Grief doesn't clock out when employees clock in. As leaders, HR professionals, and coaches, we know that life’s hardest moments often show up at work—silently shaping behavior, productivity, and morale. The self-directed online Workplace Grief Coach Certification Program, accredited by the International Coaching Federation (ICF), is designed to equip you with the tools and training to support individuals and teams through the complex and very human experience of grief in the workplace.

Whether you're looking to enhance your leadership approach, expand your professional services, or help create a grief-informed workplace culture, this certification empowers you to lead with empathy, resilience, and measurable impact.

Why This Program Matters

Grief doesn't stay at home when employees come to work. In fact, grief-related challenges are costing U.S. businesses an estimated $225.8 billion each year due to absenteeism, presenteeism, decreased productivity, and increased turnover.​

Grieving employees may lose up to 30 workdays annually, and even when they return, the mental fog and emotional exhaustion of grief can result in an additional 57.5 days of reduced productivity. Without proper support, more than 50% of grieving employees consider leaving their jobs—a costly consequence for any organization.

Yet, nearly half of companies offer no support beyond a few days of bereavement leave. It's clear: Grief isn't just a personal issue—it's a workplace issue. Moreover, the broader mental health landscape reveals that 12 billion working days are lost globally each year due to depression and anxiety, costing the global economy $1 trillion annually in lost productivity.

Our ICF-accredited Workplace Grief Coach Certification Program equips professionals to address these realities with empathy, strategy, and proven coaching techniques, which help companies become truly grief-informed and employees feel truly supported.

What You Will Learn

Each self-paced module is delivered through video lessons, downloadable tools, real-world scenarios, and ICF-aligned coaching strategies.

Module 1: The Impact of Grief in the Workplace

This module delves into the multifaceted nature of grief and its profound impact on the workplace. Participants will explore:​

• Understanding Grief and Loss in the Workplace
• The Ripple Effect of Grief in an Organization
• The Role of HR, Managers, and Team Leaders in Grief Support
• The Business Case for Grief Support

Module 2: Coaching Through Workplace Grief

In this module, you'll acquire practical coaching strategies to support grieving employees effectively. Key topics include:​

• The Role of Coaching in Workplace Grief
• Applying ICF Core Competencies to Workplace Grief Coaching
• Coaching Employees Through Personal and Professional Loss
• Coaching Leaders and Managers to Support a Grief-Informed Workplace

Module 3: Building a Grief-Informed Workplace Culture

This module focuses on integrating grief awareness into the organizational culture. Participants will learn to:​

• What is a Grief-Informed Workplace?
• Creating Workplace Grief Policies That Work
• Training Leaders and Teams to Navigate Grief Conversations
• Cultural Sensitivity and Inclusion in Grief Support

Module 4: Coaching for Workplace Resilience After Loss

Here, the emphasis is on fostering resilience among employees and teams post-loss. The module covers:

• Understanding Workplace Resilience After Loss
• Coaching Individuals Through Workplace Grief Recovery
• Coaching Teams Through Collective Grief and Change
• Managing Compassion Fatigue and Burnout in Leadership

Module 5: Implementing Workplace Grief Coaching as a Sustainable Practice

The final module equips you with the tools to establish and maintain grief coaching within an organization. Learn how to:

• Creating a Sustainable Grief Coaching Model
• Integrating Grief Coaching into HR and Leadership Development
• Measuring the Impact of Workplace Grief Coaching
• Establishing Yourself as a Workplace Grief Coach

Your Grief Coaching Toolkit

• Workplace Grief Readiness Checklist
• Coaching Conversation Scripts for Employees
• Powerful Questioning Guide for Workplace Grief Coaching
• Coaching Conversation Scripts for Managers and Teams
• Self-Assessment: How Grief-Informed is Your Workplace?
• Workplace Grief Policy Template
• Manager Training Checklist
• Scenario-Based Role-Playing Exercise
• Cultural Sensitivity Guide for Workplace Grief
• Compassion Fatigue Checklist for Leaders and HR Professionals
• Evaluation Checklist for Grief Coaching Success
• … and more

What You Will Receive

• Immediate access to the ICF-accredited online certification program
• A downloadable Workbook and Grief Coaching Toolkit
• Scenario-based exercises and role-play activities
• A self-assessment and final exam (80% passing score required. Retake available)
• Certificate of Completion and 10 ICF CCE (Continuing Coach Education) hours for ICF-credentialed coaches

Who This Certification Program is For

This program is ideal for:

• HR professionals, organization leaders, and team managers
• Grief coaches, life coaches, health and wellness coaches, and business coaches
• Workplace wellness consultants
• DEI and employee support leaders
• Therapists and chaplains supporting employee wellbeing
• Anyone ready to bring heart-centered leadership to the workplace

If you're ready to bring compassion to leadership and structure to grief support, you're in the right place.

Enroll Today and Make a Difference

Whether you're transforming your team, expanding your services, or pioneering grief-informed leadership within your organization, this program equips you with the tools and confidence to lead with heart.

For coaches aiming to collaborate with organizations, this certification provides the essential skills to support employees through loss, integrate grief coaching into corporate wellness initiatives, and foster compassionate workplace cultures.​

Join a community dedicated to making workplaces more human, one conversation at a time.

“Workplaces are often described as professional environments, but they are also human ones. Employees bring their whole selves to work, including their joys, struggles, and, inevitably, their grief. By integrating grief education and compassion into workplace culture, organizations can honor the humanity of their employees, creating a space where people can navigate life’s challenges without sacrificing their careers or mental health. Grief doesn’t demand . It simply asks for presence. By acknowledging, understanding, and embracing grief, we honor the whole person and create a culture where everyone can truly thrive in the workplace." -- Dora Carpenter, Founder, Institute of Professional Grief Coaching | IOPGC

Register and Begin Your Workplace Grief Coach Certification Program Today!

Current Program Cost is Only $597

Payment Plan Options Available

INSTITUTE OF PROFESSIONAL GRIEF COACHING | IOPGC

 Grief is the journey. Gratitude is the destination.®

Disclaimer: Our programs are not based on a conceptual, intellectual, or theological perspective. The program, its instructor(s), and coaches provide education and support. We do not imply, infer, or attempt to fix, heal, or cure grief and do not imply or provide professional counseling or therapy. If you are experiencing serious suicidal thoughts that you cannot control, please call or text 988 for the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or go to http://988lifeline.org.