Supporting people through bereavement is an important part of medical practice, yet many doctors receive little formal training in grief or bereavement communication. Whether you’re breaking bad news, caring for patients at the end of life, or supporting families after a death, having the confidence and skills to respond compassionately can make a lasting difference.
Our evidence-based bereavement training combines clinical psychology, grief research and practical guidance to help doctors feel more confident supporting bereaved people in a range of healthcare settings.
“Most GPs view bereavement care as an important aspect of their role, yet many report needing more formal education and up-to-date knowledge of grief.” – O’Connor et al. 2014
Start exploring your training options
Use this form to tell us a little about your training needs. You’ll receive our Training Brochure + Indicative Pricing immediately – on screen and straight to your inbox.
Why Bereavement Training Matters for Doctors
Doctors often find themselves supporting patients and families during some of the most difficult moments of their lives. From discussing life-limiting diagnoses and delivering bad news, to caring for patients approaching the end of life, grief and loss are woven into many areas of medical practice.
While clinical training prepares doctors to diagnose and treat illness, many receive little formal education on responding to grief, navigating emotionally complex conversations or recognising the different ways people experience bereavement.
Compassionate, informed communication can help patients and families feel heard, supported and understood during times of profound loss. It can also help doctors feel more confident in these conversations while reducing the emotional burden that can come from repeated exposure to death and bereavement.
Common Bereavement Situations Doctors Encounter
Doctors may encounter bereavement in many different ways, including:
- Breaking bad news to patients and families.
- Supporting relatives following the death of a patient.
- Caring for people receiving palliative or end-of-life care.
- Responding to sudden or unexpected deaths.
- Managing conversations around anticipatory grief.
- Supporting patients following the death of a loved one.
- Recognising when someone may need specialist bereavement support.
- Looking after their own wellbeing following emotionally demanding clinical experiences.
General practitioners are often the health professional people turn to for support following the death of a loved one. – O’Connor et al. 2014
Our Bereavement Training for Doctors
What you’ll learn
Our bereavement training helps doctors develop practical knowledge and confidence in supporting grieving patients, families and colleagues.
You’ll explore topics including:
- Understanding how grief affects different people.
- Contemporary models and theories of grief.
- Compassionate communication during difficult conversations.
- Recognising complex grief responses.
- Practical ways to support bereaved people.
- Appropriate signposting and referral.
- Looking after your own wellbeing when working with grief.
- Developing confidence in grief-informed practice.
Start exploring your training options
Use this form to tell us a little about your training needs. You’ll receive our Training Brochure + Indicative Pricing immediately – on screen and straight to your inbox.
Explore Our Bereavement Training Courses
Whether you’re looking for an introduction to bereavement support, a deeper understanding of grief theory or practical therapeutic approaches, we offer a range of evidence-based learning resources.
Tier 1: Foundations of Bereavement Support
A practical introduction to bereavement support, covering the foundations of grief, compassionate communication, responding to bereaved people and recognising when additional support may be needed.
Best for:
Doctors looking for a practical, evidence-based introduction to bereavement support.
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Product on sale
Tier 1: Foundations of Bereavement SupportOriginal price was: £74.99.£59.99Current price is: £59.99.
Formulating Grief: Psychological Models
Explore the major psychological models of grief and how they can help make sense of the diverse ways people respond to bereavement.
Best for:
Doctors wanting a deeper understanding of grief beyond traditional stage-based models.
“With its thoughtful blend of psychological models, inclusive group practices, and emphasis on facilitator wellbeing, this course is a comprehensive and supportive resource for those wishing to run grief support groups with confidence and care.”
– Dr Megan Hofmann (Clinical Psychologist)
Practising Compassion Focused Therapy in Grief Work
Learn how compassion-focused principles can help people experiencing grief, shame, guilt and self-criticism, while developing a more compassionate approach to bereavement conversations.
Best for:
Doctors interested in understanding therapeutic approaches that support compassionate care.
Your Grief Journey Workbook
A downloadable workbook designed to help bereaved people better understand their grief through psychoeducation, reflection exercises and practical activities.
Best for:
Professionals looking for an evidence-informed resource that may complement bereavement support conversations or be recommended for personal reflection where appropriate.
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Product on sale
Your Grief Journey WorkbookOriginal price was: £15.00.£10.00Current price is: £10.00.
Why Choose The Loss Foundation?
The Loss Foundation is the UK’s only charity dedicated solely to supporting people bereaved by cancer.
Our training is informed by:
- Clinical psychologists specialising in grief and bereavement.
- The latest grief research and psychological theory.
- Nearly two decades of supporting bereaved people.
- The lived experiences of thousands of people affected by loss.
- Practical, real-world conversations professionals encounter every day.
Rather than focusing solely on theory, our courses provide practical, compassionate guidance that can be applied across a wide range of healthcare settings.
Bereavement Training for Doctors – FAQs
Yes. While some doctors regularly support people following bereavement, grief can arise in almost every area of medicine. Our training is relevant across primary care, hospital medicine and specialist services.
No. Our courses range from introductory learning through to more in-depth psychological approaches, allowing you to choose the level that’s right for you.
Yes. Our courses are delivered online, allowing you to learn at your own pace.
Yes. Our training is developed by clinical psychologists and informed by current grief research alongside the practical experiences of supporting bereaved people.
Yes. We also provide bereavement training for organisations and healthcare teams. Please contact us to discuss your requirements.
Related Training
You may also be interested in:
- Bereavement Training for Nurses
- Bereavement Training for Healthcare Professionals
- Bereavement Training for NHS Staff
- Bereavement Training for Midwives
- Bereavement Training for Palliative Care Staff
- Bereavement Training for Hospice Staff
Written and Reviewed by
Dr Erin Hope Thompson MBE
Founder, The Loss Foundation | Clinical Psychologist | Bereavement Specialist
This page has been written and clinically reviewed by Dr Erin Hope Thompson MBE, a Clinical Psychologist specialising in grief and bereavement.
Dr Thompson is the Founder of The Loss Foundation, the UK’s only charity dedicated solely to supporting people bereaved by cancer. She has spent nearly two decades supporting bereaved individuals, developing evidence-based bereavement services and training professionals across healthcare, charities and the wider community.
Her work combines the latest psychological research with extensive clinical experience to help professionals develop the confidence, knowledge and practical skills needed to support people experiencing grief.
Dr Thompson was awarded an MBE for services to bereaved people and is committed to making high-quality bereavement education accessible to professionals across the UK.
