Grief Affirming Practice®, Oct 2026
4 Day GAP® Certification Training: An Integrative Non-pathological Grief Support Model
Description
Grief Affirming Practice®: A 4-Day Certification Training for Professionals Working with Traumatic Grief Offered by Southwest Institute for Grief and Trauma Studies | 24 CE Hours This 4-day certification training introduces Grief Affirming Practice® (GAP), an integrative, non-pathological, framework for clinicians working with traumatic grief. GAP bridges psychotherapy and thanatology, offering 8 core tenets designed to help clinicians provide compassionate, individualized, and research-informed care. The 8 Tenets include: Anti-Oppressive, Grief Informed, Trauma Informed, Individualized, Non-Pathological, Mindfulness-Based, Humanistic/Existential, & Attachment-Based. Participants will explore each tenet’s theoretical foundation, practical application, and clinical relevance. Through 24 hours of lectures, group discussions, case studies, and experiential exercises, attendees will learn to apply GAP® in clinical settings. Topics include definitions of grief/bereavement, grief theory, death education, psychotherapy foundations, current research, and grief-specific therapeutic supports that align with GAP® principles. Learning objectives include: Describing and integrating the 8 tenets of GAP into practice Understanding grief through systemic, cultural, and relational lenses Applying non-pathological, trauma-sensitive, and person-centered supports Audience: Helping professionals in who support the traumatically bereaved. Level: Intermediate (graduate-level education prefered; no prior grief training necessary). Cancellations must be received 72 hours in advance for a refund. CEs: 24 CE hours. Participants receive a certificate after completing the course evaluation and signing out. CE Provider Info: Southwest Institute for Grief and Trauma Studies (SWIGTS), 1913, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 05/06/2025-05/06/2028. Instructor Bio: Terri Waibel, MSW, LCSW, FT is the founder of SWIGTS and Center for Compassion, 2025 Healthcare Innovator of the Year, 2023 NASW AZ Social Worker of the Year, 2018 Athena Young Professional, President Elect of the NASW. See full bio at: www.thecenterforcompassion.com. Questions or Accommodations? Email: info@swigts.com
Cancellation Policy
If you cancel your registration 72 hours prior to an event your fee will be refunded, less a 3% processing fee. There are no refunds for cancellations received 48 hours prior to the date of the training or later. No-Shows are still due and payable in full. SWIGTS reserves the right to cancel a session if an unanticipated issue arises.
Location & Contact
1331 North Alma School Road suite 100, Chandler, AZ, USA
info@swigts.com