THE GRIEF INSTITUTE
Grief Better Understood...
Equips healthcare professionals, therapists and anyone supporting someone who is grieving with the knowledge, tools, and strategies to effectively support individuals navigating grief.
Grief Better Understood provides a framework for grief and provides education, healing strategies, and tools to help clients increase awareness and insight, find moments of peace and calm, develop coping strategies to navigate grief in a way that feels right for them and acknowledge that healing is an ongoing process.
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Through education, self-reflection, and practical application, you as a professional, will develop a deeper understanding of grief while enhancing your ability to foster healing in those they serve.
The Grief course is for you if you’re working with clients who are struggling with…
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A profound sense of loss – Clients experiencing persistent emptiness, disconnection, or shifts in their sense of self after loss.
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Overwhelming or conflicting emotions – Waves of sadness, anger, guilt, or numbness that ebb and flow unpredictably, while normalizing these experiences.
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Feeling misunderstood or isolated – Clients who struggle with a lack of support or feel unseen in their grief experience.
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Difficulty articulating grief – Challenges in putting emotions into words, leading to suppressed feelings or difficulty in therapy.
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Longing for connection and meaning – Seeking ways to help clients rebuild a sense of connection and purpose.
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Navigating complex or ambiguous loss – Supporting clients through non-death losses, such as estrangement, illness, or identity shift.
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Preparing for a change - Helping individuals prepare for the loss of loved ones, relationships, careers, infertility, or life transitions such as empty nest syndrome.
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And managing your own emotional and physical fatigue from holding space for clients and families facing loss.
If you are a health care professional seeking to…
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Foster a sense of connection – Create spaces where clients feel seen, heard, and validated in their grief.
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Provide a safe and supportive environment – Offer nonjudgmental, compassionate spaces for clients to express and process emotions.
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Normalize the grief experience – Help clients understand that their emotions and responses are natural and valid.
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Equip clients with coping strategies – Introduce strategies and ideas to support healing and resilience.
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Guide meaningful remembrance and integration – Assist clients in finding ways to honor their loss while moving forward.
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Support hope and healing – Help clients discover moments of meaning, growth, and the possibility of a reimagined future.
HI I'M MARIDA
FOUNDER OF THE GRIEF INSTITUTE,
Certified Grief Educator, Meditation & Mindfulness Teacher
Grief is a universal human experience, yet many professionals feel unprepared to support clients navigating loss. I created this course to help equip healthcare providers and therapists with the knowledge and skills to confidently and compassionately work with clients who are grieving.
I have worked with clients experiencing grief for many years. But when my father developed rapidly progressing dementia, followed by a diagnosis of incurable cancer, I found myself feeling isolated and alone. I realized I was grieving even though he was still with us—this was anticipatory grief.
Well-meaning people told me, “Don’t give up hope” or “Why are you being so negative?” But I hadn’t lost hope, nor was I being negative. I was simply sad, confused, and in shock. Nothing could change the reality that my father—who had recently been the picture of health—was not going to survive.
I searched for resources and support but struggled to find what I needed. So, I started writing—putting my thoughts and feelings into words as I faced this profound loss. That’s how The Grief Institute, my first grief workbook and this program was created.
Writing became a cathartic outlet. I discovered practices and skills that were helpful for anticipatory grief and worked on the workbook while sitting by my father’s bedside as he slept. Those final months and days were bittersweet. His presence guided me as I put words to paper, and now, I have the privilege of sharing this with others. I allowed myself to grieve in my own way, without judgment—writing was my coping strategy.
Through this journey, I deepened my understanding of grief, continued to take grief courses, further solidifying my commitment to supporting others through loss. My passion for this work comes from wanting to ensure others don’t feel alone in their grief. It is also my way of honoring my dad and keeping his memory alive.
The strategies I share in Grief Better Understood are designed to bring awareness, insight, and moments of peace in the midst of uncertainty.
You’ll learn about grief, discover tools to support clients, and explore ways to care for your clients as well as yourself as you become confident in supporting those that are grieving.
Marida Etherington
What the program includes...
10 week online group program
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Weekly teachings about grief
Weekly PDF and video teachings about thoughts and feelings that may come up on the grief journey​
Coping strategies that can help with grief
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Activities and strategies that you can share with your clients
Weekly Group coaching calls to explore and discuss ideas that can be used in grief work
Grief Course CURRICULUM
Module ONE: Introduction
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Explore the core principles of grief work and reflect on the essential qualities of an effective grief therapist—what do clients truly need in someone supporting their grief?
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Learn to recognize the many forms of grief, including anticipatory grief (grieving before a loss occurs), ambiguous grief (grieving someone who is physically present but psychologically absent, such as with dementia), and disenfranchised grief (grief that is not socially recognized or validated).
