The idea of mapping grief is not new. For decades, one model has shaped how people expect grief to unfold.

What are the five stages of grief – and do they happen in order?

Denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance are commonly known as the five stages of grief.

The model was introduced by psychiatrist Elisabeth Kübler-Ross in her 1969 book On Death and Dying, drawing on her work with people who were facing their own deaths. It was not created as a sequence that every bereaved person must pass through.

Over time, however, the five stages have often been presented as a predictable journey: beginning with denial, moving through a series of emotional stops and eventually arriving at acceptance.

Real grief is not that cooperative or tidy.

Some people may recognise some of these experiences. Others may recognise all of them, none of them or something quite different. They may experience anger without denial, acceptance alongside sadness, or emotions that do not appear anywhere in the model. There is no required order, and acceptance is not a finishing line. The difficulty is not that these experiences have been named. It begins when we turn them into expectations about how somebody ought to grieve.

If grief does not follow stages, what can a map do?

The appeal of a map is understandable. When grief feels overwhelming or difficult to make sense of, people want something that can help them find their bearings. The problem is not wanting a map. It is being given one that assumes the route in advance.

The Grief Map starts from a different place. It does not tell you which stage somebody is in or what should happen next. Instead, it helps you explore what has been lost, what has changed and what may be happening across the person’s thoughts, emotions, body, relationships, identity and everyday life. It gives you a practical framework for remaining curious, asking more useful questions and considering what kind of support might genuinely help the person in front of you.

Supporting Grief Well: The Grief Map Approach is designed to give you both a strong understanding of grief and practical ways to use that understanding when supporting another person. It helps you consider the circumstances surrounding the loss, the support available around the person and the things that may be making their grief harder to carry.

In the full course you will explore:

• How grief can affect thoughts, emotions, the body and behaviour
• What neuroscience tells us about the grieving brain
• Why having continuing bonds with the person who has died is healthy
• Grief models like the Dual Process, which help people make sense of what they are going through (you can explore this in the free taster module)
• Intrusive thoughts and helpful or unhelpful rumination
• Practical needs and self-care during grief
• Trauma responses and the Window of Tolerance

The course is designed to help you build your understanding gradually, with materials you can revisit when you need them.

What does the training include?

Your enrolment includes:

A physical Grief Map posted to you
Self-paced online learning
Videos, written resources and practical guidance
Reflective activities and knowledge checks
Continued access to the course materials
A 60–90-minute tutor-led online session after the self-paced learning
A CPD certificate following completion

Ready to feel more confident supporting people through grief?

Enrol for £60 and receive the complete self-paced course, a physical Grief Map, a live tutor session and your CPD certificate.