Become a Certified Grief Facilitator
Lead compassionate grief support groups with confidence. Create safe, healing spaces where people can process loss and move forward with strength and understanding.
$299
Investment in your grief facilitation skills
11 CEUs
Continuing education available for healthcare professionals
Ongoing Access
Keep resources while your certification remains active
Program Overview
Lead grief support groups with confidence and compassion. Our 11-hour Certified Grief Facilitator training program equips you with the skills, tools, and insights to effectively support those who are grieving the loss of a family member, friend, or colleague.
Whether you want to lead a grief support group at your house of worship, workplace, or community, this training provides everything you need to create meaningful conversations and support others through their healing journey.
What's Included (11 Hours Total)
- 📚 Master Class: Grieving After Caregiving (1-hour on-demand)
- 📚 Master Class: The Art of Listening (1-hour on-demand)
- 📚 Master Class: Create Your Daily Healing Plan (1-hour on-demand)
- 💬 Live Training: 4 hours of virtual facilitator training
- 🎯 Caregiving Wheels: Proprietary tools for group meetings
- 📅 12-Month Curriculum: Complete agenda for monthly meetings
How It Works
🌐 100% Virtual Training
Join live interactive training sessions via Zoom from your home or workplace. Training held on the second Wednesday at 2 p.m. ET.
📚 Self-Paced Coursework
Complete all three Master Classes on your schedule. Watch at your own pace and then join the live training when you're ready.
🎓 Comprehensive Training
During the 4-hour live session, you'll learn facilitation skills, manage challenging behaviors, and practice with classmates.
✅ Clear Certification Path
Complete training, pass exams, host a support group, and participate in a grief group to earn your certification.
What You'll Learn
During our live, four-hour virtual training, you will:
- Understand how relationships impact the grieving process
- Navigate grief timelines and emotional trajectories
- Develop guidelines for your group to focus on meaningful conversations
- Gain skills to manage 8 challenging behaviors that may appear during meetings
- Learn to use proprietary Caregiving Wheels in your groups
- Master compassionate listening and support skills
- Practice facilitation skills with fellow classmates in realistic scenarios
- Create safe spaces for vulnerability and healing
Certification Requirements
You'll become a Certified Grief Facilitator™ after completing:
✓ Complete Live Training
Attend the 4-hour virtual training session and actively participate in all activities.
✓ Master Class: Grieving After Caregiving
Watch and complete this 1-hour archived class and pass the exam.
✓ Master Class: The Art of Listening
Watch and complete this 1-hour archived class and pass the exam.
✓ Master Class: Daily Healing Plan
Watch and complete this 1-hour archived class and pass the exam.
✓ Participate in Grief Groups
Spend 2 hours participating in grief support groups (online or in-person).
✓ Host a Live Meeting
Launch and host one live meeting on FB Live, TikTok, Instagram Live, or Zoom.
Timeline: You have 90 days after your training date to complete all certification requirements. There's a $100 late fee if you complete requirements after 91 days.
Caregiving Wheels: Proprietary Tools You'll Use
One of the most valuable resources you'll receive is access to our proprietary Caregiving Wheels—specialized tools designed to deepen conversations and guide meaningful discussions in your grief support groups.
Healing Through Wheel
Guide individuals and groups through the healing process after loss. This wheel helps navigate the journey from grief to finding meaning and moving forward with hope.
Healing To Wheel
Support conversations about what participants need for healing and comfort. This wheel helps identify personal coping strategies and resources that bring solace during the grieving process.
💡 How You'll Use the Caregiving Wheels
- Launch Discussions: Use the Caregiving Wheels to prompt meaningful conversations during your group meetings
- Guide Group Flow: Each wheel provides a structured framework to keep conversations focused and productive
- Support Individual Conversations: Use these tools one-on-one with family members or colleagues discussing grief
- Customize for Your Group: Adapt the Caregiving Wheels to match your grief group's specific needs and focus areas
- Build Over Time: Receive access to an expanding library of specialized Caregiving Wheels as new tools are developed
Certification Renewal
Your Certified Grief Facilitator™ certification is valid for two years. Here's how renewal works:
Renewal Requirements
- 💰 Pay $49 Renewal Fee
Biennial renewal investment to maintain your certification - ✅ Pass Renewal Exam
Demonstrate continued competency in grief facilitation skills - 👥 Host Support Group
Maintain active facilitation within the two-year renewal period
💎 Ongoing Access Benefit
As long as you maintain your certification through renewal, you retain unlimited access to all training materials, curriculum, tools, and resources—including all Master Class archives, Caregiving Wheels, and monthly curriculum.
This means you have a complete resource library at your fingertips to reference, refresh, and continue developing your facilitation skills throughout your career.
Your Opportunities as a Grief Facilitator
Lead Grief Support Groups
Organize and hold grief support groups at your house of worship, employer, or community.
Improve Family Conversations
Communicate more effectively with your family members about grief experiences and loss.
Use Proprietary Tools
Deepen your conversations using exclusive Caregiving Wheels in group meetings and with family.
Build Community
Connect with other Certified Grief Facilitators to receive ongoing support and share best practices.
Hear from Our Facilitators
Meet Your Trainer
Denise M. Brown
Your trainer is Denise M. Brown, founder of The Caregiving Years Training Academy. Denise has been leading caregiving support groups online and in the community since 1996 and facilitating workshops in workplaces since 1999.
She brings 30+ years of professional expertise and 35 years of personal caregiving experience to every training. Her commitment to understanding the caregiving experience ensures you learn from someone who truly understands what your group members are experiencing. As a workshop attendee said, Denise "is amazing at helping people and facilitating conversations."
Denise M. Brown
Founder & Trainer
30+ years of professional caregiving expertise. 2017 Next Avenue Influencer in Aging. Featured in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, USA Today, and Time.
Continuing Education Credits Available
We've been approved to provide 11 continuing education hours for healthcare professionals who complete our Certified Grief Facilitator™ training program. Credits are provided by the Continuing Education Institute of Illinois.
All 50 States
- Certified Dementia Practitioners®
- Certified Senior Advisors®
- Nurses
- Professional Coaches
- Social Workers
Illinois Only
- Counselor-Professional/Clinical
- Dental Hygienist
- Dietitian/Nutritionist
- Marriage and Family Counselor
- Nursing Home Administrator
- Occupational Therapist
- Physician
- Psychologist
- Physical Therapist
- Respiratory Therapist
Need credits for another profession? We're approved for healthcare professionals throughout the United States. Check the map from our CEU provider to see if your profession is included. Don't see yours? Email Denise to inquire about your profession.
Ready to Launch Your Grief Facilitation Journey?
Complete Certified Grief Facilitator Training
Includes 4-hour live training, three Master Classes, Caregiving Wheels, 12-month curriculum, and community access. All virtual and flexible.
Enroll NowHave Questions?
Connect with Denise directly to discuss your goals and how the Certified Grief Facilitator training can help you lead compassionate grief support groups.
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Looking for additional training or a different focus? Check out our other specialized programs.
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Combine both Caregiving and Grief Facilitator training for comprehensive expertise in leading support groups.
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Start your journey creating impact and change. Perfect entry point if you're new to the caregiving support field.
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Take the first step toward becoming a Certified Grief Facilitator today.
Enroll NowQuestions about training dates? Check our Training Dates Calendar to see upcoming sessions.
