Attuned Accompaniment: Empathic Responsiveness in Grief Counseling

November 21, 2025
8:30am – noon

As in psychotherapy, so too in grief counseling, the therapist/counselor and client engage in a process which explores/expands the client’s subjective experience but with an increased focus on reactions to loss and its lived consequences. Both participants engage as fully as possible in the client’s psychological depth and range of affects around the extremely personal experience of bereavement. Optimally, through a process of attuned accompaniment, the client tries to navigate several nonlinear phases, ideally culminating in a renovation or redefinition of selfhood.

This workshop is designed for those with an intermediate knowledge of and skill base in grief counseling and psychodynamic psychotherapy. It will have both didactic and experiential elements. Specially designed exercises will be used to elicit personal and clinical responses for sharing in small groups and large group conversations.

David Fireman, MSW, LCSW is the director of the Center for Grief Recovery. He has 25+ years of psychotherapy practice grounded in self and depth psychologies and grief counseling. David also draws from his life experiences as a black belt in judo, guitarist, and practitioner of meditation.

The Center for Grief Recovery maintains responsibility for the program and its content.

ADMISSION:

Admission will be $125.00. Admission will be reduced to $55.00 for early career professionals (i.e. 5 years post-degree). Registration is limited to 20. Sliding scale spots available for those with financial hardship. Pre-registration is highly recommended.

DATE:

November 21, 2025

PROGRAM SCHEDULE:

08:30a – 09:00a On-Site Registration and Introductions
09:00a – 10:15a Presentation and small group discussions (75 mins.)
10:15a – 10:30a Coffee Break
10:30a – 11:45a Presentation and small group discussions (75 mins.)
11:45a – 12:00p Q&A

LEARNING OBJECTIVES/OUTCOMES:

Upon completion of this professional development program, you will be able to:

  1. Define Attuned Accompaniment
  2. List the 7 Qualities of the skilled grief counselor
  3. Describe classical vs updated psychodynamic theories of bereavement
  4.  Describe assumptive world collapse and its implications in bereavement and recovery
  5. Apply an understanding of Schneider’s Model of “What’s Lost, What’s Left, What’s Possible”

CANCELLATION POLICY:

Full refund if cancellation received three weeks prior to program. Thereafter, refund only if substitute can be arranged. Please get in touch with the program coordinator, David Fireman, LCSW at 773-274-4600  to address any questions or concerns.

CONTINUING EDUCATION:

This program is available for 3 continuing education credits/hours. Participants must attend 100% of the program. The Center for Grief Recovery is committed to accessibility and non-discrimination. If you believe that a violation of ethics has occurred during this program, or if you have concerns about accessibility for people with disabilities, distress regarding program content, or any other complaints or questions, please contact Paul Martin, PsyD at the above number.

The Center for Grief Recovery is approved by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to sponsor continuing education for psychologists, counselors, and social workers. The Center for Grief Recovery maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

Sponsor License#: 268.000149

There is no commercial support for this program nor are there any relationships between the presenting organization, presenter, program content, research, grants, or other funding that could reasonably be construed as conflicts of interest.

Register for Attuned Accompaniment: Empathic Responsiveness in Grief Counseling

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