Speaking the Unimaginable: The Importance of Grief Work in Clinical Practice
- Average Rating:
- Not yet rated
- Faculty:
- David Kessler, MA, RN, FACHE
- Duration:
- 1 Hour
- Format:
- Audio and Video
- Copyright:
-
Jul 31, 2025
- Product Code:
- POS150299
- Media Type:
- Digital Seminar
Description
In a culture that prioritizes moving forward, grief remains an unspoken challenge for many. Therapists and counselors are often the only ones holding space for loss’s slow, nonlinear nature. Join renowned grief expert David Kessler for this powerful training to deepen your skills in guiding clients through grief with compassion and effectiveness.
- Society urges the grieving to “move on,” but healing requires slowing down – learning how to support this process.
- Discover the most common mistakes therapists make when working with grief and how to avoid them.
- Unpack the hidden grief your clients may not even recognize – and why it matters.
- Understand why grief is not just about death – and how loss shows up in unexpected ways.
- Support changes of identity. Loss often reshapes a person’s sense of self, roles, and future. Clinicians can help clients navigate identity reconstruction after grief.
Credit
Handouts
| File type | File name | Number of pages | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transcript (123.7 KB) | 12 Pages | Available after Purchase | |
| Transcript - French (123.7 KB) | 12 Pages | Available after Purchase | |
| Transcript - Italian (123.7 KB) | 12 Pages | Available after Purchase | |
| Transcript - German (123.7 KB) | 12 Pages | Available after Purchase | |
| Transcript - Spanish (123.7 KB) | 12 Pages | Available after Purchase |
Faculty
David Kessler, MA, RN, FACHE Related seminars and products
David Kessler is one of the world’s foremost experts on grief and loss. His experience with thousands of people on the edge of life and death has taught him the secrets to living a happy and fulfilled life, even after life’s tragedies.
He is the author of six books, including his latest bestselling book, Finding Meaning: The Sixth Stage of Grief. He co-authored two books with Elisabeth Kubler Ross, Life Lessons and On Grief and Grieving, updating her 5 stages for grief. He also co-wrote, You Can Heal Your Heart with Louise Hay. He authored Visions Trips and Crowded Rooms: Who and What You See Before You Die. His first book, The Needs of The Dying received praise from Saint (Mother) Teresa.
David’s personal experience as a child witnessing a mass shooting while his mother was dying in a hospital helped him begin his journey. For most of his life, David has taught physicians, nurses, counselors, police, and first responders about the end of life, trauma, and grief. However, despite his vast knowledge of grief, his life was turned upside down by the sudden death of his twenty-one-year-old son.
David’s volunteer work includes being a founding member of Project Angel Food, a well-known and loved non-profit organization. He currently serves on the board of The Farrah Fawcett Foundation which provides cancer research, patient assistance, and prevention efforts. He also serves as Specialist Reserve for the Los Angeles Police as well as having served on the Red Cross’s disaster services team.
He has a new online model of grief support called Tender Hearts with over 25 groups each as well as one of the most respected Grief Certification programs. He is the founder of www.grief.com, which receives millions of visits yearly providing helpful resources to over 167 countries.
Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: David Kessler is the co‑founder and President Emeritus of Project Angel Food. He maintains employment relationships with HSBC – London and Tender Hearts Grief Support Group. He is a published author and receives royalties from his publications, as well as compensation for his work as a lecturer. In addition, David Kessler receives speaking honoraria and recording and book royalties from Psychotherapy Networker and PESI, Inc. He has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: David Kessler has no relevant non-financial relationships.
Additional Info
Access for Self-Study (Non-Interactive)Access never expires for this product.
For a more detailed outline that includes times or durations of time, if needed, please contact cepesi@pesi.com
Questions?
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Objectives
After this presentation, participants will be able to:- Recognize the societal pressures that push grievers to “move on” and how to counteract these narratives in therapy.
- Utilize strategies to help clients sit with the discomfort of grief rather than rush through it and improve treatment outcomes.
- Examine ways to make meaning after a loss without minimizing client's pain or rushing the process.
Outline
- Reframing the Need for Speed – Helping clients understand why healing takes time
- The Power of Witnessing – How to validate and reflect on their experience without trying to fix it
- Navigating the Pressure to ‘Move On’ – Addressing external and internalized expectations
- Building Capacity for Discomfort – Guiding clients in tolerating and embracing grief’s slow unfolding
Target Audience
- Counselors
- Marriage and Family Therapists
- Social Workers
- Physicians
- Psychologists
- Addiction Counselors
Reviews
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