Child Grief Coach & Practitioner Training
Specialist ACCPH accredited training equipping professionals to support grieving children with The STILL Method framework, practical tools and a complete six-week programme
Why Specialist Child Grief Training Matters
Understanding Grief in Childhood
Grief in childhood carries unique developmental patterns and psychological vulnerabilities that differ fundamentally from adult bereavement. Without trained, trauma-informed support, children may develop long-term anxiety disorders, sensory processing difficulties, attachment disruption, or fear-based behavioural patterns that impact their education, relationships and wellbeing.
What appears as defiance is often fear. What looks like avoidance is frequently confusion. What seems like a behaviour problem is usually a child who no longer feels emotionally safe. A qualified Child Grief Coach prevents these trajectories by providing the emotional safety, developmental understanding and structured framework that bereaved children require.
How Childhood Grief Manifests
Grief presents differently across developmental stages. Recognition of these patterns is essential for effective intervention.
Sleep Disruption
Night terrors, difficulty falling asleep, fear of the dark, separation anxiety at bedtime, regression in sleep independence
School Refusal & Avoidance
Refusing to attend, separation anxiety from carers, difficulty concentrating, academic decline, social withdrawal
Heightened Anxiety
Excessive worry, catastrophic thinking, hypervigilance, fear of further loss, preoccupation with death
Explosive Anger & Aggression
Sudden outbursts, physical aggression, destructive behaviour, irritability, low frustration tolerance
Developmental Regression
Loss of acquired skills, return to earlier behaviours, bedwetting, thumb-sucking, baby talk
Social Withdrawal
Isolation from peers, loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities, difficulty forming relationships
Somatic Symptoms
Stomach aches, headaches, illness fears, unexplained physical complaints, health anxiety
Emotional Shutdown
Appearing 'fine', emotional numbing, avoidance of grief-related conversations, dissociation
Who This Child Bereavement Training Is For
This accredited programme is designed for professionals across education, care, health and wellbeing sectors who work with bereaved children and young people.
Education Professionals
- Teachers and pastoral care leaders
- SEN coordinators and learning mentors
- Educational psychologists
- School counsellors and wellbeing staff
- Alternative provision and PRU staff
- Teaching assistants and support workers
Care & Support Workers
- Residential children's home workers
- Foster carers and kinship carers
- Therapeutic care teams
- Early help and family support practitioners
- Social workers and family liaison officers
- Children's bereavement service workers
Health & Wellbeing Practitioners
- Counsellors and psychotherapists
- Mental health support workers
- Wellbeing coordinators
- Youth workers and community practitioners
- Child bereavement specialists
- Play therapists and art therapists
Aspiring Child Grief Coaches
- Professionals wanting to specialise in child bereavement
- Those establishing private practice
- Individuals with lived experience seeking to help others
- Career changers with relevant background
- Existing STILL Method coaches expanding their expertise
Comprehensive Three-Day Curriculum
A complete, evidence-based education in child-centred grief work, built to professional training standards and grounded in The STILL Method framework for emotional safety.
Module 1: Foundations of Childhood Grief & Development
Understanding how children comprehend death, loss and bereavement across developmental stages from early years through adolescence.
Developmental Understanding of Death
How children aged 3-18 conceptualise death, the concrete operational stage, magical thinking, and adolescent grief responses
Normal vs Complicated Grief
Typical grief trajectories, prolonged grief disorder in children, traumatic grief, and when to refer for specialist intervention
Behavioural Manifestations
How grief appears through behaviour, somatic complaints, academic changes, social withdrawal, and regression patterns
Co-occurring Presentations
How childhood grief intersects with trauma, anxiety disorders, neurodevelopmental conditions, attachment difficulties and sensory processing needs
Module 2: The STILL Method Framework for Grief
Applying The STILL Method's evidence-based approach to emotional safety, nervous system regulation and trauma-informed practice with grieving children.
Creating Emotional Safety
The STILL Method principles for establishing environments where children feel safe enough to process grief without overwhelm or shutdown
Behaviour as Communication
Understanding fear-driven reactions, identifying underlying distress beneath surface behaviours, and responding therapeutically
Neurobiology of Grief
What happens in the developing brain during bereavement, autonomic nervous system responses, somatic patterns, and polyvagal theory
Regulation & Grounding Techniques
Practical, age-appropriate tools for helping children regulate emotions, settle their nervous system, and restore felt safety
Module 3: Practical Application & Professional Practice
Real-world skills, ethical practice, difficult conversations, and working effectively within schools, care settings and families.
