Session Description
We live in an age where complex grief is woven into the tapestry of our lives. Many people are struggling to cope in the aftermath of the shocking and brutal loss of someone they love. In our world today, people are grieving the death of a child or other loved one through violence, accident or unpredicted illness. We continue to see a dramatic rise in mass shootings, terror attacks, violent crimes, and drug overdoses that leave behind broken-hearted loved ones. These losses can result in indescribable suffering for those who grieve and we, as clinicians, may not always know how to help them recover. This presentation will examine the diagnostic criteria for complex grief and explore clinical considerations and strategies to help those who are suffering from traumatic and complex grief.

Learning Objectives

1. Identify diagnostic criteria for complicated grief
   2. Demonstrate an understanding of the interweave between grief and trauma in cases of complex grief
   3. Identify at least three clinical interventions to address complex grief