Grief Recovery Method
Special October Training Sale: $500 off — October 9–12 Online Training (USD) · Enroll now
Training Calendar

Upcoming Certification Dates

Choose a training that fits your schedule. Mid-week, weekend, in-person Premium, international, and Spanish-language options below. Every format leads to the same certification.

View Dates & Register
  • Validated by Kent State research. See the study →
  • Founded 1978 by John W. James
  • 15,000+ specialists trained across 6 continents
  • 4.81 from 2,141+ reviews
AUG7

Foundational Certification Training — August 7-10, 2026 (Weekend Virtual)

Live on Zoom · 4 days · 8:30am–5:30pm Central

Starts in 2 weeks

From $832/mo for 3 months · or $2,495 today

0% interest · two certification levels available

Pick your level + payment plan on the next step

See cancellation & refund policy

Enroll →
SEP14

Foundational Certification Training — September 14-17, 2026 (Mid-Week Virtual)

Live on Zoom · 4 days · 8:30am–5:30pm Central

From $832/mo for 3 months · or $2,495 today

0% interest · two certification levels available

Pick your level + payment plan on the next step

See cancellation & refund policy

Enroll →
SEP25

Premium In-Person Certification Training — September 25-28, 2026 (Los Angeles, CA)

Los Angeles, CA (In-Person) · 4 days · 8:30am–5:30pm Central

Cole Jameswith Cole James + 1

From $1,665/mo for 3 months · or $4,995 today

0% interest · then $349/yr to stay in the directory

See cancellation & refund policy

Reserve Your Seat →
OCT9

Foundational Certification Training — October 9-12, 2026 (Weekend Virtual)

Live on Zoom · 4 days · 8:30am–5:30pm Central

October Sale — $500 off

From $665/mo for 3 months $832/mo · or $1,995 today $2,495

0% interest · two certification levels available

Pick your level + payment plan on the next step

See cancellation & refund policy

Enroll →
NOV6

Foundational Certification Training — November 6-9, 2026 (Weekend Virtual)

Live on Zoom · 4 days · 8:30am–5:30pm Central

Sandi Derbywith Sandi Derby

From $832/mo for 3 months · or $2,495 today

0% interest · two certification levels available

Pick your level + payment plan on the next step

See cancellation & refund policy

Enroll →
NOV6

Foundational Certification Training — November 6-9, 2026 (UK Virtual)

Live on Zoom · 4 days · 8:30am–5:30pm GMT

Catherine Bestwith Catherine Best

From $832/mo for 3 months · or $2,495 today

0% interest · two certification levels available

Pick your level + payment plan on the next step

See cancellation & refund policy

Enroll →
DEC7

Foundational Certification Training — December 7-10, 2026 (Mid-Week Virtual)

Live on Zoom · 4 days · 8:30am–5:30pm Central

Catherine Bestwith Catherine Best

From $832/mo for 3 months · or $2,495 today

0% interest · two certification levels available

Pick your level + payment plan on the next step

See cancellation & refund policy

Enroll →

Not sure which level fits? Compare Foundational vs Advanced vs Premium ↓ — or pick a date above and you can compare on the next page too.

Compare Levels

Foundational, Advanced, or Premium?

Quick reference for the three certification levels. You can also compare on the event-specific page when you click Enroll on any training above.

Foundational

Certified Specialist

Best for individuals and professionals who want to become certified, build basic competency, and are comfortable implementing independently.

  • 32 hours of live training (4 days)
  • 5 program lesson plans
  • All 5 Grief Recovery books (US only)
  • Certified Specialist credential
  • Directory listing + microsite

Full Details

  • 32 hours of livestream, experiential group training over four consecutive days on Zoom
  • 1-hour kick-off call
  • One year of unlimited email, phone, and Zoom support
  • 5 Grief Recovery Method Program Lesson Plans and Homework including: 7-Session One-on-One, 8-Session Group, 6-Session Pet Loss, 4-Session Helping Children with Loss, and 4-Session Alumni Program
  • An editable microsite on griefrecoverymethod.com including: bio, photo, contact info, testimonials, video introduction, social media links, event management, and payment functionality
  • Inclusion in our searchable Specialist Directory, used by grievers around the world
  • Hundreds of hours of continuing education via video, articles, and documentation in our Specialist Resource Community
  • All five books (US only): The Grief Recovery Handbook, When Children Grieve, The Grief Recovery Handbook for Pet Loss, Moving On, and Moving Beyond Loss
  • Access to over 100 hours of learning webinars

This was by far one of the best professional trainings I've attended. I left feeling confident and more knowledgeable about grief and loss than ever before.

Certified Grief Recovery Specialist

Over 15,000 certified — read reviews
From $832/mofor 3 months

or $2,495 today · 0% interest

Most Popular

Advanced

Advanced Specialist

Best for individuals and professionals who want a complete, out-of-the-box setup to build and lead a thriving Grief Recovery practice.

