WAVES OF GRACE: Guiding Clients through Prolonged Grief Disorder presented by Paul Hardy, D.Min.

Grief is a natural response to the loss of a loved one. For most people, the symptoms of grief begin to decrease over time. However, for some people, the feeling of intense grief persists, and the symptoms are severe enough to cause problems and stop them from continuing with their lives. Prolonged Grief Disorder is characterized by this intense and persistent grief that causes problems and interferes with daily life. An estimated 7%-10% of bereaved adults will experience the persistent symptoms of Prolonged Grief Disorder (Szuhany et al., 2021). Among children and adolescents who have lost a loved one, approximately 5%-10% will experience depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and/or Prolonged Grief Disorder following bereavement (Melhem et al., 2013). This webinar addresses the symptoms, causes and treatment for prolonged grief.

Learning Objectives:

Upon completion of this training, participants will be able to:

• Differentiate Grief from Prolonged Grief Disorder.

• Recognize several of the possible symptoms of the disorder.

• Develop a list of open-ended questions to help grieving clients share their story.

• Identify high risk factors for prolonged grief.

• Apply the “PLACE” method to help clients find a place for their grief.

About the Presenter

Dr. Paul Hardy is a Virginia Beach-based National Master Addictions Counselor (NMAC) and Certified Substance Abuse Counselor (CSAC) with over 25 years of experience in behavioral health. As the founder and Executive Director of Recovery for Life Treatment Center, he has developed counseling programs for addictions and compulsive behaviors. 

He is an enthusiastic leader in the field of substance use counseling, trauma recovery, and relapse prevention. He is an educator at heart, experienced keynote speaker, and conference presenter.

He earned his D. Min. from Liberty University and completed his internship at the Recovery for Life Treatment Center under the tutelage of Jack Mallery, LPC. He is a champion for those who struggle with compulsive behaviors and traumatic experiences. An active Anger Management Instructor, he presents current courses with various programs, including the Virginia Beach Psychiatric Hospital. He has authored several books.

He is a published author, keynote speaker, and holds credentials from Liberty University. Focuses on solution-focused, faith-based recovery, assisting hundreds in the Tidewater area weekly. 

The Presenter receives a speaker’s honorarium from APP for this presentation. There is no conflict of interest or commercial support to report.

APP is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. APP maintains responsibility for this program and its content. For more information contact apponline.org