Talking About Death with Children
Language that supports emotional processing, answering challenging questions, what to avoid, and developmentally appropriate explanations
Creative & Expressive Approaches
Structured activities requiring no artistic skill that help children express what they cannot verbalise, including play-based techniques
Working with Family Systems
Understanding parental grief, sibling responses, secondary losses, creating joined-up support, and navigating complex family dynamics
Professional Boundaries & Ethics
Working safely within your role, safeguarding awareness, knowing when to refer, maintaining boundaries, and practitioner self-care
The Six-Week Children's Grief Programme
A complete, structured, ready-to-deliver bereavement support programme that becomes part of your professional practice
📋 Structured Weekly Sessions
Six themed sessions with clear learning objectives, emotional processing activities, and measurable outcomes for bereaved children
💬 Complete Session Scripts
Word-for-word guidance including opening rituals, core activities, difficult conversation prompts, and closing grounding exercises
🎨 Practical Activities
Evidence-based exercises requiring minimal materials, suitable for schools and care settings, with no artistic ability needed
🔄 Developmental Adaptations
Modifications for different ages (5-7, 8-11, 12-16), abilities, communication needs, and neurodevelopmental presentations
📊 Progress Tracking Tools
Assessment frameworks to monitor emotional wellbeing, identify when additional support is required, and evidence outcomes
👥 Individual & Group Formats
Designed for both one-to-one work and group delivery in schools, children's homes, hospices and community settings
What Sets This Training Apart
This is not a basic awareness course. It is a professional qualification that equips you to deliver structured bereavement support with confidence and competence.
Complete Deliverable Programme
Not just theory—you receive a full six-week children's grief programme ready for immediate use in your workplace or private practice
Evidence-Based & Trauma-Informed
Grounded in developmental psychology, attachment theory, polyvagal theory, neuroscience research and The STILL Method framework
Immediately Applicable
Practical tools and structured approaches you can apply the week after training in schools, residential care, hospitals and families
Professionally Accredited
ACCPH and IPHM accredited certification demonstrating recognised professional competence in child bereavement support
Ongoing Practitioner Support
Join The STILL Method global practitioner community with continued mentoring, resources and professional development opportunities
Accessible to All Professionals
No counselling qualification required—designed for educators, care workers, youth workers and wellbeing professionals
Professional Competencies You Will Gain
Connect Your Adult & Child Grief Expertise
The STILL Method also offers Life After Loss, our accredited adult grief coach training programme. Many practitioners complete both qualifications to work confidently across the whole family system—supporting bereaved children, teenagers, and adults.
The adult programme includes its own six-week support model with in-depth exploration of adult grief, widow support, somatic responses, and the emotional tasks of bereavement.
Learn more about Life After Loss Adult Grief Coach Training →
About Your Trainer: Stuart Thompson
Stuart Thompson is the creator of The STILL Method and a leading practitioner in the fields of anxiety, trauma and emotional safety. With over 25 years of experience, Stuart began his career as a social worker before becoming an award-winning therapist and Fellow of the ACCPH.
Named one of the most influential disabled people in the UK in 2019, Stuart's work integrates developmental psychology, trauma-informed practice, polyvagal theory and evidence-based approaches with practical tools that children and families can use immediately.
Over the past five years, more than 2,000 children and young people have been supported through STILL Method programmes delivered by trained practitioners globally. This Child Grief Coach training extends that work to meet the critical need for specialist child bereavement support in schools, care settings, hospitals and communities.
Investment & Enrolment
Professional Training Investment
Complete three-day accredited training | Early bird rate: £595
Places are intentionally limited to ensure an exceptional learning environment with meaningful interaction, personalised attention and depth of practice. This investment includes lifetime access to all programme materials and ongoing practitioner community support.
Book Your Training PlaceFrequently Asked Questions
Is this suitable for people without counselling qualifications?
Yes. This training is specifically designed for professionals working in education, residential care, youth work, pastoral support and wellbeing roles. You do not need a therapy or counselling background.
Will I be able to call myself a Child Grief Coach?
Yes. Upon successful completion of all three training days, you will receive an accredited certificate as a Child Grief Coach and Practitioner, recognised by ACCPH and IPHM.
Can I use the six-week programme in my workplace?
Yes. The programme is written specifically for use in schools, residential care settings, hospices, early help teams, bereavement services and community organisations.
Can the programme be delivered to both groups and individuals?
Yes. The six-week programme includes adaptations for both group work and one-to-one support, with guidance on appropriate group sizes and individualised approaches.
Is there ongoing support after certification?
Yes. You gain access to The STILL Method practitioner community with ongoing mentoring sessions, resources, updates to materials, and professional development opportunities.
What age range does this training cover?
The training covers bereavement support for children and young people aged 4-18, with developmental adaptations across early years, primary, secondary and adolescent stages.
Will this training be emotionally challenging?
Working with bereaved children involves engaging with emotional content. The training is delivered with psychological safety, clear boundaries, and professional support throughout.
How does this differ from basic bereavement awareness training?
This is a complete professional qualification, not an awareness session. You receive in-depth theoretical understanding, structured practical tools, a deliverable six-week programme, accredited certification, and ongoing professional support.
Ready to Train as a Child Grief Coach?
Join the growing network of STILL Method practitioners making a profound difference in the lives of bereaved children and families.
Questions about the training? Contact us directly