Estrangement Grief: Tools for Processing Unfinished Conversations & Finding Inner Stability

Registration open now
Course begins Saturday, April 12th
Hosted by Debi Jenkins Frankle
3 CE hours available
Cost: $95

Estrangement within families is becoming more common, leaving many clients grappling with unresolved grief, deep emotional wounds, and complex relational dynamics. As therapists, we encounter individuals who are navigating the pain of:

• Cutting ties due to opposing beliefs or unmet expectations

• Emotional rifts from betrayals, generational trauma, or family conflict

• The ambiguous grief of losing a relationship with someone still alive

• Cultural and societal shifts that deepen familial disconnection

This training will equip you with the tools to:

• Recognize the different forms and stages of estrangement

• Help clients process grief without the pressure to reconcile

• Support those navigating the uncertainty of ambiguous lossUnderstand the role of boundaries, agency, and self-preservation

Description:

This workshop introduces the concept of estrangement and explores the complex interplay between estrangement, grief, and unresolved relational dynamics in families. Using two case studies, participants will examine therapeutic strategies for addressing unfinished business and facilitating healing in clients grappling with estranged family relationships. This session emphasizes practical tools, including narrative exercises, timeline mapping, and frameworks for expressing regrets, resentments, and gratitude, to help clients process their emotions and restore a sense of peace.

Goals:

1. Enhance clinicians' understanding of estrangement as a complicating factor in grief and family dynamics.

2. Provide practical interventions for addressing unresolved emotional issues stemming from estranged relationships.

3. Equip participants with tools to help clients process unfinished business, fostering emotional clarity and healing.

4. Promote the use of narrative and timeline techniques to help clients acknowledge complex emotions and balance boundaries with compassion.

Objectives:

1. Define estrangement and identify its impact on grief and relational dynamics.

2. Recognize common themes in unresolved grief, including regrets, resentments, and unexpressed gratitude.

3. Apply timeline mapping techniques to help clients identify and process key relational events and patterns.

4. Use structured frameworks to guide clients in expressing complex emotions related to estranged relationships.

5. Implement narrative exercises, such as letter-writing and acknowledgment statements, to promote emotional release and healing.

6. Develop personalized approaches for clients navigating estrangement, adapting interventions to diverse relational contexts and therapeutic goals.

Join us for a thought-provoking and practical workshop designed to enhance your ability to support clients facing estrangement grief. Once you complete the course, course evaluation, and quiz, you'll receive your CE certificate within 72 hours of completion.