Level 1 Certification in

Grief Therapy

This program serves as an introduction to the tripartite model of meaning reconstruction as an overarching framework for understanding and addressing grief, and essential approaches to facilitate grievers’ sense-making of the event story of the loss, realignment of the back story of relationship, and rewriting the personal story of self

Grief therapy isn’t just about helping someone mourn a loss but also about aiding in the reconstruction of meaning, healing attachment wounds, and fostering resilience in the face of profound change.  Portland Institute is dedicated to offer our Level 1 Certification Program in Grief Therapy, an introductory training course using the Tripartite Model of Meaning Reconstruction as an overarching framework for understanding and addressing grief, and integrating various approaches to enhance therapeutic effectiveness.  

Grief is a multifaceted experience and, while most grievers go through a healing process that leads to adjustment, some may experience complicated or prolonged grief.  This foundational certification program review recently established diagnostic criteria for prolonged grief and various validated screening measures for assessment.  Going beyond identifying mourners who suffer from prolonged grief, learners will learn essential concepts and useful intervention strategies to practise a comprehensive therapy approach that facilitates grievers’ sense-making of the event story of the loss, realignment of the back story of relationship, and rewriting the personal story of self.

This certification program is suitable for anyone who is interested in learning more about meaning reconstruction framework and wanting to be equipped with fundamental understanding of grief and loss and the relevant intervention approaches to support grievers in the aftermath of a significant loss in life.  It serves as a foundational course for Level 2 Certification Programs with different specialties.  Join us in this meaningful quest as we examine the complexities of grief and strive to become a better companion for others in the dark moments of their lives.

8 Lessons Required:

Fee Structure

  1. Enrollment Fee: USD $100
  2. Component Pricing: 
    • All required lessons may be delivered either in (a) convenient Live Online Training or Recorded Training modules of 3 hours each or (b) single or multi-day Onsite workshops, training institutes or retreat.
    • Online training modules are a uniform USD$99 each, whereas the cost of Onsite training is established with PI’s various partner organization around the world and therefore varies somewhat in pricing depending on local economic conditions, costs of facilities etc.
  3. The overall cost of certification may range $900-1,100 (excluding the cost of travel and accommodation in the case of Onsite training)

certifications

OTHER CERTIFICATION COURSES

frequently asked questions

Do I need to travel to Portland, Oregon, to take training with the Portland Institute?

By no means.  Although PI organizes major training events in its home city, it also sponsors training in every major world region, and you can choose workshops in the location or locations that work for you.  And of course online training modules are available anywhere, at any time.

Absolutely.  You can participate in any component of PI training simply as a professional continuing education experience, without pursuing certification.

Yes.  Payment of the Enrollment Fee is required to establish you as a Certification learner, and to set up a personal Progress Tracker to help you monitor completed requirements toward certification. If you decide to pursue multiple Certification tracks sequentially or simultaneously, Enrollment is required separately for each.

No.  You can take nearly any course or module you wish, in any order, with the exception of a few Practicum Studio modules that presume completion of a specified Techniques Module as a prerequisite.  Although many learners find the Core Courses a logical and helpful place to begin regardless of the Certification Track they are pursuing, others prefer a different path through the curriculum.

That depends on your preferences and priorities. Because Onsite courses are offered at numerous locations throughout the world annually, and online components can be completed at your own pace, in most cases, certification can be completed in as little as one year. Onsite training series offer multi-day workshops that deliver all the necessary components over a series of 6-8 days, which may be offered in close succession, or in blocks of 2- to 4-day workshops at different times of the year, depending on the agreement with PI’s partner organizations.
Certainly. Many learners find it valuable to add more modules of training to consolidate their skills. PI welcomes your registration for as many workshops and online modules as you like. Similarly, the timing of the completion of each set of online modules is flexible, and can be negotiated with your assigned Faculty, if any.
No. Meaning Reconstruction is seminal to adaptation following all sorts of loss, be it death or non-death related, visible or invisible, evident or ambiguous. The Mentoring, Practicum Studio, and Session Evaluation components can focus on therapy for any loss or unwelcome transition, not only on bereavement per se.
No problem. A spontaneous role play with another learner could be substituted, as it still allows you to demonstrate your skills in conducting grief therapy.
No, there is currently no legal recognition of grief therapy as a profession in the USA or abroad. Practitioners must be appropriately trained and credentialed in their relevant disciplines (e.g. psychology, counseling, social work, nursing, medicine) for the services they provide. However, the respective Certification Programs can enhance the provider’s skill base and specialization, just as certification does in other areas (e.g. trauma work, family systems).
Yes. You can participate in any form of Onsite and online training you wish, and also be certified even before completing your degree. But you must be an appropriately credentialed (licensed or registered) healthcare provider in your discipline to be listed in the Portland Institute’s Global Provider Network.

Continuing Education Questions

Does PI Onsite training meet CE requirements for my professional board or discipline?

That depends on the specific training event of interest, as well as your professional discipline.  Just see pages devoted to the specific events on the PI site for the relevant details.

Not at the present time.  All of our Onsite events routinely carry APA CE approval, but APA does not directly certify programs that it does not own or co-own.  So, you would need to check with your state board about its CE status, as many states have Category 2 credits or a similar designation that readily confer credit for high quality training even when it does not carry the APA imprimatur.

Testimonials

We’re here to support you through your journey of understanding and growth.