You will never again have to wonder what more you could have done
for someone suffering from a significant emotional loss

The Grief Recovery Method Certification Training is a unique programme designed specifically to assist you to help those with broken hearts retake a productive place in the mainstream of their lives.

It encompasses the principles and actions developed over the past 30 years by John W. James and Russell Friedman, the founders of The Grief Recovery Institute®, and co-authors of The Grief Recovery® Handbook and When Children Grieve.

Whether you are already working in a caring profession or simply wish to help grievers in your community this is the programme for you.

Grief is Not an Intellectual Problem

The uniqueness of the programme lies in the essential idea that grief is the normal and natural emotional reaction to loss. However despite grief being an emotional issue most of the advice out there for grievers is aimed at their intellects rather than their hearts.

Learn through Personal Experience

The programme combines both discussion and experiential components. A vital part of the programme is that you experience the Grief Recovery Method for yourself.

Help Others Immediately

As soon as you have completed the programme you will have all the tools you need to help grievers in a group format or on a one –one basis. While it isn’t possible to become expert in 4 days you will have the skills, lesson materials and support you need to be successful. In addition to the Group programme and One to One formats you’ll also be qualified to run a group for adults designed to teach them how to help their children deal with loss.

These formats aren’t support groups or drop in facilities they are structured lessons in the Grief Recovery Method, support from us is available for as long as you need it – for no extra charge – ever.

We Will Refer Grievers To You

No matter how people find us, whether through this site or the parent site in the US if they need a Grief Recovery Specialist and they live in your area we’ll refer them to you. As soon as you’re up and running the programmes we’ll pass any enquiries along.

You Don’t Need A Degree To Help Grieving People

Because the Grief Recovery Method employs simple action based steps this educational programme needs you only to be a good communicator and have a willingness to help.  There are thousands of Certified Grief Recovery Specialists around the world from a wide range of background.

Teachers & Educators

We can't think of anywhere more important to teach the correct actions to recover from grief than in schools yet this is a topic rarely addressed head on in the education sector.  While it is true that some schools may have someone responsible for pastoral care the reality is that all teachers have to deal with the fall out of unresolved grief everyday.

No matter whether 5 or 50 years of age the most common grief symptom is the reduced ability to concentrate and is probably the biggest cause of anti-social behaviour in the classroom. When you take into account not just grief from bereavement of a family member or pet but also the loss of safety that follows separation, divorce, house move, school change, loss of friends, exam failure, abuse and many more, how many children or adults do you know that aren't grieving in some way?

Teachers we've trained agree that the programmes created by The Grief Recovery Institute are an invaluable resource that should be used much more widely in schools and colleges. By qualifying as a Grief Recovery Specialist you will become able to teach the 3 programmes to others. Click below to find out more about dates and locations, call for more information or come and see us at The Education Show, NEC 14-16th March stand K42

Mental Health Professionals

Many professionals discover that even when their clients achieve an intellectual "understanding" of their grief, or even emotional "acceptance" of their losses, they are not necessarily equipped to re-enter the mainstream of their lives.
The Grief Recovery Method Certification training program adds completion methods to the discoveries unearthed by clients with the aid of their therapist or counsellor. Many professionals believe that the Grief Recovery Method is the missing link for completing those discoveries, as well as a major adjunct to effective ongoing therapy.

The Grief Recovery Method Certification Training is recognised by many professional bodies around the world. In the UK it is endorsed by The British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists. (BACP) for 30 hours CPD.

Clergy

Perhaps more than any other professional group, the clergy are most likely to be involved when a family has experienced the death of a loved one. And, in today's world, there is more and more demand that the Vicar, Priest, Imam or Rabbi, be able to address the painful emotions attached to divorce and other losses.
We often ask our friends in the clergy how often they get this call: "Hi, Father John, I'm just calling to say that everything is great with my family and at work, and my faith in the Lord is comforting." This is always greeted with a laugh and this reply, "Most calls are about marital struggles, trouble with the children, or a breach of faith in God." All of those, including the breach of faith, are clearly "loss" issues, which can benefit from the principles and actions of the Grief Recovery Method® regardless of which faith is involved.

“Loss” Professionals

Those in the funeral and cemetery business, hospice and palliative care workers, divorce lawyers, vets and others who regularly face grieving people when their pain is white hot will find the Grief Recovery techniques invaluable at the front line and a timely add on to their services.

People Who Have Lives Altered by Loss:

Grief, and the life altering emotions attached to it, tends to create a heightened awareness of the value of life. Many people who have experienced major devastating losses, feel compelled to help others.
The Grief Recovery® Certification provides the platform upon which to follow the impulse and desire to help others safely and effectively.

How is Grief Recovery different?

Grief is an emotion. When we grieve our hearts feel broken. However most traditional methods use an intellectual or psychological approach to try to solve the problem when actually there’s nothing wrong with a grievers head!
At Grief Recovery UK we don’t fix heads, but by re-educating people about dealing with grief, and helping them complete the unfinished business brought about by a death, divorce or other loss we do help them fix their hearts; allowing them to return to a fulfilling life albeit one that may be different to that they had planned.

