The loss of a loved one to suicide can be devastating, and healing sometimes requires the support of a skilled mental health clinician.  In this two-module series, a grief therapist who specializes in working with suicide loss survivors and a mother who lost her young adult son to suicide will together describe their journey through her mourning process.  This module focuses on the psychological work that suicide loss survivors typically need to do to recover from the loss.  The therapist must work with the client to accomplish the following clinical tasks: develop a strong alliance, contain the trauma, create a narrative about what happened and why it happened, develop a “coping toolbox”, repair the relationship with the deceased, and find meaning in the suicide.  Ms. Ladd will describe in her own words what was helpful (and not helpful) about this therapy process.  She will also discuss some of the changes in her grief that occurred over the course of her sessions.  Video clips of the therapeutic techniques will also be shared, including EMDR, guided visualization, and Induced After Death Communication (IADC).  Time will be allotted for questions and comments from the audience.

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LEARNING OBJECTIVES

• Describe the main tasks that survivors must accomplish in order to integrate the loss into their life narrative;

• Identify the important characteristics of the relationship between therapist and client that foster healing; and 

• Summarize at least three clinical techniques that may be of use in helping suicide loss survivors achieve their goals of adapting to this uniquely challenging form of loss.

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Note:  Completion of this program and return of the Responsive Journal satisfies 1 Orientation Module required for Certification in Grief Therapy as Meaning Reconstruction, Certification in Family-Focused Grief Therapy or Certification in Grief Therapy for Suicide Bereavement.

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PROGRAM CONTENT

This program contains the following video segments:

1. Integrating Suicide Loss:  Goals of Treatment (42 mins)

2. Containing the Trauma:  Creating a Narrative (48 mins)

3. Self-Regulation and Sense-Making:  Creating a Toolbox (37 mins)

4. Repairing the Relationship:  Toward Posttraumatic Growth (41 mins)

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COURSE PACK CONTAINS...

• A PDF copy of the presentation slides;

• The tasks of loss integration after suicide;

• Attachment-informed grief therapy with suicide loss survivors;

• Special challenges and techniques in grief therapy;

• Impact on the caregiver of working with suicide bereavement; and

• The Responsive Journal that, upon completion and return, confers 1 Orientation Module required for Certification in Grief Therapy as Meaning Reconstruction, Certification in Family-Focused Grief Therapy or Certification in Grief Therapy for Suicide Bereavement.