Shapes of Grief
Foundation Certificate in Grief and Loss
Shapes of Grief is the most comprehensive online grief training course for professionals and volunteers supporting bereaved people.
Our Grief & Loss Training Hub offers access to this first-of-its-kind, evidence-based programme featuring global leaders in grief and loss research and education. It has received accolades from thousands of participants worldwide for its ability to offer a proven solution that changes how professionals understand grief and loss and interact with people, relieving their suffering in meaningful and helpful ways.
Who Needs the Foundation Certificate in Grief and Loss?
The Foundation Certificate in Grief and Loss is designed to provide compassionate professional development, essential skills in grief literacy and a strong foundation of knowledge for professionals and volunteers who come across bereaved people in their day-to-day work. Many bereaved people also find this knowledge beneficial.
Frontline Staff and First Responders
Doctors and Nurses
Clinical and Non-Clinical Healthcare Workers
Teachers and Counselors
Religious or Spiritual Leaders
Bereavement Group Leaders
Funeral home, Hospice and Veterinary Staff
People experiencing loss and grief
For Professionals
For professionals seeking continuing education credits and qualifications to meet yearly requirements, all levels of the Shapes of Grief programme are CPD Certified, an internationally recognized accreditation for professional training.
This course is a proven way to advance your skills in a meaningful way that will help you better serve your patients and clients.
UK Bereavement Standards recommend that anyone planning to professionally support people who are grieving or bereaved, undertake at least 30 hours of grief training. This course adheres to UK bereavement standard recommendations by offering 40 hours+ of grief training.
Ukrainian Programme. Ласкаво просимо до навчальної програми з підтримки людей, що горюють.
The Ukrainian language version of Shapes of Grief has over 4000 users and the material has proven to be culturally transferable. Most importantly, the knowledge, skills and tools are immediately applicable and impactful in fundamentally changing how professionals and volunteers interact with grieving people and those who have experienced trauma.
– Liz Gleeson
“We don't get over grief, we grow around grief. We learn to accommodate it, to adapt to it. Profound loss can change us, forever.”
Foundation Course Overview
Course Topics
Theories and Models of Grief and Loss
01
Who needs Grief Therapy?
02
An Introduction to Loss and Grief
03
The Art of Listening
04
Burnout and Self-Compassion for Caregivers
05
Ethical Practice in Grief Counseling
06
Understanding and Supporting Displaced People
07
Narrative Therapy & Meaning Making - with Dr. Robert Neimeyer
08
Dying, Death and Grief - with Dr. Irvin Yalom
09
Ambiguous Loss - with Dr. Pauline Boss
10
Continuing Bonds - with Dr. Denis Klass
11
Disenfranchised Grief - with Dr. Kenneth Doka
12
& More…
Learning Outcomes
Whether you need these skills in your current role or want training to help you grow your career, this course provides essential tools and knowledge for your professional growth. It also fosters and develops personal insights and provides strategies to address burnout and compassion fatigue.
Do you ever feel unsure or uncomfortable when supporting someone in deep grief?
☑️ This course will give you the tools and confidence you need to provide genuine, meaningful support.
Struggle to find the right words in emotionally charged moments?
☑️ You’ll learn empathetic communication techniques that help you connect and comfort with confidence and ease.
Afraid of saying the wrong thing or making it worse?
☑️ This training gives you clear, actionable guidelines to step in with confidence, knowing you’re making a positive impact.
Feel like your understanding of grief is limited?
☑️ Grief is complex, and this course deepens your knowledge, helping you recognize and support a range of grief experiences, including prolonged grief.
Worried about emotional burnout from supporting the bereaved?
☑️ Learn how to protect your emotional well-being while still offering compassionate, effective care.