Can I really help others after just 4 days training?

Yes! But you won’t be on your own. As part of your ongoing development as a Certified Grief Recovery Method® Specialist, you will have access to as much time as you need with Carole.  There is NEVER A FEE for that ongoing support. The availability of immediate guidance as you begin to run your programmes, will give you confidence and safety on behalf of the people you are helping.
Following her Certification Training Carole Batchelor, now Director of Grief Recovery UK contacted Russell before and after every session of her first Outreach Programme – amounting to over 20 hours of support – even the call was free using Skype. And that support hasn’t ended, when she comes across a situation she’d like a second opinion on Russell is always at the end of an email or call for help.
As with any education programme the best way to learn is to practice, but safely with the knowledge that you’re not alone.

What does it include?

• The 4 day intensive classroom training
• Comprehensive training notes including lesson plans for all programme types,
• Material for giving presentations
• Suggested content for marketing materials.
• A copy of each of the 3 books:
  
  
  
  • The Grief Recovery handboo
  • When Children Grieve
  • Moving On
    
• Unlimited Phone & email support on completion
  Access to our online membership area with exclusive content only available to Certified Grief Recovery Specialists®
  Permission to use the Grief Recovery brand on your materials – logos etc will be supplied
  Access to referrals received by The Grief Recovery Institute websites
  
  Certification Training gives you much more than 4 days in a classroom – it gives you everything you need to deliver Grief Recovery programmes safely and effectively.

What does the 4 days cover?

• Programs begin at 8:30am on Friday morning with an Introduction and Orientation Session.
• Participants reconvene each morning at 8:30am and conclude each evening at 5:30pm.
• Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday sessions deal with The Grief Recovery Method Principles, Concepts of Recovery, How Incomplete Loss Occurs, Identifying Incomplete Losses, Grief Recovery Counselling Skills, Teaching Role Sets, and Development of Completion Exercises, and Practical Application Training.
• There will be homework assignments Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
• Times may vary slightly based on number of participants and program location. A program Itinerary will be forwarded with your confirmation. Check your Confirmation carefully for any time variances.

When is the next Certification Course?

We are adding new dates and locations regularly – click here for latest availability

If you can’t make these dates then register your interest to receive advance notice when new dates/locations become available.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to work with groups?

We’ve found that the Grief Recovery concepts work best in a group format. Grievers tend to isolate and groups are an excellent way to end that inclination. Having said that there are plenty of people that can’t or won’t attend a group which is why we also teach you how to deliver the programme in a One to One format.

Must I be a professional to become Certified?

No. Since grief is the normal and natural reaction to loss and since the Grief Recovery® formats are educational programmes, all that are required, is a loving heart and a genuine desire to help grieving people. Many of our certified personnel are licensed mental health professionals, and many come from other areas, such as the funeral and cemetery industries and the clergy. Those who are not in the mental health arena often create a referral list of mental health professionals in their community for situations that are outside the range of the Grief Recovery Method®. Many therapists refer clients to our certified people who are not mental health professionals. These therapists perceive wonderful changes in their clients' ability to move forward after achieving completion in the Group or One to One programmes.

How soon can I begin running programmes after the training?

You can begin straight away. In fact we actively encourage you to get going as soon as possible while the material is still fresh in your mind and to cement it in place through practice. To that end, we strongly suggest that you do a “practice” group very soon after completing the Training. Don’t forget you can call on Grief Recovery (UK) every step of the way for help as needed.

Is there a contractual relationship involved in the Certification Process?

Yes. A long term license and service agreement allows you to affiliate with the Institute and the intellectual properties protected by copyright law. Since it is not a franchise agreement, any monies you make as the result of providing Grief Recovery services to the public, belong to you. Grief Recovery (UK) only gets the fee you pay for the training.

How does Grief Recovery sit alongside bodywork or other complementary therapies?

Grief Recovery is not therapy, but it is therapeutic. It is an educational method and often appeals to those already in Complementary Therapy, due to the desire to help others. All we ask is that you make it very clear to your clients that Grief Recovery is NOT therapy, that you keep your therapy sessions separate and do not mix the two. Many therapists find that having resolved the grief issues the therapies then work much more effectively.

Are there any CPD requirements?

No, once you have the Certification you have the skills you need to run the Grief Recovery Programmes. However we do recommend you do the Certification training for a second time within the first year or two as a refresher but this is not compulsory. To make this easier we offer the training at a significant discount to all Certified Grief Recovery Specialists.

What additional fees are payable?

Once you have paid for your Certification course no further fees are payable.

What fees can I charge?

There is no franchise agreement and we make no claims about how much money you can earn working as a Grief Recovery Specialist. You are free to determine your own scale of charges although you may find it helpful to check what others are charging. You may even choose not to charge, the choice is yours.