Dr. John Wilson PhD.

Counsellor, Teacher, Author, Researcher

John has specialised in bereavement and loss for 20 years, as a counsellor, supervisor and trainer. He is author of Supporting People through Loss and Grief: An Introduction for Counsellors and Other Caring Practitioners. He completed his PhD in 2000 after six years of case study research with bereaved clients. John is a visiting research fellow at York St John University and Director of Bereavement Services at York St John University Counselling and Mental Health Clinic. Since early March, John has taken a close interest in adapting the outcomes of his doctoral thesis to supporting clients bereaved of a loved one from Covid-19 and those bereaved from other causes during the lockdown. With other counsellors he runs a closed support group on social media, for those bereaved during the Covid-19 pandemic.
TEMENOS ADVANCED Certificate with Dr. John Wilson PhD

More information about the Advanced Certificate

By enrolling in this training, you gain access to both the foundation course and the advanced program. The 18-hour Foundation Certificate for Bereavement Counselling, covered in self-study videos or live workshops with Dr. John Wilson, explores the theoretical aspects and practical application in counseling and psychotherapy. The advanced program builds on this foundation, helping you integrate the learning into your professional practice.

  • The goal of the Advanced Certificate is to assist you in integrating theory into your practice. This course takes an experiential approach to enhance your comprehension of Bereavement Theories, allowing you to learn the theory from the inside out. There is a strong emphasis on collaborative learning. Each of us will bring to the course our own unique experience and areas of expertise to share with others.

  • The course will be held over seven weeks.

  • Course content: John will present a range of topics, with opportunities for modifying the content by consensus as the course progresses. The emphasis is on active learning. You will be presented you with evidenced-based material to question, discuss and debate as a group, allowing adequate time for exploration and reflection. There will also be opportunities to practice your counselling skills online.

  • The course will include an individualised written Assignment negotiated and supported with online tutorials if requested.

  • Applications are currently open for enrolment in the advanced program. To meet the requirements, applicants should have watched all the videos from the foundation certificate, which will be accessible upon enrolment, or have attended the live session. Additionally, there will be a 30-minute Zoom interview as part of the application process.

  • The number of participants will be limited to 12 for each training.

  • The cost for the training is a total of £750.00.

25 Hour Training Course

From October to November 2025

Course Dates

October 2025 Cohort

Friday, 17th October 2025 - Afternoon: 2:30 pm - 5:30 pm

Saturday, 18th October 2025 - All day: 9:30 am - 3:30 pm (with a 1-hour lunch break)

Saturday, 1st November 2025 - Morning only: 9:30 am - 12:30 pm

Saturday, 8th November 2025 - Morning only: 9:30 am - 12:30 pm

Saturday, 15th November 2025 - All day: 9:30 am - 3:30 pm (with a 1-hour lunch break)

Saturday, 22nd November 2025 - Morning only: 9:30 am - 12:30 pm

Saturday, 29th November 2025 - All day: 9:30 am - 3:30 pm (with a 1-hour lunch break)

In Practice

  • Assignement

    We want the assignment to be useful and meaningful to you. Rather than a one-size-fits-all essay question, you negotiate your title to fit in with your experience and professional needs. Whilst it should show your understanding of Bereavement Counselling Theory, how you have incorporated this theory into your practice, and must meet academic conventions in style and referencing, You have free rein over content and organisation. Word count: 2250 to 4000 words. Many student in the past have used the opportunity to produce leaflets and instructional materials, included in an appendix alongside an essay as a commentary on the content, included in the word count. To be submitted by 31st January 2026.

  • Course aims

    To develop a cooperative mutual learning environment in which participants may practice and develop their skills and knowledge in working with bereaved people. 2. To discuss key concepts, models and theories of loss and grief, including an awareness of cultural diversity, responsibilities, confidentiality and consent. 3. To support Participant’s reflective and reflexive development and philosophical approach to supporting the bereaved person. 4. To offer opportunities to deepen each Participant’s understanding of a pluralistic attitude to grief work

  • Philosophies of the course

    This course is based on the philosophies & principles of person-centred theory and a pluralistic approach. It supports you to identify, articulate and fulfil your own personal and professional learning needs, and to develop your own approaches to working pluralistically whatever your theoretical training, orientation and practice. Throughout the course a range of individual learning opportunities are possible and can be negotiated, particularly when negotiating a theme to explore for your individualised area of study. The course is not exclusive to therapists. Past cohorts have included charity volunteers, teachers, hospice nurses and social workers. Diversity adds to the strength of the course, and all who work in the field of bereavement, loss and grief are welcome.

Syllabus

  • The Helping relationship in differing professions
  • History and development of grief theory
  • A brief introduction to pluralistic counselling
  • A family systems approach to illness and death
  • Working with difference
  • Meaning making in loss
  • Assimilation and accommodation
  • Measuring Grief
  • Disenfranchised Grief 
  • Complicated Grief
  • The place of love in the therapeutic space
  • Children and Young Person’s Grief
  • Neurobiology of Grief
  • Health Outcomes of Bereavement
  • Working with group
  • Survivor Guilt
  • Men and Grief

key areas related to working with loss and grief

The following list of questions offers some key areas related to working with loss and grief, for deeper consideration and reflection to support that process of curriculum development.

  • How do we resolve the uniqueness of grief against the generalities needed to make sense of models and theories?

  • Is my grief worse than yours, i.e., are there recognisable hierarchies of grief complexity, attributable to extrinsic and intrinsic factors? • When, if ever, can grief be seen as a disorder?

  • What are the limitations and benefits of Rogers’ actualising tendency in working with grief? • How helpful is it to view grieving as a task?

  • What is the modern relevance of stage models of grief? • How should we view the concept of decolonisation in working with difference?

  • How to we facilitate the client’s process of active self-healing? • Men’s grief, women’s grief: gender stereotyping or a real difference?

  • How does the neuroscience of grief explain its biological purpose? • Grief: individual or family sys

  • What part does the therapeutic relationship play in a successful outcome?

  • How do we measure the effectiveness of bereavement counselling?

25 Hour Training Course

From October to November 2025

FAQ

  • I cannot upload my CPD certificates, what can I do?

    If you are not able to upload your documents please don't worry as you can also email these to Temenos using the email address [email protected]

  • How many people will be accepted in the advanced program?

    The number of participants are limited to 12 students.

  • Any more questions?

    Please contact us at [email protected]

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