What Do I Do With This Grieving Client?
Do you have a grieving client and are unsure what to do next?
You’re not alone.
More than 60% of mental health professionals report having no formal education in grief and loss during their undergrad or graduate training. And yet, grief shows up every day in our clinical work, whether named or not.
A client may come in after the death of a loved one, saying things like:
“I feel like I’m in a fog.”
“Everyone keeps telling me I should be over this by now.”
“I’m scared someone else is going to die.”
“I can’t concentrate at work. I feel like I’m falling apart.”
You listen. You empathize. You want to help. But if you’re being honest, you may also be wondering:
What diagnosis do I use?
Is this normal grief, traumatic grief, or something else?
What goals do I write in the treatment plan?
How long should I be “just holding space”?
What’s my next clinical step?
Grief Deserves More Than Silence and Guesswork
We don’t hesitate to develop case conceptualizations for anxiety, depression, PTSD, or trauma, but when it comes to grief, we often freeze.
Why?
Because most of us weren’t trained to treat grief as a dynamic process that can be understood, assessed, and supported with intention.
Instead, we were told, “Everyone grieves differently” or handed a stage-based model that doesn’t reflect the realities of client experience. This leaves too many clinicians unsure how to proceed and too many clients without the targeted support they deserve.
It’s Time to Feel More Confident in Your Grief Work
I created Grief Case Conceptualization: From Intake to Treatment, a training designed to help therapists move beyond vague support and toward a clear, structured understanding of how grief impacts clients across domains.
We’ll cover how to:
Recognize key grief reactions without pathologizing
Differentiate between normal grief, prolonged grief, and other mental health conditions, and recognize the factors that contribute to the intensity of grief responses.
Develop treatment plans that actually guide the work.
Feel grounded in your role, so you’re not just “holding space,” you’re helping clients move forward purposefully.
If You’ve Ever Wondered, “Am I Doing Enough?” This Training Is for You.
Grief is common. That doesn’t mean it’s simple.
Join me for Grief Case Conceptualization: From Intake to Treatment and walk away with a deeper understanding of grief and a clear roadmap for the work you’re already doing.
Reserve your spot now and feel more equipped to support grieving clients confidently Register at: https://erenadigonis.ce-go.com/live-event/grief-case-conceptualization-from-intake-to-treatment
