Not Fitting the Typical Profile of the Widowed: The Role of the Clinician in Supporting Those Who Are Too Young to Be Widowed
Live Event

Not Fitting the Typical Profile of the Widowed: The Role of the Clinician in Supporting Those Who Are Too Young to Be Widowed

Sat, Nov 14th, 2026
11:00am – 2:15pm US Eastern Time
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About the Event

Each year, thousands of adults across the United States face life after the unexpected death of a spouse or partner long before they ever imagined. Although the average age of widowhood falls much later in life, losing a partner in one’s 20s, 30s, or 40s brings a distinct kind of shock, and its effects can reach every part of life, from identity and finances to parenting, work, and future plans. Because this loss occurs at a developmentally incongruent stage of life, young widowed adults often find that their grief goes unrecognized by peers, support systems, and even professionals. This training will equip clinicians with information and practical strategies to support individuals who are “too young to be widowed.” Discussion will also address how to support widowed parents as they navigate their own grief while helping their children through theirs.

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

Christina Marsack-Topolewski

Christina Marsack-Topolewski

Dr. Christina Marsack-Topolewski is an associate professor of Social Work in the College of Health and Human Services at Eastern Michigan University. Dr. Marsack-Topolewski received her PhD in Social Work with a dual title in Gerontology from Wayne State University. She has worked with individuals with various intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) for 20 years. Her research focuses on individuals with autism and other neurodevelopmental disabilities, their caregivers, advance care planning, the service delivery model, and service utilization. She has over 90 publications in national and international journals and encyclopedias, mainly focusing on individuals with IDDs, caregiving, as well as services and supports. In addition, she has presented her work locally, nationally, and internationally.

Target Audience

This live interactive is intended for Behavioral Health 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 beginner levels of knowledge.

Learning Objectives

After taking this activity, you should be able to:

  1. 1 Describe the unique circumstances in life and facets of grief that impact those experiencing young widowhood.
  2. 2 Explain clinical strategies that can be tailored to the needs of young widowed clients as they navigate grief, identity changes, and an unexpected future.
  3. 3 Discuss approaches for supporting widowed parents as they manage their own grief while helping children of different developmental stages cope with the loss of a parent.

Anderson, E., Van Vuuren, J., Bennett, K. M., & Soulsby, L. K. (2023). Exploring the process of adjustment following partner death in younger, widowed individuals: A qualitative systematic review. Death Studies, 47(5), 606-617. https://doi.org/10.1177/00302228211047088

Anderson, E., Bennett, K. M., Van Vuuren, J., & Soulsby, L. K. (2023). Partner bereavement when parenting dependent children: What factors influence adjustment?. Death Studies, 47(3), 239-248. https://doi.org/10.1080/07481187.2022.2048281

Barros-Lane, L., Germany, A., Smith, P., & Stovall, T. (2026). A socioecological examination of the challenges associated with young widowhood: A systematic review. OMEGA-Journal of Death and Dying, 92(4), 2340-2360. https://doi.org/10.1177/00302228241227996

Barros-Lane, L., Alvarez-Rodriguez, V., Cornelius, V. E., & Smith, V. D. (2025). “Grief lasts longer than sympathy”: Qualitatively examining disenfranchised grief in young widowhood. Journal of Loss and Trauma, 30(2), 123-144. https://doi.org/10.1080/15325024.2024.2324273

Baumbach, A., Hughes, M. C., & Liu, Y. (2024). Challenges and coping strategies in transitioning from caregiving to widowhood: a systematic review. Research on Aging, 46(9-10), 535-547. https://doi.org/10.1177/01640275241254396

Chami, J. M., & Pooley, J. A. (2023). Widowed young: The role of stressors and protective factors for resilience in coping with spousal loss. OMEGA-Journal of Death and Dying, 88(2), 477-504. https://doi.org/10.1177/00302228211047088

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

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

Faculty

There are no known relevant financial relationships to disclose.

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There is no commercial support for this distance-learning course.

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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.

11:00–11:15 AM: Welcome, Introduction, and Orientation to the Topic

11:15–11:30 AM: Defining Young Widowhood

11:30–11:50 AM: Not Fitting the Typical Profile

11:50 AM–12:15 PM: Grief in Young Widowhood

12:15–12:30 PM: Case Vignette and Reflection

12:30–12:45 PM: BREAK

12:45–1:00 PM: Barriers to Support

1:00–1:15 PM: Assessment Considerations

1:15–1:40 PM: Best Practice and Clinical Implications

1:40–2:00 PM: Resources, Services, and Supports

2:00–2:15 PM: Recap and Q&A

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