FAQs

The Grief-Sensitive Healthcare Project is an initiative developed through the Yale Child Study Center to support healthcare professionals in responding to grief and loss with greater confidence, skill, and compassion. GSHP provides evidence-informed education, presentations, workshops, and resources designed to strengthen grief-sensitive communication, reflective practice, and personal wellness in healthcare settings.

GSHP resources are designed primarily for healthcare professionals across roles and settings, including physicians, nurses, social workers, psychologists, chaplains, therapists, administrative staff, and other members of healthcare teams. While some GSHP resources may also be useful for grieving individuals and their supporters, the GSHP focus is on healthcare professionals in both adult and pediatric settings.

The GSHP was created in response to well-documented gaps in grief education and support within healthcare. Research and lived experience show that healthcare professionals are often underprepared to navigate grief and loss, despite frequent exposure to death, serious illness, and bereavement. GSHP exists to provide contemporary, evidence-informed education and practical tools to better support patients, families and other care partners, and care teams.

The GSHP offers a range of free, evidence-informed resources, including:

• On-demand learning library with self-guided learning resources
• Video library featuring original GSHP content and lived experience perspectives
• Downloadable reference guides on a range of topics related to grief literacy in healthcare
• Free webinars with leading experts
• Grief-sensitive blog with insights from research and lived experience 
• In-person and virtual trainings and workshops

These offerings are designed to provide a flexible and accessible way to support foundational learning, communication skills, reflective practice, and personal wellness in healthcare environments.

No. GSHP presentations, seminars, workshops, and resources are offered at no cost. Thanks to the philanthropic support of the New York Life Foundation, the Yale Child Study Center is able to provide these offerings free of charge.

Yes. The GSHP offers customized group learning opportunities based on the needs of your organization, team, or audience. If you are interested in a topic or format not listed in our current offerings, we encourage you to reach out to discuss your needs.

You can request a seminar, workshop, or other learning opportunity by contacting the GSHP team through our contact page. We will follow up to learn more about your organization, audience, and goals, and explore options for scheduling a learning opportunity that fits your needs.

The GSHP is based at the Yale Child Study Center and currently offers in-person seminars, workshops and other learning opportunities in and around New Haven, CT, Portland, OR, and the Bay Area of CA. Virtual trainings are available nationwide, and in-person requests in other locations may be considered when travel costs are covered.

Seminars, workshops, and other learning opportunities are led by members of the GSHP team and training consultants, including experienced clinicians, educators, and researchers affiliated with the Yale Child Study Center and collaborating institutions. They bring expertise in grief, mental health, reflective practice, and healthcare education.

While GSHP resources are tailored for healthcare audiences, many of the core concepts may be relevant to others who support grieving individuals. However, content is designed with healthcare settings, roles, and systems in mind.

Currently, customized GSHP seminars, workshops, and other learning opportunities are focused on healthcare professionals. Some webinars may be relevant to broader audiences.

Some GSHP presentations and webinars may offer continuing education (CE/CME) credits. When available. This information will be clearly noted in the individual seminar, workshop, or webinar description. If CE/CME credit is important for your organization or team, we encourage you to check specific offerings or contact us with questions.

No. While members of the GSHP team and advisory network include licensed mental health professionals and experienced clinicians, the GSHP is an educational initiative and does not provide therapy, counseling, crisis response, or clinical treatment services. The GSHP focuses on education and practical applications through learning opportunities and resources designed to support healthcare professionals, organizations, and care teams.

The GSHP team is always open to exploring opportunities to collaborate on research, evaluation, and related initiatives that align with our mission. If your organization is interested in partnering or exploring ways to expand GSHP’s impact, we invite you to contact us to start a conversation.

Yes. The GSHP team welcomes recommendations for resources, topics, and areas of focus that would be helpful for healthcare professionals. If there is a tool, article, organization, or topic you think should be included or addressed in GSHP resources, we invite you to contact us and share your suggestion.

All recommended resources are reviewed to ensure they align with GSHP’s mission, approach, and values, including our commitment to evidence-informed, grief-sensitive, and culturally responsive care. Your input helps us continue to grow and refine GSHP offerings.