personality Factors
- Examine how personal characteristics influence grieving styles
- Differentiate between drive (doer), soothing (feeler), and threat (thinker) systems using the Paul Gilbert model
- Identify how overreliance on specific systems can hinder emotional processing
- Discuss internalized belief systems, personality processing, and the effects of constant replay
Objective #4: Using Open-Ended Questions in Grief Work
- Develop reflective and exploratory questions to deepen client insight
- Use questions to assess what parts of the client’s grief experience are changeable
- Invite clients to evaluate the usefulness of their grief responses
- Encourage narrative exploration through metaphors, personality comparisons, and values
Objective #5: The P.L.A.C.E. Method for Grief Processing
- Position: contextualize the loss within the client’s broader life story
- Listen: encourage mindful attention to thoughts and emotional cues
- Accept: help clients recognize the unchangeable aspects of their experience
- Cry Out: support authentic expression and requests for help
- Empathize: promote connection and shared healing through community and compassion
Objective #6: Healing Practices and Clinical Applications
- Facilitate storytelling, meaning-making, and reintegration following loss
- Apply the Four Tasks of Grieving: acknowledge the reality, feel the pain, adjust to life without the deceased, and reinvest in new relationships
- Address prolonged grief related to non-death losses such as divorce, illness, relocation, or estrangement
- Use case studies to illustrate interventions and explore complicated grief reactions
Social workers completing this course receive 2 Clinical asynchronous continuing education credits.
For other board approvals, this course qualifies for 2 Clinical continuing education training.
Instructor: Dr. Paul Hardy, D.Min. NMAC, CSAC
Recording Date: April 2, 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 2hrs 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