Who should takes the course
- Counselors
- Social Workers
- Psychologists
- Psychiatrists
- Addiction Counselors
- Psychotherapists
- Therapists
- Marriage & Family Therapists
- Funeral Directors
- Thanatologists
- other Behavioral Health Professionals
Learning Objectives:
- Investigate the history of how bereavement has been addressed in previous Diagnostic and Statistics Manuals (DSM).
- Evaluate why the bereavement exclusion was removed from the diagnosis of major depressive disorder in the DSM-5.
- Apply diagnostic criteria from the DSM-5 to diagnose uncomplicated and complicated bereavement.
- Analyze the diagnostic criteria for prolonged grief disorder and characterize how it relates to clinical practice.
Course Modules / Outline
Grief in Previous DSM’s
- History of how bereavement has been addressed
- Why changes were needed
Change in ICD-11
- Prolonged grief disorder
- Diagnostic criteria
Grief in the DSM-5: Changes and Diagnosis
- Elimination of the bereavement exclusion criterion for major depressive disorder
- Research regarding complicated grief
- Persistent complex bereavement disorder in the DSM-5
- How to diagnose complicated and uncomplicated bereavement using the DSM-5
A Look Ahead
- Why Prolonged Grief Disorder in the DSM is needed in clinical practice
- Proposed criteria
Why Take This Course?
Grief is complex, personal, and often misunderstood—even in clinical settings. This course gives you the clarity, confidence, and clinical tools to accurately assess and diagnose grief-related disorders in alignment with the most up-to-date DSM-5® and ICD-11 guidelines.
By taking this course, you will:
Avoid Misdiagnosis – Learn how the removal of the bereavement exclusion from Major Depressive Disorder affects your assessments and how to distinguish between normal grief and clinical depression.
Stay Current – Gain expert insight into Persistent Complex Bereavement Disorder and the proposed Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD) criteria—critical for future-proofing your clinical knowledge.
Improve Client Outcomes – Use clear, evidence-based diagnostic criteria to inform treatment plans that are sensitive, appropriate, and effective.
Deepen Your Expertise – Understand the historical context and rationale behind DSM and ICD changes to elevate your credibility and competence in bereavement care.
Learn From a National Expert – Christina Zampitella, PsyD, FT, is a seasoned grief and trauma psychologist, trusted educator, and media contributor featured in The Washington Post, NBC News, and more.
Whether you’re working with clients navigating fresh losses or lingering grief, this course equips you with the diagnostic precision and clinical insight you need to provide ethical, accurate, and compassionate care.
Meet the Course Expert:
Christina Zampitella, PsyD, FT, is a licensed clinical psychologist and a Fellow of Thanatology through the Association for Death Education and Counseling (ADEC). She is the founder and owner of The Center for Grief and Trauma Therapy, co-owner and Director of Clinical Services at Integrative Psychology Group, and a professional speaker. She teaches in undergraduate and graduate level psychology programs for several universities, focusing her courses and publications on death, loss, grief, and trauma. She served as the chair for the Continuing Education Committee for the San Diego Psychological Association from 2007-2009 and the Delaware Psychological Association from 2018-1019. Dr. Zampitella specializes in death, loss, bereavement, integrative psychology, and nature-based therapy. She is the former resident psychologist on Fox 5 News in San Diego and often appeared on NBC News in California and Philadelphia. She has been featured in Elle magazine, BuzzFeed, Washington Post, and The Huffington Post.Â
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