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ACT for grief

Building acceptance and using values in the face of loss

3 hours
3 CE credits
Intermediate
Recording available for 6 months
Psychologists, mental health professionals, counsellors, therapists

If we are fortunate enough to experience love in our lives – be it for a partner, a parent, a child, or a pet – then it is likely that we will eventually encounter loss and the accompanying pain. This process is universal and entirely natural. Cultures across time have recognised that compassion, companionship, rituals, and practical assistance play crucial roles in coping with such challenges.

Some individuals may find themselves ‘stuck’ in grief, where the intensity persists for months or even years, hindering their ability to re-engage with significant aspects of their lives.

Those experiencing prolonged grief often require additional support to help them reconstruct a fulfilling life despite loss. Various established forms of professional assistance are available, whether during the initial stages of grief or when long-term challenges arise.

ACT is a powerful model for working with grief and the combination of active acceptance, and a values driven stance creates a healing therapeutic context. However, key questions still arise when using ACT with grief:

  • How do I deal with intense outpouring of emotions in an ACT consistent way?
  • How do I manage fusion with popular grief myths?
  • When should I encourage committed actions in relation to grief?
  • What do I do when the client can’t let go of their grief?

What you will gain from this workshop

Our speaker, Dr. Ray Owen, is the acclaimed author of the award-winning book “Living with the Enemy,” and a consultant clinical health psychologist with more than 30 years of expertise in cancer, end-of-life care, and chronic illness. Throughout his career, he has worked closely with grieving individuals, bringing forth a wealth of skills and experience that will be invaluable during this training event.

This workshop promises to be not only profound and heartfelt but also intensely practical, equipping you with the tools to effectively support your clients as they navigate their grief journey in a healthy and constructive manner.

In this 3-hour workshop you will learn:

  • How to utilise active acceptance and defusion to facilitate the progression of grief
  • Methods to address anticipatory grief effectively
  • When and how to apply specific ‘grief tools’ like letters to the deceased or memory boxes
  • Techniques for identifying and addressing grief related to various events such as job loss, unexpected outcomes like miscarriage, or when a child is born with a significant disability
  • Approaches for working with individuals who are not yet prepared or resistant to moving forward
  • Strategies for accommodating clients’ religious beliefs
  • Tactics for managing common grief-related emotions, such as heightened expression or emotional detachment
  • Methods for helping clients skilfully navigate intense pain both during and outside of sessions

Who will benefit from this workshop?

Meant for practitioners who have already had basic introductory training in ACT, we recommend this workshop for all mental health professionals including psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, nurse practitioners, coaches, therapists, counsellors, GPs, youth workers, and OTs.

Feedback from previous attendees

“Excellent and very valuable. It’s so nice to have so much talk of palliative setting as there are so few courses which focus on this. Thanks so much”

Nikki, Palliative care physiotherapist

“It was friendly and accessible – not always easy to achieve in the online format.”

Dr Brett Grellier, counselling psychologist.

“Inspiring and instructive”

John Foran, chartered psychologist (Ps.S.I.)

Group booking discounts

Contextual Consulting offer discounts for groups of people from the same organisation e.g. an NHS Trust that does not have a contract arrangement with us.

Please email us here  to arrange a group discount or find out more about our CPD contracts here.

At the end of the workshop you will be able to : 

-            Apply your knowledge of ACT to a wide range problems arising in grief 

-            Use language in a way that is sympathetic but not avoidant 

-            Treat in-session grief distress as a valuable vehicle for support, rather than a barrier to it 

-            Balance the need for adjustment and change with honouring the pain of loss 

-            Judge when grief-specific tools are more or less appropriate 

APA psychologists: This program is sponsored by Contextual Consulting and is approved for 3 CE credits for psychologists. 

Nationally certified counselors: This workshop is available for 3 credit hours. Contextual Consulting Ltd. has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7578. 

To find out more, including attendance requirements and how to access your certificate, go to our continuing education information page

If you have disability and require adjustments or accommodation, please email us at to discuss your needs and we will do our best to help you.

Booking cancellation 

The registration fee will be refunded minus a administration charge if cancellations are received at least two weeks before the workshop date.

Cancellations within two weeks of the event date are charged the full registration fee, other than in exceptional circumstances that can be verified.

Event cancellation 
In the event of cancellation of the course outside of our control we will not be held accountable for travel and/or accommodation costs incurred. However, the workshop fees will be refunded.

All workshops will be subject to minimum delegate numbers being met; in the event that a workshop should be cancelled delegates will be given no less than 2 months’ notice.

Replacing delegates

If a delegate is unable to attend and a replacement is nominated there may be a charge depending on the individual circumstances, this will be advised at the time. Please contact the us to request a replacement of delegates at least a week before the workshop date.

Contextual Consulting is committed to the identification and resolution of potential conflicts of interest in the planning, promotion, delivery, and evaluation of continuing education. Potential conflicts of interest occur when an individual assumes a professional role in the planning, promotion, delivery, or evaluation of continuing education where personal, professional, legal, financial, or other interests could reasonably be expected to impair their objectivity, competence, or effectiveness.

There was no commercial support for this event. None of the planners or presenters for this educational activity have relevant financial relationship(s) to disclose with ineligible companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients.

Owen, R. (2023). Facing the Storm: Using CBT, Mindfulness and Acceptance to Build Resilience When Your World’s about to Fall Apart. 2nd ed. Taylor & Francis Ltd 

Gross, R. D. (2018). The psychology of grief. Routledge 

ACT for grief
1st Apr 2025
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM (New York time) change timezone
$64.00 (+ VAT if applicable). Early-bird rate valid until 31st Jan 2025 and then the normal price of US$80.00 + VAT will apply.
Student price US$40.00   Select:

FAQs

To find out more, including attendance requirements and how to access your certificate, go to our continuing education information page.

To access this workshop you will need a stable internet connection and a set of smart phone ear buds with built in microphone. Your internet speed should be a minimum of 1.5mbs  DOWNLOAD & UPLOAD. You can check that here at www.speedtest.net

We will have dedicated technicians on hand throughout the entire duration of the workshop. They will be there to help you manage any issues that may come up and get you back in to the workshop again. Also, if you think there may be a problem, be it with your work access or anything else, you can log in early to check if things are working for you, and be prepared. There may of course be technical issues that come up on your end, which will be your responsibility to look after. But these are rare and we have an extra handy troubleshooting guide that comes with tips and tricks to deal with any problems.

Yes! As long as you have access to a web browser and you’re connected to the internet, you will be able to attend. It’s that simple – all you need to do is go to the webpage link, login and you’re set to go. You can join the workshop on any device including your home computer or iPad. You can even join in using your smart phone.

Yes, we have a special portal in the system to allow you to connect with other participants joining via the workshop.

You just need a computer (PC or Mac), laptop or tablet that can access the internet. You need a good broadband speed that would allow you to comfortably stream a movie (such as a video on YouTube).

Yes, a video of the presentation will be available to you for up to 6 months after the workshop is finished.  You’ll be able to go back over any part of the workshop to review or check anything that you missed. You also don’t actually have to attend the live workshop – if you’re not able to make it on the actual date, you can still login afterwards and watch the recorded version.

Yes, you will receive a CPD certificate.

Absolutely. You will be able to ask the presenter questions, just as you would in any workshop. You’ll also have the extra benefit of being able to interact with other colleagues who have also joined the workshop.

It’s super simple. All you need to do is follow a link that you will be provided prior to the course, along with instructions.

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