Exploring Anticipatory Grief
Live Event

Exploring Anticipatory Grief

Tue, Nov 24th, 2026
11:00am – 2:15pm US Eastern Time
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About the Event

Grief takes many forms, and one of those is anticipatory grief. This unique grief experience challenges clinicians to deepen their understanding while supporting clients both relationally and clinically. This webinar will explore types of anticipatory grief and the common emotions, thoughts, and behavioral responses that may arise before an anticipated loss. Symptoms, assessment considerations, and key clinical areas of focus will be discussed. Participants will examine how anticipatory grief may affect individuals facing illness or decline, as well as family members, caregivers, and other significant supports. Attention will also be given to factors that shape the grief experience, including culture, family dynamics, coping patterns, and the nature of the anticipated loss. Clinicians will review recommended counseling steps and practical therapeutic interventions, including life review, the Patient Dignity Inventory, and dialectical approaches for anticipatory grief.

Live Event
This live online event will be held as a Zoom Webinar. Attendees will have the option to interact through features such as the Chat and Q&A, but cameras and microphones will not be enabled.

Live Event Instructor

Diane Bigler, LCSW, LSCSW

Diane Bigler, LCSW, LSCSW

Diane Bigler, LCSW, LSCSW, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Missouri and Kansas with over 25 years of experience in the mental health field. She has held clinical positions as an outpatient and in-home therapist, and clinical supervisor. Diane was an Adjunct Professor of Social Work for 10 years at The University of Kansas, School of Social Welfare and a Field Liaison and Field Instructor. She has also held administrative positions as a program Director and Coordinator. Diane is a popular local and national trainer on a wide variety of mental health and workplace development topics for clinicians and corporations. Diane is most passionate about providing quality professional development to clinicians, employees, and leaders. For fun, Diane loves to spoil her four Dachshunds and rock out to 80’s music.

Target Audience

This live interactive is intended for Behavioral Health and Addictions professionals, including psychologists, social workers, counselors, marriage & family therapists, art therapists, school psychologists, psychoanalysts, music therapists, behavior analysts, school counselors, and addiction counselors. It is appropriate for intermediate levels of knowledge.

Learning Objectives

After taking this activity, you should be able to:

  1. 1 Define anticipatory grief and identify at least three key emotional and cognitive experiences.
  2. 2 Explain person-centered methods of supporting individuals with anticipatory grief.
  3. 3 Employ at least five clinical recommendations and interventions for supporting clients with anticipatory grief.

Chaudhry, M. S. I., Poco, P. D. L., Balasubramanian, P. D. I., & Andres, D. E. B. (2025). Caregiving experiences as mediators between caregiving stressors and anticipatory grief in severe dementia: Findings from longitudinal path analysis. The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 33(2), 143-152. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jagp.2024.07.017

Ghezeljeh, T. N., Seyedfatemi, N., Bolhari, J., Kamyari, N., & Rezaei, M. (2023). Effects of family-based dignity intervention and expressive writing on anticipatory grief in family caregivers of patients with cancer: a randomized controlled trial. Bmc Psychiatry, 23(1), 220. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-023-04715-x

Hsiao, C. C., Hsieh, S. I., Kao, C. Y., & Chu, T. P. (2023). Factors affecting nurses' willingness and competency to provide anticipatory grief counseling for family caregivers of patients with terminal cancer. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 32(7-8), 1053-1064. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.16335

Kustanti, C. Y., Chu, H., Kang, X. L., Pien, L. C., Chen, R., Tsai, H. T., & Chou, K. R. (2024). Anticipatory grief prevalence among caregivers of persons with a life-threatening illness: A meta-analysis. BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care, 13(e3), e1074-e1083. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjspcare-2021-003338

Wang, H., Yue, H., Wang, Z., Lu, M., & Feng, D. (2023). The relationship between patient‐family caregiver congruence/incongruence in acceptance of illness and family caregivers' anticipatory grief. Psycho‐Oncology, 32(5), 751-759. https://doi.org/10.1002/pon.6121

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The following relevant financial relationships have been disclosed by this activity's planners, faculty, and the reviewer:

Planners and Reviewers

The planners of this activity have reported that they have no relevant financial relationships.

Faculty

There are no known relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Commercial support

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Event Agenda

Agenda times are listed in US Eastern Time. That is 3 hours later than US Pacific Time. The event starts at 8:00am US Pacific Time.

11:00 AM–12:30 PM:

Objective #1: Define anticipatory grief and identify at least three key emotional and cognitive experiences.

What is anticipatory grief?

  • Grieving a loss before it happens
  • Video
  • Common anticipatory grief examples
  • Whirlpool of grief
  • Common emotions
  • Diversity considerations
  • Multidimensionality of grief


Objective #2: Explain person-centered methods of supporting individuals with anticipatory grief.

  • Screening and assessment
  • Tasks of grief (Worden)
  • Clinical areas of focus
  • Communication skills


12:30–12:45 PM: BREAK


12:45–2:15 PM:

Objective #3: Employ at least five clinical recommendations and interventions for supporting clients with anticipatory grief.

  • Perspectives from hospice social workers
  • Most used methods to support anticipatory grief
  • Education and communication
  • Life review methods
  • Teamwork
  • Recommended counseling steps
  • Dialectical approaches to dementia
  • Self-compassion
  • “The Last Lecture” by Randy Pausch
  • Pema Chodron perspectives
  • Anticipatory grief in children
  • Supporting grievers
  • Resources, Q&A

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