Course Contributors
Dr. Irvin Yalom, Psychiatrist, Psychotherapist & Author
Dr. Margaret Stroebe, Professor & Clinical Psychologist
Dr. Robert Niemeyer, Clinician, Academic & Author
Dr. Susan Delaney, Clinical Psychologist
Dr. Katrin Gerber, Research Psychologist
Dr. Kathryn Mannix, Palliative Care Consultant & Author
Dr. Linda Machin, Author & Grief Researcher
Dr. George Bonanno, Clinical Psychologist, Researcher & Author
Liz Gleeson, Psychotherapist & Grief Specialist
Dr. Mekel Harris, Pediatric & Family Health Psychologist
Dr. Diana Sands, Director of the Bereaved by Suicide Centre for Intense Grief
Dr. Colin Murray Parkes, Psychiatrist, Researcher & Author (Now deceased)
Dr. Kenneth Doka, Professor of Gerontology & Author
Dr. Denis Klass, Professor Emeritus, Clinical Psychologist & Author
Dr. Pauline Boss, Professor Emeritus, Family Psychologist, Family Therapist & Author
& More…
Pricing Options
Purchase Grief and Loss Foundation Certificate
*Price dependent on the daily exchange rateIndividual
€177 ≈ $198*
Purchase Includes:
6 Months unlimited access to all content
Foundation Certificate in Grief and Loss
Eligibility for 16 CPD hours
*Discounts based on number of participantsOrganization
Request Quote*
Advantages:
Become a grief-literate organization today
Prevent burnout, improve retention and wellbeing
Provide new skills, training and development
Purchase for Your Organization
Our programme is available to purchase for groups within your organization. Many organizations choose to become grief-literate by offering foundational grief & loss training to their staff, particularly hospices, hospitals, clinics, medical centers and other healthcare settings. The need for employees and volunteers working with foundations, nonprofits, and government entities to help relieve the suffering of others and address their own feelings of hopelessness, despair, and burnout has never been greater. Psychologists, chaplains, first responders, volunteers, mental health professionals and also non-clinical staff have found this programme to be invaluable.
If you would like to become a grief-literate organization by purchasing multiple subscriptions, please contact our office on info@shapesofgrief.com and we will be delighted to assist you today.
“As a professional therapist, I am grateful that this course exists. This course explores in-depth, the many many shapes of grief that we all may face professionally and personally. It is academically strong and the content is so relatable. I have recommended it to many colleagues and will continue to do so.”
– Mary, Cancer Care Employee, Ireland
“I learnt so much to apply in my personal and professional life, and saw many connections between the deep expertise and the needs of the corporate world, as the magnitude of change people are navigating in their personal and professional lives continues to grow and accelerate, sometimes bringing with it experiences of grief. I was thrilled to have an opportunity to share the value I was gaining through my conversations with Liz with a broader audience as part of our leadership development program in eBay and enhance our ability as leaders to connect with and support ourselves and others in the workplace while juggling the complexity of our emotions, experiences and at times, the overwhelm to show up at our best.”
– Adrienne Pesseller, Ebay, USA
“Our organization has run a number of Dealing with Grief webinars with Liz. Each occasion has been an incredibly insightful and impactful experience. Liz approaches this sensitive topic with the utmost compassion, expertise, and professionalism. Throughout the sessions, Liz demonstrated a profound understanding of the grieving process, offering practical strategies and empathetic support to help participants navigate their own journeys. Her ability to create a safe and inclusive environment encouraged open discussion and allowed attendees to share their experiences and feelings without judgment. What stood out most was Liz’s genuine empathy and dedication to helping others. They seamlessly blended evidence-based practices with heartfelt personal anecdotes, making the content both relatable and actionable. The resources and techniques provided were invaluable and have already made a positive difference in my approach to dealing with grief. I highly recommend Liz for her exceptional ability to handle such a delicate subject with care and expertise. Their webinar not only provided clarity and comfort but also empowered participants to take meaningful steps towards healing.”
– William Flynn, Irish Health & Safety Authority, Ireland
“Shapes of Grief, the online grief training program, is put together by Grief Specialist Liz Gleeson with a lot of thought and passion. The topics are selected and organized in a way that offers a holistic understanding of grief. I am a psychotherapist with experience in grief and I highly recommend this course.”
– Salma Mahmoud, Psychotherapist, Egypt
“The Shapes of Grief course is honestly more than just a worthwhile CPD experience.
The quality of the content, the depth of the topics covered, the wealth of material and the emotional integrity at the center of all of the modules - it is a course that has deepened my knowledge of grief and the grieving process.”
