Introduction to Prolonged Grief Disorder Therapy Dr. M. Katherine Shear
Event details
Grief is the natural response to loss. Although it’s complex, time-varying, and multifaceted and everyone grieves in their own way, there are commonalities. Most people adapt to the loss of a loved one by accepting their new reality and restoring the capacity for wellbeing. However, for some bereaved people, early defensive responses to the loss become persistent and overly influential. When this occurs the process of adapting to the loss can be impeded, resulting in prolonged grief disorder (PGD; formerly known as complicated grief). PGD is characterized by persistent pervasive yearning, longing, or preoccupation with the loss lasting far beyond the period of time expected by the person’s social, cultural, or religious group. Prolonged Grief Disorder Therapy (PGDT; previously called complicated grief therapy: CGT) is a short-term therapy designed to address impediments and facilitate adaptation to loss. This presentation will introduce our model of grief and adaptation to loss and walk through seven "Healing Milestones" that promote adaptation to loss.
About the speaker
Dr. M. Katherine Shear
Dr. M. Katherine Shear is the Marion E. Kenworthy Professor of Psychiatry and the founding
Director of the Center for Complicated Grief at Columbia School of Social Work. Dr. Shear is a
clinical researcher who first worked in anxiety and depression. For the last two decades she has
focused on understanding and treating people who experience persistent intense grief which is
now an official diagnosis called Prolonged Grief Disorder in the DSM-5. She developed and
tested Prolonged Grief Disorder Therapy (PGDT), a short-term, strength-based intervention that
helps foster adaptation to loss and confirmed its efficacy in three large NIMH-funded studies.
Dr. Shear is currently collaborating with a faith-based civil rights organization with leadership in
Harlem called Mobilizing Preachers and Communities. The project aims to refine digital tools
and other means to support the work of pastors and community caretakers who are battling the
social and emotional toll of the pandemic in the Harlem community.
The Center for Complicated Grief at Columbia School of Social Work is dedicated to
improving the lives of bereaved people by increasing knowledge and understanding of grief
through research, training and community outreach. Since our inception in 2013, we’ve trained
over 1,000 mental health professionals in how to implement evidence-based screening,
assessment, diagnosis and treatment procedures with bereaved clients. As part of our training
institute, we offer a range of opportunities including workshops, webinars, a video self-study,
consultation, and an evidence-based treatment manual and assessment tools. Our public outreach
program aims to increase awareness for complicated grief/prolonged grief disorder (PGD) and
help sufferers, their family members and friends understand this problem and learn that help is
available. Our website offers handouts on grief, adaptation to loss, and complicated grief and a
therapist directory. We also offer a web and mobile-based app for parents and caregivers of
bereaved children.