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Develop a holistic understanding of the psychological, emotional, and physiological impacts of loss, including how grief affects the nervous system, cognition, and emotional regulation.
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Gain insight into the core needs of grieving individuals, such as the need for safety, connection, validation, meaning-making, and ongoing support.
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Grief and Old Wounds (Trauma): Understand how present-day grief can resurface unresolved pain or trauma from the past. Learn how to recognize when grief is activating earlier wounds—such as abandonment, childhood trauma, or relational loss—and how to gently help clients differentiate between the pain of now and the pain of then, integrating trauma-informed approaches into grief work.
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Module TWO: Grief & all the feels
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Gain a deeper understanding of emotions commonly experienced in grief, such as denial, resentment, disappointment, regret, loneliness, sadness, and anger.
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Learn how to compassionately support clients through the complex thoughts and feelings that arise during grief, without judgment or avoidance.
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Discover effective ways to help clients identify, process, and express their emotions in healthy, constructive ways.
Module THREE: Empowering Clients in Their Grief
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Explore what empowerment truly means in the grieving process—shifting the focus from “being strong” to helping clients feel grounded in their choices and emotional experiences.
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Learn why fostering a sense of agency is essential for healing, and how small, intentional actions can help clients reclaim their voice, autonomy, and inner strength after loss.
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Understand how to support clients in developing personalized coping strategies that enhance emotional resilience and build confidence in their ability to navigate grief.
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Guide clients in strengthening communication skills—helping them express their emotions, set healthy boundaries, and seek support in ways that feel clear, safe, and aligned with their needs.
Module FOUR: Facilitating Connection & Emotional Expression
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Understand how to support clients in embracing the full spectrum of emotions in grief, allowing them to feel deeply without fear, avoidance, or suppression.
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Learn how to guide clients in creating simple, consistent self-care practices that support their emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being throughout the grieving process.
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Explore ways to cultivate self-compassion and releasing guilt, shame, or self-judgment that may arise during a client's healing journey.
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Introduce meaningful ways to honor their loss while gently opening to growth, new experiences, and renewed purpose.
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Understand how to support clients in building a strong and evolving support system—helping them connect with others while recognizing the shifting nature of grief.
Module FIVE: Encouraging Openness
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How to help clients navigate uncertainty and change as they adjust to life after loss.
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The role of mindset in grief—understanding what is within one’s control and how to release what isn’t.
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Explore strategies to support clients in managing daily challenges with greater ease, including a guided practice for emotional regulation and grounding.
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Support clients in gently opening to new possibilities, experiences, and ways of being that align with their emotional well-being and evolving identity.
Module SIX: Integrating Memories
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Understand how to support clients in honoring and reflecting on meaningful memories while avoiding emotional overwhelm or disconnection.
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Learn how to help clients find meaning in their experiences and recognize grief as a catalyst for deeper self-awareness and life reevaluation.
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Guide clients in integrating memories into their daily lives in a way that fosters continued connection, comfort, and emotional strength.
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Introduce meaningful rituals and practices that allow clients to honor their loved ones while still creating space for healing and forward movement.
Module SEVEN: Permission to Pause
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Learn how to support clients in giving themselves permission to slow down and allow grief to unfold at its own pace, without judgment or pressure.
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Introduce gentle mindfulness techniques that encourage emotional awareness and offer a safe space for clients to explore what they’re feeling.
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Understand the importance of rest, stillness, and reflection in the grieving process, and help clients embrace these practices without guilt.
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Offer a guided exercise that helps clients pause, breathe, and rest—providing a moment of compassion, presence, and release in the midst of grief.
Module EIGHT: Acceptance in Grief
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Explore how to support clients in acknowledging their loss while creating space for healing and ongoing connection with what has been lost.
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Learn how to help clients understand that acceptance is not about forgetting, but about integrating grief into their life story in a meaningful way.
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Guide clients in reflective practices that help them process emotions, recognize personal growth, and come into deeper alignment with what is.
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Introduce practical, supportive exercises that gently help clients navigate acceptance in a way that feels grounded, spacious, and authentic.
Module NINE: Cultivating Self-Compassion & Self-Care for Both Clients & Professionals
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Learn how to guide clients in treating themselves with kindness rather than self-criticism, especially during emotionally difficult moments.
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Understand the importance of validating emotions without trying to fix or rush the grieving process.
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Explore how to support clients in releasing guilt and letting go of unrealistic expectations around how grief “should” look.
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Introduce the practice of mindful acceptance—supporting clients in embracing grief while also welcoming moments of peace, joy, and connection.​
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Understand how to help clients prioritize personalized self-care as a foundational aspect of healing—not just something extra, but something essential.
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Explore ways to guide clients in supporting their bodies through rest, nourishment, hydration, and gentle movement.
