Grief has no set timeline. But for some people, months and even years after a death, the pain still feels as raw as the first weeks. Life can feel stuck, as if it stopped when the person died. If that sounds like you or someone you love, you may have come across the term prolonged grief disorder. This guide to prolonged grief disorder treatment explains what it is in plain language, how it differs from typical grief, what treatment usually focuses on, which therapy approaches have research support and how to start.
This post is general information, not a diagnosis or a treatment plan. Only a qualified professional can assess prolonged grief.
If you're having thoughts of wanting to die, or of wanting to be with the person who died, please reach out now. Call or text 9-8-8 any time, or call 911 if you're in danger.
When grief does not seem to ease
Grief is not a disorder. It's a natural response to losing someone you love, and it can come in waves for a long time. Birthdays, holidays and anniversaries often bring it back. Feeling sad, missing someone deeply and thinking about them often are all part of grieving.
For most people, the intensity slowly softens over time, even if the love and the missing remain. The APA notes that for most people, grief-related symptoms decrease over time and don't usually require mental health treatment. Grief that won't go away, or that stays just as intense and makes daily life very hard for a long time, is what prolonged grief disorder describes.
What is prolonged grief disorder?
The American Psychiatric Association (APA) explains that prolonged grief disorder was added to the DSM-5-TR, its diagnostic manual, in March 2022. The APA describes it as intense grief that is disabling and affects everyday functioning in a way that typical grieving does not.
According to the APA, for a diagnosis in adults, the loss must have happened at least a year earlier, and for children and adolescents at least six months earlier, with certain symptoms nearly every day for at least the past month. The World Health Organization's ICD-11 also includes prolonged grief disorder, describing a grief response that lasts for an unusually long time after the loss, more than six months at a minimum, and goes beyond what would be expected in the person's culture or community.
These timeframes are for professionals to use. They aren't a deadline for your grief.
Prolonged grief disorder vs complicated grief
You may also hear the term "complicated grief." People sometimes use it to describe grief that is especially intense or long-lasting. Prolonged grief disorder is the formal name now used in the DSM-5-TR and ICD-11. In everyday conversation, the two terms are often used for similar experiences, and you don't need to know which one fits to ask for support.
How it differs from typical grief, depression and trauma
Prolonged grief can look like other experiences, which can be confusing:
Typical grief often comes in waves and gradually becomes easier to carry, even if it never fully goes away.
Depression tends to involve a wider low mood, not only feelings about the person who died. Our post on grief vs depression explores the difference.
Trauma can sit alongside grief, especially when a death was sudden or frightening.
These can overlap. A therapist can help you sort out what's going on for you.
What treatment for prolonged grief usually focuses on
Treatment for prolonged grief isn't about forgetting the person or "moving on." It's about finding a way to carry the loss and still live a meaningful life. The APA describes one approach as helping people adapt by accepting the reality of the loss and working toward goals and satisfaction in a life without the person.
In general terms, therapy might help with:
accepting the reality of the death, gently and over time
making space for painful feelings rather than avoiding them
finding ways to stay connected to the person, through memories, rituals or values
rebuilding daily routines, relationships and activities
rediscovering a sense of meaning and purpose
Therapy approaches with research support
The APA notes that treatments using elements of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) have been found to be effective in reducing symptoms of prolonged grief disorder. It also mentions other approaches, such as those that include sharing the story of the loss or that target avoidance of painful feelings and reminders.
At our clinic, therapists may draw on approaches such as:
CBT. Working with the thoughts and patterns that keep grief stuck, such as harsh self-blame or avoiding reminders of the person.
Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). Making room for grief while moving toward what matters to you.
EMDR. Our EMDR page notes that it's used for a range of concerns, including grief. When a death was sudden or traumatic, a therapist may draw on trauma-focused approaches like this.
Your therapist will talk with you about what fits your needs. There's no single right path. When people look for prolonged grief disorder therapy, or for complicated grief treatment, they're usually hoping for the same thing: a way to feel less stuck. We describe these approaches in general terms, and your therapist can explain how they'd use them with you.
What grief counselling sessions can look like
Sessions are a safe, unhurried place to talk about the person who died, the loss and how life has changed. You might share memories, talk about the hardest moments or explore what you're avoiding. Some sessions may focus on practical things, like returning to activities or connecting with others.
Your counsellor will go at your pace. You can talk as much or as little as you'd like about the death itself. The aim is to help you feel less stuck, not to rush you.
Small things that can help between sessions
These aren't a treatment plan, just gentle ideas:
Name the person. Talking about them with people you trust can help.
Plan for hard days. Decide in advance how you'd like to spend anniversaries or holidays.
Make room for grief. Set aside a little time to remember, write or look at photos.
Take small steps back into life. A short walk, a call with a friend or a hobby you once enjoyed.
Be kind to yourself. There's no right way to grieve, and no "should" about how you feel.
For families and friends
If someone you love has been grieving intensely for a long time, it's natural to feel worried or unsure what to say. Avoid phrases like "You should be over it by now." Instead, try: "I know you still miss them so much. I'm here." Gently encouraging counselling, and offering to help them book, can make a big difference.
Getting support for grief
You don't need a diagnosis to get help. If your grief feels stuck, overwhelming or as painful as it was at the beginning, talking with someone can help.
We offer grief counselling at our Kitchener-Waterloo, Cambridge and Ottawa offices, and online anywhere in Ontario on a secure, encrypted video platform.
Sessions with our therapists range from $130 to $200, depending on the clinician.
Depending on your plan, insurance may cover some or all of the cost. Coverage varies, so check your plan.
We accept Health Spending Accounts (HSAs).
We can direct bill many insurers, including for sessions with a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying). Desjardins is the exception: through TELUS eClaims, we can direct bill Desjardins for sessions with an RSW, RP or psychologist, but not for an RP (Qualifying).
Book a free 15-minute consultation with our admin team. You can share as much or as little as you like.
If you're in crisis: if you or anyone else is in immediate danger, call 911. If you're having thoughts of suicide, call or text 9-8-8 any time. More options are on our crisis lines page.
Your grief reflects your love. With support, it can become something you can carry, alongside a life that still holds meaning.
Last reviewed: October 2026
Sources
Prolonged Grief Disorder, American Psychiatric Association
Prolonged Grief Disorder: Course, Diagnosis, Assessment, and Treatment (Focus, 2021), peer-reviewed, via NIH PubMed Central