Grief Needs a Witness
Rethinking Community in Clinical Practice from Clinical Presence to Peer Support
- Speaker:
- David Kessler, MA, RN, FACHE
- Duration:
- 1 Hour 02 Minutes
- Format:
- Audio and Video
- Copyright:
-
Apr 15, 2026
- Product Code:
- POS150658
- Media Type:
- Digital Seminar
Description
Grief is not just an individual experience. It is deeply relational. In this training, renowned grief expert David Kessler guides clinicians through the essential role of witnessing in healing. You will explore how an attuned presence creates a stabilizing community of two and learn strategies to help clients safely extend support beyond the therapy room to peers, family, and groups. Grounded in research and practical tools, this course will help you foster connections that promote meaning making, resilience, and ethical care.
You will learn to:
- Differentiate social contact from therapeutic witnessing
- Understand the clinician’s role as the first community for grief
- Support clients in expanding witnessing to safe and meaningful networks
Credit
Handouts/Brochure
| File type | File name | Number of pages | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transcript - Grief Needs a Witness (953.6 KB) | 17 Pages | Available after Purchase | |
| Transcript - Grief Needs a Witness - French (953.6 KB) | 17 Pages | Available after Purchase | |
| Transcript - Grief Needs a Witness - Italian (953.6 KB) | 17 Pages | Available after Purchase | |
| Transcript - Grief Needs a Witness - German (953.6 KB) | 17 Pages | Available after Purchase | |
| Transcript - Grief Needs a Witness - Spanish (953.6 KB) | 17 Pages | Available after Purchase |
Speaker
David Kessler, MA, RN, FACHE Related seminars and products
David Kessler is one of the world’s foremost experts on grief and loss. His experience with thousands of people on the edge of life and death has taught him the secrets to living a happy and fulfilled life, even after life’s tragedies.
He is the author of six books, including his latest bestselling book, Finding Meaning: The Sixth Stage of Grief. He co-authored two books with Elisabeth Kubler Ross, Life Lessons and On Grief and Grieving, updating her 5 stages for grief. He also co-wrote, You Can Heal Your Heart with Louise Hay. He authored Visions Trips and Crowded Rooms: Who and What You See Before You Die. His first book, The Needs of The Dying received praise from Saint (Mother) Teresa.
David’s personal experience as a child witnessing a mass shooting while his mother was dying in a hospital helped him begin his journey. For most of his life, David has taught physicians, nurses, counselors, police, and first responders about the end of life, trauma, and grief. However, despite his vast knowledge of grief, his life was turned upside down by the sudden death of his twenty-one-year-old son.
David’s volunteer work includes being a founding member of Project Angel Food, a well-known and loved non-profit organization. He currently serves on the board of The Farrah Fawcett Foundation which provides cancer research, patient assistance, and prevention efforts. He also serves as Specialist Reserve for the Los Angeles Police as well as having served on the Red Cross’s disaster services team.
He has a new online model of grief support called Tender Hearts with over 25 groups each as well as one of the most respected Grief Certification programs. He is the founder of www.grief.com, which receives millions of visits yearly providing helpful resources to over 167 countries.
Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: David Kessler is the co‑founder and President Emeritus of Project Angel Food. He maintains employment relationships with HSBC – London and Tender Hearts Grief Support Group. He is a published author and receives royalties from his publications, as well as compensation for his work as a lecturer. In addition, David Kessler receives speaking honoraria and recording and book royalties from Psychotherapy Networker and PESI, Inc. He has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: David Kessler has no relevant non-financial relationships.
Additional Info
Access for Self-Study (Non-Interactive)Access never expires for this product.
For a more detailed outline that includes times or durations of time, if needed, please contact cepepesi.com
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Objectives
- Differentiate between social contact and therapeutic witnessing.
- Identify how clinicians function as the first and stabilizing community for grief.
- Apply strategies to help clients extend witnessing beyond the clinical dyad.
Outline
Why Witnessing Matters in Grief
- Grief involves disruption of meaning identity and belonging not only emotional distress
- Therapeutic witnessing to support regulation coherence and meaning making
- Using attuned relational presence for relief
The Clinician as Attuned Witness: Building the Community of Two
- The clinician is often the first setting in which grief is fully expressed
- Supporting coherence without forcing meaning or closure
- Support emotional safety trust and coherence
- Prepares clients for broader connection rather than replacing community
Extending Witnessing Beyond the Clinical Dyad
- Assess readiness for broader relational engagement
- Importance of emotional regulation trauma history and cultural context
- Sources of extended witnessing may include
- Family and friends
- Peer or support groups
- Online communities
- Effective extension for connection rather than increasing distress
Practical Clinical Strategies
- Language that invites narrative without forcing disclosure
- Safety considerations include exposure to invalidation or retraumatization
- Case examples: Differences between social abundance and felt support
- Limitations of the Research and Potential Risks
Target Audience
- Counselors
- Social Workers
- Psychologists
- Psychiatrists
- Nurses
- Marriage and Family Therapists
- Other Mental Health Professionals
Reviews
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