Serving with Heart: Resilience and Grace in Funeral Service

Where compassion meets resilience - learn to serve others without losing yourself.

What You’ll Gain By Taking This Course

  • The Tools to Support Grieving Families with Confidence
    Learn what grief really looks like and how to respond with empathy, not just logistics.
  • Grief-Sensitive Language That Brings Comfort — Not Clichés
    Know what to say (and what to avoid) during some of life’s most emotionally charged moments.
  • Real-World Communication Skills for Difficult Conversations
    Navigate family conflict, emotional overwhelm, and high-stress decisions with clarity and compassion.
  • Cultural and Spiritual Sensitivity
    Honor diverse traditions, beliefs, and grief rituals with respect — without overstepping.
  • Healthy Boundaries That Protect Your Heart and Your Energy
    Care deeply without carrying it all. Learn how to be present without burning out.
  • A Renewed Sense of Purpose in Your Work
    Reconnect to why this work matters and how to sustain it for the long haul.
  • A Certificate of Completion You Can Proudly Share
    Demonstrate your commitment to grief-informed, heart-centered funeral care.

⚠️ Important Disclaimer

Please note: This course is not a certification program and does not qualify you as a certified grief coach.

It is designed to provide grief literacy and compassionate support skills for professionals who want to better understand and respond to grief in their workplace or field of service.

Upon completion, you will receive a Certificate of Completion, but this is not a coaching credential or certification.

If you are seeking certification to become a grief coach, please see our Healing Hearts Master Grief Coach Certification Program for full training and credentials.

What You’ll Learn Inside the Course

    1. Welcome Message

    2. Download Your Workbook: Serving with Heart

    1. The Emotional Impact of Funeral Work

    2. Holding Space, Not Fixing Pain

    3. Professional Boundaries with Grieving Families

    4. Reflection Prompt

    1. What Is Grief? Beyond Death and Sadness

    2. Types of Grief You’ll Encounter

    3. Grief Is Not a Linear Process

    4. The Difference Between Grief & Mourning

    5. The Physical and Emotional Impact of Grief

    6. Reflection Prompt

    1. Grief Sensitive vs. Grief Stigmatizing Language

    2. Communicating with Compassion: What to Say & What to Avoid

    3. Communicating Under Emotional Pressure

    4. The Power of Active Listening

    5. Handling Difficult Conversations with Grieving Families

    6. Reflection Prompt

    1. Creating a Nurturing & Non-Transactional Environment

    2. Guiding Families Through Overwhelm and Decision Fatigue

    1. Understanding Grief Across Cultures and Traditions

    2. Navigating Spirituality and Diverse Beliefs

    3. What to Do When Families Disagree on Rituals

    4. Reflection Prompt

About this course

  • 49 lessons
Review Highlights

What professionals are saying about this course

This is a MUST in deathcare training. This needs to be a required new hire on-boarding must in the funeral industry. I’ve been working through the course bit by bit, and I have to say, my first impression hit me hard. I almost cried thinking, 'Where was this when I was starting out in deathcare?'

Portrait of Diana Brooks
Diana Brooks

Diana Brooks has worked in the deathcare field since 2006, serving as a licensed pre-need counselor, cemetery manager, and funeral celebrant. She hosts a local Death Cafe and currently leads community engagement for Foundation Partners Group, supporting 10 funeral homes across Tampa Bay.

Serving with Heart: Beyond Amazing! Terri has done a brilliant job in creating a course designed to help all funeral service professionals with grief. Whether it is understanding our own grief or speaking with the families we serve, I walk away from this course knowing how to do so on a much larger scale than before. I will be keeping the helpful (and thoughtful) downloadable workbook at my desk for future use, as well. Great work, Terri. Truly amazing. Thank you!

Portrait of Noah Watry
Noah Watry

Noah Watry is a Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer with a decade of funeral and cemetery service. He is also a Five-time published author, including two bestsellers.

Enroll Today and Elevate the Way You Serve

Get lifetime access to the full course, downloadable tools, and your certificate of completion – all for a one time investment.

Serving with Heart Course

$197 $47
  • Self-paced learning — complete on your schedule
  • Downloadable workbook
  • Certificate of completion
  • Designed specifically for funeral professionals
  • Real-world grief communication training
Enroll Now

Meet Your Grief Companion & Educator

Terri Chaplin brings warmth, wisdom, and years of experience to this transformational work. As an accredited grief companion and educator, certified in advanced grief support and heart focused techniques, she has gently walked alongside hundreds of people in the depths of grief, helping them reconnect with their strength and sense of balance through understanding, compassion, and lived experience.

Her calling was born from personal loss and experiences that revealed how deeply funeral service and grief care need more humanity, presence, and heart. After the deaths of her first husband and her son, Terri witnessed how easily the sacredness of grief can be lost in transactional systems. Those moments became the spark that guides her mission today: to help families, funeral professionals, and communities bring compassion back to the center of care.

Terri’s work is about holding space gently and patiently, without judgment. She witnesses grief in all its rawness and stays present with it, honoring each person’s pain as sacred and deeply personal. Her methods are grounded in deep listening and simple, meaningful tools that meet each person right where they are, creating room for healing to unfold naturally.

6+ years as a compassionate companion
3600+ clients served
Certified Master Grief Companion
VIP Premier Accredited Course Provider
Certified Heartmath® Mentor
International Best-Selling Author
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Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know before enrolling - from who this course is for to what you'll receive upon completion.

Who is this course for?

This course is designed for funeral professionals. This course will equip you to respond with compassion, clarity, and care.

Do I need a clinical or mental health background to take this course?

No. This course is intentionally designed to be accessible to all funeral professionals. You’ll receive a strong foundation in grief-informed language, concepts, and support strategies that can be adapted to your unique role.

How long will the course take to complete?

The course is self-paced, and most learners complete it in about 4 to 6 hours. You can move through it as quickly or slowly as you’d like, revisit lessons at any time, and fit it into your schedule with ease.

Will I receive a certificate?

Yes! Upon completing the course, you’ll receive a certificate of completion that you can download, print, or share with your employer or professional network. While this course does not offer CEUs, the certificate can be used as proof of training for many employers and organizations.

Does this course offer CEUs or continuing education credits?

Not at this time. This course is designed for professional development and personal growth, and it includes a certificate of completion, but it does not currently offer CEU credits.

Can I use this training in my organization or team?

Absolutely. Many organizations use this course as part of their internal training for staff and volunteers. If you’re interested in group access or bulk enrollment, reach out for special pricing and options.

What if I have questions during the course?

You’re not alone! You can reach out with questions anytime, we’re happy to support you. 

Do I gain lifetime access to the course?

Yes. Your enrollment includes lifetime access to all course materials, including future updates. You can revisit lessons whenever you need them.