  • Everything in Foundational
  • 18 hours of self-paced video training
  • 5 lesson plans tailored for online work
  • 149 marketing coaching videos
  • 12 months of My Business Hub Build tier + AI Specialist Assistant
  • Advanced Specialist credential

Everything in Foundational, PLUS

  • 18 hours of Advanced Online Capabilities Training: a deep dive into the four main lesson plans, offered in an online self-guided format, taught by instructors with over 50 years of combined experience
  • One-on-One Program Training — 10 hours of video training and quizzes
  • Helping Children with Loss Program Training — 3 hours of video training
  • 8-Session Group Program Training — 3 hours of video training
  • Pet Loss Group Program Training — 2 hours of video training and quizzes
  • Use of the Advanced Grief Recovery Specialist title
  • 5 additional lesson plans tailored for working with clients online: Online One-on-One, Online Group, Online Pet Loss, Online Helping Children with Loss, and Online Alumni Program
  • Inclusion in our searchable Advanced Specialist Directory
  • A library of Grief Recovery specific marketing coaching videos
  • 12 months of the Build tier of My Business Hub — a complete tech stack for running your specialist practice: website, CRM, scheduling, email, and payments. A $349+ value, included.
  • AI Specialist Assistant built into My Business Hub to help you set up, launch, and run your practice — your always-on assistant for getting unstuck, writing copy, and answering specialist questions on demand

The training put into perspective how grief is the foundation on which we are raised upon. Going through this has lifted me and removed years of boulders I didn't believe could ever be removed.

Advanced Grief Recovery Specialist

Over 15,000 certified — read reviews
From $1,332/mofor 3 months

or $3,995 today · 0% interest

Premium In-Person

Advanced Specialist

Best for professionals who want the fastest, most immersive path to mastery through in-person training with direct access to Cole James and Sandi Derby.

  • Everything in Advanced (incl. Business Hub + AI Agent)
  • In-person at Hyatt Regency Westlake
  • Small-group coaching with Cole & Sandi
  • 1 month of mastermind calls with Cole & Sandi
  • Marketing & Sales Backbone launch course

Everything in Advanced, with these changes

  • 32 hours of in-person, experiential group training, held at the luxurious Hyatt Regency Westlake, Westlake Village, CA (or similar venue in other cities)
  • Access and learning from two of the foremost experts on grief: Cole James, President of the Grief Recovery Institute, and Sandi Derby, Grief Recovery Trainer and Marketing Coach
  • Tailored, hands-on, small-group coaching experience
  • Highly personalized guidance and direct access to instructors
  • 1 month of weekly mastermind calls with Cole James and Sandi Derby after certification — bring your real client situations, roadblocks, and business questions to the people who built the training
  • The Marketing & Sales Backbone — a complete launch course that walks you through positioning, pricing, lead generation, sales conversations, and the operational backbone of running a specialist practice, all designed for grief recovery work
  • 1 month of Marketing Coaching (a $249 value) with our marketing team — the personal coach who walks you through the Backbone course and helps you attract your first clients

The program not only taught me how to help others with grief and loss, but also helped me face and heal some of my own grief through the training process.

Premium In-Person Specialist

Over 15,000 certified — read reviews
From $1,665/mofor 3 months

or $4,995 today · 0% interest

Flexible Payments

0% Interest Payment Plans

Split your investment into 3 equal monthly payments with 0% interest through Stripe. No credit check required.

3 months

Payment duration

0%

Interest rate

Stripe

Secure checkout

Example: $2,495 Foundational = 3 payments of ~$832/mo

What Specialists Say

Hear from certified specialists

The training changed everything for my practice. I finally have a step-by-step protocol that gives my clients real results, not just coping strategies.

GRM Specialist

I was skeptical at first — but after experiencing the method myself during training, I knew this was different. My clients feel it too.

GRM Specialist

Within 3 months of certification, I had a full grief practice. The demand is there — people are desperate for this kind of help.

GRM Specialist

The group program alone has transformed my revenue. I run one group per quarter and it consistently fills. This was the best investment I've made in my career.

GRM Specialist

I've been a therapist for 20 years and I wish I had this training on day one. It fills a gap that nothing else in my education addressed.

GRM Specialist

What I love most is that I experienced my own recovery during training. You can't effectively guide someone through a process you haven't done yourself.

GRM Specialist

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between online and in-person training?

Both trainings cover the same 32 hours of content and result in the same certification. Online trainings are conducted live on Zoom. In-person Premium trainings offer a small-group experience with additional mentoring from Cole James.

Do I need a clinical license to get certified?

No. The Grief Recovery Method certification is open to anyone who wants to help grievers — licensed professionals, coaches, clergy, educators, HR leaders, and caring individuals. No prior credentials are required.

How long does certification take?

The Foundational Training is 4 consecutive days (typically Monday through Thursday or Friday through Monday), approximately 8 hours per day. The Advanced Training is 18 hours of self-paced training. After completing the Foundational Training, you are immediately certified and can begin working with clients.

What are the payment plan options?

We offer 0% interest payment plans through Stripe. You can split your investment into 3 equal monthly payments with no credit check required. Payment plans are available for all certification levels.

What ongoing support do I get after certification?

All certification levels include 1 year of support, access to the Specialist Resource Center with program materials and business resources, a listing in our public directory, and connection to a global community of certified specialists.

Need Help Choosing?

Not sure which training is right?

Schedule a call with our team and we’ll help you find the perfect fit.

Have Questions? Let’s Talk