Prolonged Grief Psychologist Melbourne

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

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.

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.

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.

✓ 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 — no out-of-pocket cost. Veteran Card (All Conditions) holders are covered for any mental health condition; Veteran Card (Specific Conditions) holders for accepted conditions. Current and former ADF members can get free mental health treatment under Non-Liability Health Care. GP referral required; sessions are approved in treatment cycles.
• 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

Our psychologists are trained in a wide range of evidence-based approaches across many presentations. Browse our full directory of conditions and therapies we work with.