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Why does grief hurt so much? Why does death, the permanent absence of a person with whom you are bonded, result in such devastating feelings and lead to behaviour and beliefs that are inexplicable, even to the grieving person? Neuroscience and cognitive psychology can provide some answers beyond what grief feels like—tackling the questions of why. Some of the answers to our questions about grief can be found in the brain, the seat of our thoughts and feelings, motivations, and behaviours. By looking at grief from the perspective of the brain, we will discuss the contemporary neuroscience of how bonded relationships are encoded in order to better understand the why of grief. Considering grieving to be a form of learning is helpful to understanding the trajectory of adaptation during bereavement.
Planning Committee Disclosure - No relevant relationships
All members of the PESI, Inc. planning committee have provided disclosures of financial relationships with ineligible organizations and any relevant non-financial relationships prior to planning content for this activity. None of the committee members had relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies or other potentially biasing relationships to disclose to learners. For speaker disclosures, please see the faculty biography.
PESI Australia, in collaboration with PESI in the USA, offers quality online continuing professional development events from the leaders in the field at a standard recognized by professional associations including psychology, social work, occupational therapy, alcohol and drug professionals, counselling and psychotherapy. On completion of the training, a Professional Development Certificate is issued after the individual has answered and submitted a quiz and course evaluation. This program is worth 1.25 hours CPD for points calculation by your association.
| File type | File name | Number of pages | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manual - The Neuroscience of Grief (4.8 MB) | 22 Pages | Available after Purchase | |
| Manual - The Neuroscience of Grief - French (4.8 MB) | 22 Pages | Available after Purchase | |
| Manual - The Neuroscience of Grief - Italian (4.8 MB) | 22 Pages | Available after Purchase | |
| Manual - The Neuroscience of Grief - German (4.8 MB) | 22 Pages | Available after Purchase | |
| Manual - The Neuroscience of Grief - Spanish (4.8 MB) | 22 Pages | Available after Purchase |
Mary Frances O’Connor, PhD, is a professor of psychology at the University of Arizona, where she directs the Grief, Loss and Social Stress (GLASS) Lab. She earned a PhD in clinical psychology from the University of Arizona in 2004 and following a faculty appointment at UCLA, she returned to the University of Arizona in 2012. Her research focuses on the neurobiological, cardiovascular, and immune response to bereavement. She believes that a clinical science approach toward the experience and physiology of grief can improve psychological treatment. Dr. O’ Connor’s first book, The Grieving Brain: The Surprising Science of How We Learn from Love and Loss (2022; HarperOne) has garnered praise from peers and literary critics alike and has led to speaking engagements around the world. Her new book, The Grieving Body: How the Stress of Loss Can Be an Opportunity for Healing was published in February, 2025.
Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Mary-Frances O'Connor has an employment relationship with the University of Arizona and receives royalties as a published author. She receives a speaking honorarium from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Mary-Frances O'Connor has no relevant non-financial relationships.
Neurobiology of grief and grieving
Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD)
Grieving as a form of learning
Toolkit of coping strategies and psychotherapeutic intervention
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