Understanding Complicated Grief

Complicated grief is characterized by a yearning for a lost loved one so intense and persistent that it disrupts a person’s daily functioning for a prolonged period of time. It occurs in 7-10% of bereaved people. This half-day interactive class will help you identify and understand the experiences and factors that might complicate the grieving process and know what to do when you encounter a person suffering with something more complex than grief. It will also help you track your own reaction to someone struggling with these potential complications, and develop tools and skills for managing yourself.

For those who have taken our primary course “Understanding Loss and Grief”, the question may remain, Is there a time when listening well, bearing witness without judgment, and allowing the grieving person their natural process is not enough?

This half-day interactive class will help you identify and understand the experiences and factors that might complicate the grieving process and know what to do when you encounter a person suffering with something more complex than grief. It will also help you track your own reaction to someone struggling with these potential complications, and develop toolsand skills for managing yourself.

Topics Include:

  • The difference between grief and grieving.
  • Understanding the types of rumination that are common stumbling blocks for those who are grieving.
  • What it might mean when someone is experiencing complicated grief.
  • What questions might change the conversation to soothe one’s own

Teaching Staff:

Mary-Frances O’Connor, PhD Clinical Psychologist

As Associate Professor and Director of Clinical Training at the University of Arizona Psychology Department, Dr. O’Connor teaches courses on death and loss, and directs the Grief, Loss and Social Stress (GLASS) lab, which conducts research on grief, including difficulty adapting following the death of a loved one, and the medical consequences of acute and chronic grief in the immune and cardiovascular systems.

Brian J Arizmendi, PhD Clinical Psychologist

Unlike many generalists, Dr. Arizmendi focuses on a select few specialties to provide the most up-to-date and scientifically supported approaches. Practice specialties include: unremitting grief (A.K.A complicated or prolonged grief), and navigating difficulties coping with chronic medical illness. Dr. Arizmendi has specialized training in the treatment of complicated grief, and as a trained health psychologist, has extensive experience in helping individuals and families cope with chronic medical illnesses. To learn more: www.drbrianarizmendi.com

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Registration Form

Understanding Complicated Grief Registration Form
Price: $35.00
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Please Note: This is an interactive educational course which means there will be a combination of lecture and conversation. It is not a support group but rather a classroom. Having said this, we will be talking about loss and grief, so we expect that tears and feelings of vulnerability may arise. This is normal and healthy. However if you have had a very recent significant loss and find yourself in the depth of grief, this may not be the setting for you at this time of your journey. If you wish to talk with someone about this in order to make a decision, contact us at info@tlcforgrief.org We will set up a time to talk with you.