Before We Say Goodbye: Anticipatory Grief Counseling Strategies to Promote Meaning and Legacy
Before We Say Goodbye: Anticipatory Grief Counseling Strategies to Promote Meaning and Legacy
Presented by: PSCP: The Psychology Network and Equilibria Mental Health Services LLC
Date: April 29, 2026
Location: Virtual Platform (Zoom)
Time: 10:00am – 1:00pm EST
Co-sponsored by the Child & Adolescent Therapy CoE and the Grief & Loss CoE. Participants will have the opportunity to earn 3 CE credits upon completion.
Deadline to Register is 4/20/2026
Overview:
Many mental health professionals feel unprepared to support clients facing anticipatory grief—the emotional process that occurs before an expected loss. This interactive workshop will deepen your understanding of the unique challenges associated with anticipatory grief and equip you with practical tools to provide compassionate support and care. Participants will gain confidence in navigating sensitive conversations and learn to implement legacy-based interventions to help families find meaning and resilience in the face of anticipatory grief.
Objectives:
-Apply knowledge of anticipatory grief counseling to clients experiencing impending losses
-Facilitate developmentally appropriate conversations about illness, death, and grief to promote healthy coping in children, adolescents, and adults
-Implement legacy building interventions to support clients before and after a death
-Prepare clients for memorial services and transitions back to school or work
Presenter:
Dr. Erica Sirrine is a licensed clinical social worker with 25 years of experience in the field of death, dying, and bereavement. She earned a PhD in social work and has been awarded the distinction of Fellow in Thanatology by the Association for Death Education and Counseling. Dr. Sirrine has conducted and published research on grief and bereavement, including a study on college student experiences of loss amid the COVID-19 pandemic that was published in OMEGA: Journal of Death and Dying and featured in TIME magazine. She maintains a blog on grief and is the author of Sammy’s Story, an anticipatory grief counseling book for young children experiencing the serious illness of a parent.
Dr. Sirrine has extensive experience providing individual and group therapy to children, adolescents, adults, and families experiencing illness and loss. She has implemented numerous interventions and programs aimed at improving the emotional health of clients and currently serves as the director of social work at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
