About the Course

Widowed people are part of every community and every profession. In the years ahead, many professionals will find themselves supporting someone whose life has been profoundly changed by the death of their partner. This course is designed to provide practical understanding and real world tools that help professionals respond with confidence, compassion, and grief literacy. Those who invest in this training position themselves to serve widowed people with greater awareness and skill, creating interactions that feel respectful, supportive, and deeply human at moments when that understanding matters most.

Meet Your Instructor

This training has been shaped by many voices and many years of learning. While I wrote the content, it reflects the insight of a dedicated team of professionals and the decades of quantitative and qualitative research gathered through the Soaring Spirits community. My role in this work has been to bring those insights together in a practical way. With a background in teaching and training, and years spent listening to widowed people share their lived experiences, my hope has been to translate what we have learned into tools that professionals can actually use. This work is deeply personal to me, and it is guided by a genuine love and respect for widowed people and the remarkable resilience they show as they rebuild their lives. It is my sincere hope that what you learn here will help you feel more confident and thoughtful in the ways you respond to widowed people. The understanding and skills you develop here can serve you in many areas of your life, offering opportunities to respond with greater compassion whenever someone around you is facing one of life’s most difficult moments.

Course Curriculum

6 Chapters · 44 Lessons

  1. 1

    START HERE: Welcome and Course Overview

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      Start Here: Why Grief Literacy Matters for Professionals

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      Course Syllabus

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      WATCH: An Introduction to the Professional Grief Literacy Program

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      What's Next?

  2. 2

    1: Widowhood Definition, Scope, and Impact

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      Introduction: Understanding the Widowed Experience

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      1.1 REVIEW Widowhood Definition and Scope

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      1.2 WATCH The Many Faces of Widowhood

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      1.3 REVIEW Widowhood Impact

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      1.4 WATCH Widowhood and Decision Fatigue

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      1.5 REVIEW Widowhood Decision Fatigue

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      1.6 READ and APPLY Case Study: Widowhood and Decision Fatigue

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      1.8 Case Study Insight

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      TAKE: Knowledge Check for Understanding the Widowhood Experience

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      What's Next?

  3. 3

    2: LANGUAGE MATTERS: Euphemisms, Saying Their Name, and Speaking Directly

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      Introduction: Language Matters

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      2.1 REVIEW Language Matters - Euphemisms

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      2.2 WATCH How Euphemisms Can Harm

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      2.3 REVIEW Saying Their Name

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      2.4 READ and APPLY: Case Study Marina's Appointment

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      2.5 Case Study Insight

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      2.6 REVIEW Using Direct Language

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      2.7 REVIEW Language Matters: What to Say — What to Avoid

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      TAKE: Knowledge Check for Language Matters

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      What's Next?

  4. 4

    3:The Professional’s Role in Supporting Grieving Clients​

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      Introduction: The Professional’s Role in Supporting Grieving Clients​

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      3.1 REVIEW: Professional Clarity

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      3.2 WATCH You Don't Need To Be A Grief Therapist

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      3.3 REVIEW Present Awareness

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      3.4 WATCH A Professional Setting Where Things Went Right

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      3.5 REVIEW Practical Support

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      3.6 Sitting With A Widowed Person

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      3.7 READ AND APPLY: Case Study - The Power of a Well-Timed Resource

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      3.8 Case Study Insight

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      TAKE: Knowledge Check for Your Role As An Advisor

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      What's Next?

  5. 5

    4. Introducing the Soaring Spirits Newly Widowed Packet

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      Introduction: Soaring Spirits Newly Widowed Packet

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      4.1 REVIEW Overview and Contents of The Newly Widowed Packet

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      4.2 REVIEW Newly Widowed Document Sample: Overview of Soaring Spirits International Programs

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      4.3 REVIEW Providing The Newly Widowed Packet With Confidence

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      4.4 REVIEW AND APPLY Case Study: From Product Expertise to Human Presence

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      4.5 Case Study Insight

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      4.6 REVIEW Why Newly Widowed Packet Make a Difference

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      TAKE: Knowledge Check for Introducing The Soaring Spirits Newly Widowed Packet

  6. 6

    Certification Exam & Course Summary

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      ⭐ FINAL Certification Knowledge Check⭐

Compassionate Support

Learn practical communication strategies and supportive language to help widowed individuals.

Practical Tools

Understand the importance of respecting autonomy, dignity, and lived experience in providing support.

Grief Literacy Training

Recognize the complexities of widowhood and contribute to healthier, more grief-literate communities.

What Participants Are Saying

Discover how this course is making a difference and building grief-literate communities.

”
Text-only testimonials are quick to scan and can highlight the value of your product at a glance.
Jessica L.

Las Vegas, NV

The combination of text and imagery make the testimonial feel more personal and credible.
Ashley T.

Working mom

”
Finally, a handbook that makes photography feel simple! It covers everything from camera settings to post-processing in a way that actually makes sense.
Anna W.

Amateur photographer

Earn Your Advanced Grief Literacy Certification

Premier members can complete all modules to earn Advanced Grief Literacy. Certification and be recognized on the Soaring Spirits website as a professional committed to compassionate, grief-informed service. You may also choose to upgrade your listing with a live link to your business website, helping clients find professionals who understand the realities of grief. Complete the modules. Earn your certification. Show your commitment to grief-literate care.

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