Child Bereavement Training for Professionals
A complete accredited pathway that builds deep expertise in supporting grieving children, with a practical six week programme included
Children experience grief very differently from adults. Their feelings appear in waves of behaviour, changes in routine, sudden shutdowns, or moments of fear that adults often misread. To support them safely, you need more than kindness and instinct. You need specialist knowledge, emotional understanding, and a clear structure that protects the child from overwhelm.
Child Bereavement Training with The STILL Method is an accredited, in depth programme that teaches you how to support grieving children with confidence. You learn the foundations of child grief, the emotional and developmental processes behind loss, how to recognise anxiety in grief, how to use STILL Method tools to build safety, and how to guide children through simple reflective work that helps them make sense of what has happened. You also receive a complete six week programme you can deliver to children once you have gained the knowledge and skills to do so safely.
If you need grief support for adults or teenagers, please visit our separate page designed for them.
Why this training is needed
Many professionals meet grieving children every week but feel unsure how to respond in a way that helps rather than overwhelms. Children often try to protect adults by masking their feelings, or they express grief through anger, withdrawal, school refusal, or physical symptoms.
This training gives you the depth and clarity that most short bereavement courses miss. You learn why children grieve the way they do, what fear looks like in the nervous system, and how you can build emotional safety so the child can talk, reflect, or simply breathe without feeling pressured.
What this training gives you
This is not a surface level introduction. It is a complete professional training that blends evidence informed knowledge with practical tools you will use the moment you finish the course.
You learn
how grief presents at different ages and stages
why behaviour often hides overwhelm
the connection between grief and anxiety
how to support a child when emotions spike
language that helps a child feel seen and safe
how to hold space without leading or forcing disclosure
how to work with parents, carers, schools, and care settings
STILL Method tools adapted for grief and emotional regulation
clear referral routes when specialist help is needed
ethical practice, boundaries, and safety
The focus is both theoretical and practical. You gain the deep understanding needed to guide a child through loss, and you receive tools simple enough to use in a classroom, living room, or care home.
The six week children’s grief support programme
Once you have the professional knowledge and skills, you also receive a complete six week programme you can deliver one to one or in small groups. This programme gives you a repeatable structure so support feels predictable and safe for the child.
Across the six weeks you learn how to guide children through
understanding what grief feels like in their body
using STILL tools to settle fear and overwhelm
gentle memory and meaning work
practical routines that support daily life
managing difficult moments in school or at home
building confidence, identity, and emotional language
healthy endings and ongoing support
The six week framework is a resource for trained practitioners. It is not a replacement for the knowledge, safety, and emotional skill you develop throughout the training. Instead it gives you a reliable structure that you can adapt to the developmental stage and emotional capacity of each child.
Who this training is for
Teachers and pastoral teams
Residential staff and key workers
Support workers in children’s services
Youth practitioners and community staff
Coaches and wellbeing professionals
Therapeutic art and creative practitioners
Individuals with lived experience who want a professional route
If your work involves helping children through difficult moments, this training gives you a full professional foundation for grief support.
How the training is delivered
Everything is taught live online. Sessions are interactive and grounded in real practice. You learn through
teaching and discussion
modelling and guided practice
examples from schools and care settings
practical demonstrations of STILL tools
case based exploration
clear frameworks you can use immediately
You finish with both confidence and competence.
Accreditation and professional credibility
Child Bereavement Training with The STILL Method is accredited by recognised professional bodies. This provides reassurance to parents, schools, commissioners, and employers who want to see safe, structured, developmentally informed support.
You receive a certificate on completion that reflects the depth and standard of the training.
Outcomes you can expect
Greater confidence in sensitive conversations
ability to settle a child’s nervous system quickly
clearer communication with families and teachers
stronger emotional understanding in their setting
reliable session planning that feels safe for children
a toolkit that children can actually use
Schools and care settings often report calmer classrooms, fewer misunderstood behaviours, and improved routines for children who have experienced loss.
Apply for Child Bereavement Training
If you want accredited, in depth training that prepares you to support grieving children with expertise and compassion, you can view upcoming cohorts on our Child Grief Coach Training page.
If you need support for adults or adolescents, please visit our dedicated grief page designed for them.
