Course Description

    When Grief Persists: Clinical Assessment and Treatment of Prolonged Grief Disorder is designed for mental health professionals seeking clinical competence in the assessment and treatment of Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD). Recent inclusion of PGD in the DSM-5-TR and ICD-11 has transformed grief from a solely normative life experience into a condition requiring careful diagnostic, ethical, and therapeutic consideration. This course provides a comprehensive, evidence-based framework for distinguishing uncomplicated grief from PGD while avoiding both under-recognition and over-pathologization of bereavement.

    Participants will examine contemporary models of grief, epidemiology and public health impact, diagnostic criteria across classification systems, and empirically supported assessment tools. Evidence-based psychotherapies, including Complicated Grief Treatment and grief-focused cognitive behavioral therapy, are reviewed alongside supportive care strategies for uncomplicated grief. Ethical, cultural, and developmental considerations are woven throughout to promote culturally responsive, person-centered practice. By the conclusion of this course, clinicians will be equipped to assess, diagnose, and treat prolonged grief with clinical precision, ethical integrity, and compassionate care grounded in current research. This is an NBCC and Florida Board Approved course for three continuing education hours.

Please review the course materials prior to purchasing the course. Often, individuals will print a copy of the course worksheet to complete while they view the course material. Once you are ready to complete the course, please enroll in the course and complete the course requirements, including the course post-test and course survey. You will receive your certificate automatically for printing or downloading after achieving an 85% or higher on the post-test and completing the course survey. 

When Grief Persists Clinical Assessment and Treatment of Prolonged Grief Disorder Course Text.pdf

When Grief Persists-Clinical Assessment and Treatment of Prolonged Grief Disorder Course Worksheet.pdf

Course Author:  Bryan Glazier, PhD, LMFT, LMHC,, FL Qualified MHC/MFT Supervisor 

Course Time/Location: 3 CE Hours, Location: www.directceu.com (web-based, asynchronous/home study) 

Course Text: When Grief Persists: Clinical Assessment and Treatment of Prolonged Grief Disorder

Course Board Approval Statement(s): NBCC, Florida Board Approved

Directceu, llc has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7411. directceu, llc maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

directceu, llc (BAP # 50-17578) is approved by the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, and Mental Health Counseling. directceu, llc maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

 Financial Disclosure Statement

directceu, llc is committed to providing our professional colleagues with unbiased information. directceu does not accept commercial support and our course authors have no significant financial interests or other conflicts of interest pertaining to the material.

Learning Objectives:

Through the completion of this course, participants will be able to:

  1. Differentiate uncomplicated grief from Prolonged Grief Disorder using DSM-5-TR and ICD-11 criteria.
  2. Identify key risk factors, protective factors, and grief trajectories associated with PGD.
  3. Apply validated assessment tools and structured clinical interviews to evaluate prolonged grief symptoms.
  4. Formulate grief cases using attachment-based, cognitive-behavioral, and dual-process frameworks.
  5. Select evidence-based psychotherapeutic interventions appropriate for PGD and uncomplicated grief.
  6. Integrate ethical, cultural, and developmental considerations into grief assessment and treatment planning.

Course Syllabus:

I. Foundations of Grief and Bereavement

  • Definitions of bereavement, grief, and mourning
  • Contemporary theoretical models of grief

II. Prolonged Grief Disorder: Diagnosis and Epidemiology

  • DSM-5-TR and ICD-11 criteria
  • Prevalence, public health burden, and comorbidity

III. Risk Factors and Grief Trajectories

  • Attachment, loss characteristics, and contextual influences
  • Resilience, protective factors, and longitudinal patterns

IV. Assessment and Case Formulation

  • Screening instruments and diagnostic interviews
  • Differential diagnosis and culturally responsive assessment

V. Clinical Management and Treatment

  • Supportive care for uncomplicated grief
  • Evidence-based psychotherapies for PGD

VI. Ethical and Professional Considerations

  • Avoiding over-pathologization
  • Cultural humility, documentation, and clinical decision-making