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Learn how to integrate self-compassion practices into daily life to promote long-term resilience and emotional regulation.
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Recognize the emotional toll of working with grief and understand how professionals can manage their own well-being, set boundaries, and prevent burnout while supporting others.
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Module TEN: Moving Forward
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Redefine what it truly means to move forward in grief—helping clients understand that healing is not about forgetting, but about carrying grief with grace.
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Learn how to support clients in sustaining practices of mindfulness, self-compassion, non-judgmentand emotional grounding in their daily lives.
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Understand how to encourage clients to maintain supportive relationships, community, and connection as ongoing sources of healing.
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Explore strategies to help clients integrate grief into their story while continuing to grow, evolve, and welcome new chapters with openness and intention.
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Understand how to guide clients in cultivating emotional and physical resilience using evidence-based strategies that help regulate the nervous system, reduce overwhelm, and support overall well-being.
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Included: Guided MP3 Meditations, PDF handouts & resources and video recordings with each module
Registration
Registration for all October online programs will be opening mid-September 2025. Sign up to the mailing list below to get notified when registration opens.
Program FAQ's
​Q. Who is this program suitable for?
A. Anyone who works with or would like to start working with clients who are grieving.
Q. Do I need to have experience with grief before joining the program?
A. NO! This is for therapists and health care professionals who want to better understand grief and how to best work with clients who are grieving.
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Q. How is the content delivered?
A. Online group program, a live weekly video call where we’ll connect as a group for support, discussion, and guidance.
A video recording of the call will be available for those that are unable to attend the call. Videos will be posted to view at your own pace. Audio recordings of meditations that can be shared with clients. PDFs for each week will be available which include activities that can be shared with clients.
Q. How do the group coaching calls work/when are they scheduled?
A. A video link will be available to each participant
Q. What is the cost of the 10 week program
A. Cost is $497 for the 10 week program with live calls. You also have the option of purchasing the program and working through it at your own pace without the Live weekly group component (one time payment of $297).
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Q. What is included?
A. Access to video and audio recordings that can be shared with your clients. Power points and PDFs. Videos that can be watched at your pace. Weekly calls for exploration of topics and for Q and A.
Q. How long is each video call?
A. Typically each call will be 60-90 minutes.
Q. How do the private sessions work? How do I book them?
A. If you would like to have an add-on 1 to 1 coaching call please email marida@thegriefinstitute.com to schedule a time that works.($175/h)
About Your Guide
Marida Etherington MScN
FOUNDER OF THE GRIEF INSTITUTE,
Certified Grief Educator, Meditation & Mindfulness Teacher
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“Through classes, programs, presentations and workbooks, I help therapists and health care professionals better understand grief, the grief journey and how to help their clients move forward in a unique and meaningful way.”
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Certifications & Trainings:
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Grief Educator Certificate Program with David Kessler
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Complicated Grief Treatment Certificate: A Case-Based Approach at the Center for Complicated Grief
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Mindfulness & Meditation Certification YOGARENEW
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Megan Devine’s Grief Care Professional Certificate Program
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Advanced Grief Counseling Certification Course: Interventions to Move Clients Toward Healthy Grieving, Growth and Meaning After Loss with Diana Sebzda & Christina Zampitella
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Finding Meaning in Loss: The Sixth Stage of Grief with David Kessler
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The Missing Stage of Grief: Clinical Strategies to Overcome Anxiety in the Wake of Loss with Claire Bidwell Smith
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EMDR for Grief and Loss with Rebecca Kase
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Grief after Suicide: Transition Survivors from “Why?” to “What’s Next?” with Rita Schulte
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Grief Work in Virtual Settings: New Tools to Create Support and Connection with Alissa Drescher
THE GRIEF INSTITUTE
The Grief Institute is dedicated to supporting those navigating both anticipatory grief—the emotions that arise before an expected loss—and the grief that follows, offering a compassionate space for healing, understanding, and growth. We know that grief can occur from the loss of loved ones, however grief can also arise from many types of significant loss. This can include relationship endings, divorce, job loss, life transitions, grieving past versions of yourself, empty nest syndrome, and more. At the Grief Institute, we support you in working through grief for any type of loss you may be facing. Founded with a deep passion for helping those who are grieving, The Grief Institute recognizes that grief can often feel isolating and misunderstood. In a society that struggles to talk about loss, we aim to change the conversation—normalizing grief as a natural response. Through our workbooks, classes, and online programs, we offer tools and guidance to help individuals navigate their emotions with greater acceptance, easing feelings of overwhelm and loneliness as well as a community to connect with who are on a similar journey. At The Grief Institute, we believe that grief, when acknowledged and embraced, can be a transformative part of life’s journey.