EMDR for mourning

‘EMDR and combined techniques in the treatment of (complicated) mourning’ Working with mourning clients can be difficult: to face the irrevocability of loss and to stand helpless and empty-handed as a therapist is a heavy burden. Sometimes it seems there is nothing we can do to help our clients. Yet there are many ways in which EMDR can contribute to help our clients to live a valuable life after a serious loss. In this presentation the psychodynamics of complicated mourning are discussed. Treatment strategies and treatment techniques (both EMDR and combined techniques) are developed for specific patterns of complicated mourning (i.e. denied mourning, postponed mourning, chronic mourning, distorted mourning, traumatized mourning, somatized mourning). Some non-EMDR techniques (rituals, Gestalt dialogue, writing assignments, imageination techniques) will be integrated into EMDR treatment. Also practical interventions to address resistance and affect regulation problems will be discussed.

Conference

English

Joany Spierings

Spierings, J. (2014, January). EMDR for mourning. Preconference presentation at the 2nd EMDR Asia International Conference, Manila, The Philippines