Grief Anniversaries & Special Days Plan
A grief worksheet for anticipating difficult dates, planning ways to honour the person and care for oneself, with ritual ideas and a support contact.
1-page fillable PDF · US Letter (prints on A4) · Grief support
- Approach / concern
- Grief & Bereavement
- Technique
- Grief support
- Format
- Fillable PDF, 1 page (US Letter / A4)
- Access
- Pro and Advanced plans (3-day free trial)
- For
- Licensed clinicians to use with clients
- Updated
- October 2026
Key facts
What is the Grief Anniversaries & Special Days Plan?
Anniversary reactions, surges of grief around significant dates, are a normal part of bereavement. Planning ahead helps people anticipate these reactions, create meaningful rituals and arrange support.
Why it works
Grief often intensifies around reminders and significant dates (Worden, 2018). Recognizing triggers and supporting adaptive coping is part of care for both typical and prolonged grief (Shear, 2015).
When to use it
- First year after a death
- Upcoming holidays or birthdays
- Prolonged grief
- Family grief planning
How to use it in session
- List upcoming significant dates.
- Anticipate what might be hard.
- Choose ways to honour the person and care for self.
- Decide who to tell.
- Review afterwards.
Clinician tips
- The lead-up can be harder than the day itself.
- It’s okay to change or skip traditions.
- Respect cultural and religious mourning practices.
Worked example
Sharing with clients
Members can download the PDF to print or email, or copy a private client link from the download box. Your client opens the link and downloads the worksheet on any device. No client account is needed, and nothing your client writes is stored on TherapyAid.
Frequently asked questions
Will anniversaries always be this hard?
For many people the intensity eases over time, though some dates may always bring a mix of sadness and love.
Is it okay to enjoy a holiday after a loss?
Yes. Joy and grief can coexist, and enjoying moments doesn’t mean forgetting.
References
Worden, J. W. (2018). Grief counseling and grief therapy: A handbook for the mental health practitioner (5th ed.). Springer Publishing.
Shear, M. K. (2015). Complicated grief. New England Journal of Medicine, 372(2), 153-160.
This worksheet is an educational tool for use by, or under the guidance of, a licensed or registered mental-health professional. It is not a diagnostic instrument or a substitute for clinical judgement. If a client is in crisis in Canada, call or text 9-8-8 or call 9-1-1.
