Prolonged Grief Psychologist Melbourne

Grief has no timeline — but when grief becomes so persistent and intense that it prevents you from living your life, specialist treatment can help you move forward without leaving your loved one behind.

✓ Medicare Rebates Available ✓ 4 Melbourne Clinics + Telehealth ✓ Compassionate, Evidence-Based Care

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What Is Prolonged Grief Disorder?

Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD) — also known as complicated grief or persistent complex bereavement disorder — is a recognised mental health condition in which grief remains intense and impairing long after the expected acute grief period. It was formally recognised as a DSM-5-TR diagnosis in 2022.

Prolonged grief is distinct from normal grief, which naturally decreases over time. In PGD, the grieving person remains “stuck” — the loss feels as raw as if it just occurred, months or years later. It is distinct from depression, though the two can co-occur.

Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD) — intense, persistent grief lasting more than 12 months (6 months in children) that significantly impairs functioning
Complicated grief — the broader clinical term for grief that deviates from typical patterns and causes significant impairment
Traumatic grief — grief following a sudden, violent, or traumatic death (accident, suicide, homicide)
Anticipatory grief — grief experienced before a death occurs, often during serious illness

Signs and Symptoms of Prolonged Grief Disorder

The DSM-5-TR requires at least one of the following intense grief reactions, present most days at a clinically significant level, for at least 12 months after bereavement:

Core symptoms (at least one required):

Intense longing or yearning for the deceased
Preoccupation with the deceased or the circumstances of their death

Additional symptoms (at least 3 of 8 required):

Difficulty accepting the death
Feeling that a part of oneself has died
Disbelief or emotional numbness about the loss
Intense bitterness or anger about the loss
Difficulty engaging in ongoing life — forming relationships, pursuing goals
Emotional numbness — a sense of being detached from one’s own feelings
Feeling that life is meaningless without the deceased
Intense loneliness — feeling alone even when with others

If you have been experiencing intense, unrelenting grief that is preventing you from functioning — regardless of how much time has passed — specialist grief treatment is available and effective.

You Are Not Alone

Approximately 10–15% of bereaved individuals develop Prolonged Grief Disorder. It is more common following sudden or traumatic deaths, and following the loss of a child, spouse, or very close relationship.

Many people with prolonged grief feel guilty about not “getting over it,” or worry that seeking help means abandoning their loved one. These fears are part of the condition — not reality. Seeking treatment is not about forgetting. It is about finding a way to carry your love for the person you lost while also living your life.

Why Prolonged Grief Requires Specialised Treatment

Standard depression or anxiety treatment does not address the specific psychological processes maintaining prolonged grief. Effective treatment for PGD targets the specific mechanisms that keep grief unresolved:

Avoidance of reminders and memories of the deceased — which paradoxically maintains grief intensity
Difficulty integrating the reality of the loss into one’s life narrative
Maladaptive beliefs about grief, moving forward, or betraying the deceased
Lost sense of identity and purpose following the loss

Randomised controlled trials demonstrate that Prolonged Grief Treatment (PGT) significantly outperforms standard supportive counselling and depression treatment for PGD.

Evidence-Based Treatments for Prolonged Grief

Treatment for prolonged grief at The Talk Shop draws on the strongest evidence-based approaches:

Prolonged Grief Treatment (PGT) — developed by Shear and colleagues, PGT is the gold-standard treatment for PGD. It combines motivational interviewing, cognitive restructuring, and imaginal exposure to memories of the deceased, with aspirational conversations about the future.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Grief (CBT-G) — addresses the cognitive and behavioural maintaining factors of complicated grief, including avoidance, maladaptive beliefs, and lost sense of purpose.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) — supports clients in reconnecting with their values and living meaningful lives while holding grief without it dominating every moment.

What Treatment Looks Like at The Talk Shop

Your first session is a 50-minute assessment that creates space to tell the story of your loss and your grief journey. There is no pressure to “process” anything before you are ready. Your psychologist will provide a compassionate, non-judgmental space and help you understand what is maintaining your grief.

PGT typically involves 16 weekly sessions. Treatment is carefully paced and includes both talking about your loved one — including the painful circumstances of the loss — and working toward a meaningful future that honours their memory.

Funding Options — What Will You Pay?

✓ WorkCover, NDIS or TAC approved? YOU PAY NOTHING.

WorkCover approved — $0 out of pocket, we bill directly
NDIS plan-managed or self-managed — $0 out of pocket, we bill directly
TAC claim approved — $0 out of pocket, we bill directly
DVA — Gold Card holders are fully covered with no session cap (clinically justified). White Card holders covered for accepted conditions, plus all current/former ADF members can access fully-funded psychology for any mental-health condition under NLMHT. GP referral required.
Medicare (Better Access) — up to 10 rebated sessions per calendar year with a GP Mental Health Treatment Plan
Private health insurance — extras cover may apply
Self-funded — sessions from $50 with our Provisional Psychologists

Frequently Asked Questions

Isn’t grief supposed to take time? Why would I need treatment?
Grief does take time — but in prolonged grief disorder, time alone does not produce improvement. PGD is a condition with specific maintaining mechanisms that respond to targeted treatment. Seeking help is not “rushing” grief.

Will treatment make me forget my loved one?
No. The goal of treatment is not to forget, minimise, or “get over” your loss. It is to help you find a way to carry the love you have for the person you lost while also being able to live your life.

Can this help if the death was traumatic or sudden?
Yes. Traumatic grief often has additional trauma components (PTSD, guilt, unresolved questions) that treatment addresses specifically.

Ready to Find Your Way Through?
Talk to a Melbourne Grief Psychologist Today.

Our psychologists approach grief with deep compassion and clinical expertise. You are not expected to “be over it” — you are welcome exactly as you are. Call 1300 224 665 or book online.

Other Conditions We Help With

Anxiety Depression PTSD OCD Grief Addiction Eating Disorders BPD Stress Relationships

References

Shear, M.K., et al. (2016). Complicated grief and related bereavement issues for DSM-5. Depression and Anxiety, 28(2), 103–117.
Szuhany, K.L., et al. (2021). Prolonged grief disorder: course, diagnosis, assessment, and treatment. Focus, 19(2), 161–172.