Understanding Grief: A Journey Through the Decades 

A Comprehensive Asynchronous Course for Grief Support Professionals

Are you supporting bereaved individuals and wondering which grief framework best fits experience? Do you find yourself relying on outdated stage models while sensing there must be more nuanced approaches? This comprehensive course provides the knowledge you need.

Expand your Toolkit with six decades of Grief Theory
Journey from Elisabeth Kübler-Ross's revolutionary 1969 stage model through to contemporary neuroscience of Mary-Frances O'Connor, discovering how our understanding of grief has transformed. You'll develop a nuanced toolkit for recognising different grief patterns—whether someone maintains strong connections with the deceased, oscillates between confronting and avoiding loss, or experiences their grief shifting as life expands around it. Most significantly, you'll explore cutting-edge neuroscience showing how grief physically reshapes our cardiovascular, immune, and nervous systems, transforming how you understand grief's devastating exhaustion and physical impact.

What you'll learn
Kübler-Ross's Five Stages: Understanding the model's original context (terminally ill patients, not bereaved people), its cultural impact, and its limitations
Growing Around Grief: Lois Tonkin's powerful visual model showing how grief doesn't shrink but life grows around it
Dual Process Model: Stroebe and Schut's framework for understanding oscillation between loss-oriented and restoration-oriented coping
Continuing Bonds: Moving beyond "letting go" to understand healthy ongoing connections with the deceased
Worden's Four Tasks of Mourning: Active processes grieving people undertake rather than passive stages they experience
The Grieving Brain & Body: Dr. Mary-Frances O'Connor's neuroscience perspective on grief as learned experience and physiological disruption

Who should attend
Perfect for bereavement coordinators, grief support facilitators, counsellors, chaplains, palliative care teams, funeral celebrants, support workers, trained listeners, pastoral care providers, and anyone supporting bereaved individuals professionally.

Fully Asynchronous Format
Seven self-paced modules designed for deep learning and immediate practical application. Complete the entire course at your own pace—whether that's one week or three months. 5 year access means you can revisit materials whenever you need a refresher.

What makes this Course different
Rather than promoting one "correct" model, you'll develop the discernment to recognise which framework illuminates each unique grief experience. Understanding the historical context and evolution of grief theories will help you support bereaved people with nuance, flexibility, and evidence-informed compassion.

Expert Development
Created by Dr Linda J Dunbar, Spiritual Care educator within NHS Education for Scotland, postgraduate trained educator (Edinburgh University), with 30 years of pastoral and grief support experience. Senior Accredited Supervisor with APSE, Registered Healthcare Chaplain, combining 8 years of online training delivery with 20+ years of designing and delivering training within the caring field.

Investment in your Professional Development
Course Fee: £100 - Includes all seven modules, downloadable resources, reflective exercises, certificate of completion, and 5-year access to materials.

Click below to register your interest in this course: 

LSShetland - Understanding Grief A journey through the decades - Note of Interest