Moving Beyond the ‘5 Stages’: Understanding and Applying Contemporary Grief Theories to Perinatal Loss

(Approved for the Psychotherapy/Mental Health Track Advanced Training as well as CE for maintaining PMH-C)

Clock Hours: 3

Asynchronous Recorded Webinar

Target Audience: behavioral health and social workers who serve in the role of counseling/therapy. 

Content Description:

This Beginner-Intermediate Program into the limitations of the traditional 5 stages of grief model, particularly as it applies to working with bereaved parents, and helps one obtain clinical skills from contemporary grief models.

Learning Objectives:

  1. Identify elements of the 5 Stages of Grief theory, describe the model’s original intended use, and explain 2 or more ways it is limited with bereaved perinatal parents.

  2. Identify 3 or more contemporary grief models to use in clinical work in place of the 5 Stages theory.

  3. Describe 2 or more ways these contemporary grief models can be utilized in clinical work with loss parents.

  4. Apply 3 or more clinical skills through case examples and break out sessions.

Presenter: Lauren Redding, MSW, LCSW, PMH-C

Lauren is a licensed clinical social worker in New Jersey and New York. She is the owner of Daylight Counseling Services, a private practice where she supports women and birthing people through perinatal loss and trauma. Lauren practices from a feminist theoretical orientation and utilizes a combination of EMDR and IFS in her clinical work with clients. She is currently working toward her Doctorate of Social Work at Rutgers University


In this recorded asynchronous distance course, attendees will watch a recorded video from a webinar held on 5/01/2025.

Course completion requirements: behavioral health and social workers must attend the entire course and complete a course evaluation to be eligible for ce credit. Behavioral Health and social workers must pass the posttest with 80% in 3 attempts to be eligible for ce credit. Certificates of completion will be emailed within 2 business days of course completion. 

Nurturing Mamas Network has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7232. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Nurturing Mamas Network is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

Nurturing Mamas Network, provider #2686, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Workers Board (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 11/14/2025- 11/14/2026. Social workers completing this course receive 3 clinical continuing education credits. 

If a participant or potential participant would like to express a concern about his/her experience with Nurturing Mamas Network, he/she may call or e-mail Felicia Hurst at felicia@nurturingmamasnetwork.com. Although we do not guarantee a particular outcome, the individual can expect us to consider the complaint, make any necessary decisions and respond within 30 days.

  • 00:00–00:30 Introduction & Learning Objectives – Overview of goals, outline of session Lecture

    00:30–01:00 Core Content Part 1 – Presentation of foundational concepts Lecture + Case Example

    01:00–01:30 Core Content Part 2 – Applied strategies and interventions Lecture + Group Discussion

    01:30–02:00 Experiential/Practice – Role-play, mindfulness, skill application Experiential Activity

    02:00-02:10 Break

    02:00–02:30 Integration – Clinical implications, case applications Reflection + Discussion

    02:30–03:00 Q&A / Closing – Wrap-up, open discussion Group Discussion

    03:00–03:05 Evaluations Completed – Non-CE time Non-CE Activity

  • Hewson, H., Galbraith, N., Jones, C., & Heath, G. (2024). The impact of continuing bonds following bereavement: A systematic review. Death studies, 48(10), 1001–1014. https://doi.org/10.1080/07481187.2023.2223593

    Klass, D., Silverman, P. R., & Nickman, S. L. (Eds.). (1996). Continuing bonds: New understandings of grief. Taylor & Francis.

    Kübler-Ross, E. (2014). On death & dying: What the dying have to teach doctors, nurses, clergy & their own families (50th anniversary ed.).

    Scribner.

    McCoyd JLM. Forget the "Five Stages": Ask the Five Questions of Grief. (2022). Journal of Social Work, 68(1):86-88. doi: 10.1093/sw/swac047

    McCoyd, J.L.M., Koller, J.M., & Walter, C. A. (2021). Grief and loss across the lifespan:

    A biopsychosocial perspective (3rd edition). New York: Springer Publishing.

    Neimeyer, R. A. (2006). Complicated Grief and the Reconstruction of Meaning: Conceptual and Empirical Contributions to a Cognitive-

    Constructivist Model. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 13(2), 141–145.

    Stroebe, M. S., & Schut, H. (1999). The Dual Process Model of Coping with Bereavement: Rationale and Description. Death Studies, 23(3), 197-224.

  • Operating Systems: windows xp or higher, macos9 or higher, android 4.0 or higher

    Internet browser: Internet Explorer 9.0 or higher, google chrome, firefox 10.0 or higher

    Broadband Internet connection: cable, high speed dsl & any other medium that is internet accessible.

Purchase Asynchronous Recorded Webinar

Please note: Access to this course will terminate 30 days after purchasing through the above.