– Mary Kate Kelly, Psychotherapist, Ireland
Additional Shapes of Grief Courses
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The Intermediate Certificate course is for professionals and volunteers who need additional knowledge and skills to support people who may need bereavement support, especially those who regularly work alongside those who are grieving. It builds on theknowledge acquired in the Foundation Course by delving deeperinto types of loss and types of grief. You will also gain specific tools to deepen your understanding of how an individuals’ life experiences and personal circumstances may shape how they grieve.
Topics Include:Ambiguous Loss
Disenfranchised Grief
Anticipatory Grief
Black Grief
Grief and Older People
LGBTQ+ Grief
Parental Bereavement
Perinatal Loss Introduction
Loss by Suicide
Sibling Loss
Separation & Divorce
Contributors: -
The Advanced Certificate builds on and supports the skills achieved in the Foundation and Intermediate courses, and is designed for students, accredited mental health practitioners and other healthcare professionals who are looking to become much more competent supporting the bereaved in clinical practice. This course will equip you to support people with complex and intense needs following loss, through psycho-education and clinical tools.
Topics Include:Pain & Choice in Grief
How Grief Manifests in the Body
Creating a Resilience Cloak
Polyvagal Theory in Clinical Practice
Clinical Interventions: AAG Scale & RRL Model
Grief Counseling & Grief Therapy
Traumatic Loss & Traumatic Grief
Communicating around Dying & Death
When a Child is Terminally ill
Supporting a Tender Death
Death Denial in Clinical Practice
Contributors: -
This course is for qualified and accredited Mental Health Practitioners who want to be able to identify Prolonged Grief Disorder (formerly complicated grief) along with an introduction to Prolonged Grief Disorder Therapy, an evidence-based treatment for Prolonged Grief Disorder.
Topics Covered:PGD & Prolonged Grief Therapy
Prolonged Grief Disorder
Prolonged Grief Therapy and Treatment - 2 parts
James' Story of Prolonged Grief
Fiona's Story of Prolonged Grief
Contributors: -
Our Comprehensive grief training programme encompasses the complete content of each of the four individual courses. Successful completion of all four levels results in eligibility for the Comprehensive Professional Certificate in Loss and Grief.
Learn About Comprehensive Professional Certificate in Loss and Grief
Frequently Asked Questions
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This is the most comprehensive online Grief Training programme of its kind. The programme contributors are the most respected and accomplished grief experts in the world, with decades of clinical practice and research behind them.
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You can take your time doing the course and complete it at your own pace, but within six months of purchase. After six months, you may renew your subscription for a much-reduced cost. You will be sent an email inviting you to renew, but you will not be automatically re-subscribed or charged.
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After taking this foundation course, you will become grief-literate and grief-informed. After this initial training, you may become grief-trained to intermediate level, or advanced level, UK bereavement standards recommend that anyone planning to professionally support people who are grieving or bereaved undertake at least 30 hours of grief training or education beforehand. This course adheres to UK bereavement standard recommendations by offering 40 hours+ of evidence-based learning.
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To obtain your CPD points, after each level, you must complete a multiple choice quiz. When you get 80% or above correct, you will be able to download a certificate of completion for that level, indicating the learning hours completed. If you successfully complete all quizzes, you have earned a Professional Certificate in loss and grief.
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No. Unless you are already a qualified and accredited counsellor or psychotherapist, this course will not give you that qualification. If you want to become a counsellor, you must do a counselling course. If you are already a counsellor, this training will allow you to say "Grief-Trained Counsellor", "Grief-Literate Psychotherapist" or "Grief-Aware Psychotherapist", etc.
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No. Anybody can do this course. It is presented in an understandable and accessible way. If you are grieving and you want to understand the landscape of loss, this course will help you.
Our Learners Come From All Walks of Life
Grief & Loss Training Hub
Purchase Level 1: Foundation Certificate in Grief and Loss
Foundational knowledge is a key stepping stone for those wishing to further their studies in grief counseling or related fields.
Upon completion of this course, participants will receive a Foundation Certificate acknowledging their understanding of grief and loss, which can be a valuable addition to professional credentials.
