This workshop offers practical, evidence-informed strategies to help mental health professionals navigate the emotional and diagnostic landscape of chronic, progressive, and terminal illness. Participants will explore the meaningful distinctions between normal grief responses and clinical depression, examine the cumulative and non-linear losses that unfold throughout disease progression, and discover actionable ways to support individuals and families facing intense emotional reactions like guilt, anger, and profound sadness.

Upon completion of the webinar, participants will be able to:

• Differentiate depression from grief by looking at key markers such as self-esteem maintenance and emotional variability to ensure clients receive accurate, well-tailored support.
• Explain the dynamics of anticipatory loss across changing disease trajectories, recognizing the secondary losses—such as shifts in autonomy, role identity, and future expectations—that happen long before physical death.
• Design practical, supportive interventions that validate complex emotional reactions, including existential anger, caregiver guilt, and reactive distress, for both clients and their support networks.