SUICIDE BEREAVEMENT CLINICIAN TRAINING PROGRAM – This seminar was developed in collaboration with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) and the American Association of Suicidology (AAS). The version of the SBCTP that I have been delivering in person around the country for the last several years is a whole day workshop, 6.5 contact hours in length. The SBCTP can be delivered in person, or online. The program can also be delivered virtually in two half-day session, each being 3.5 hours long. Both versions are designed specifically for mental health professionals who provide grief therapy or counseling to suicide loss survivors. They focus is on individual therapy for suicide bereaved adults, and includes information about suicide bereavement; the tasks of loss integration for survivors, and discussion of a particular orientation to grief therapy with survivors (see Kosminsky & Jordan, 2016 in my publications list). Both versions also include viewing videos clips from my therapy sessions with a mother bereaved by suicide, discussion of that case, plus numerous case examples from my work, and more detailed discussion of specific clinical techniques that may be helpful in working with survivors. The overarching goal for the SBCTP is to increase the quantity and quality of professional mental health support for suicide loss survivors. After completing either of the trainings, participants who are licensed mental health clinicians may enroll in an online database maintained by AFSP/AAS that contains their contact information, so that loss survivors in their community will have a way of finding therapists who are “survivor knowledgeable”. For more information on the program, see this page on the AFSP website: https://afsp.org/suicide-bereavement-clinician-training or click on the title of this Workshop to open a description of the SCBTP, including educational objectives and agenda.

AFTER SUICIDE LOSS: Finding Hope and Healing - This workshop draws on the presenter's years of experience as a grief counselor specializing in work with suicide loss survivors to describe the remarkable pathways of healing that survivors can walk. The presentation cover topics such as the impact of suicide on individuals and the family as a group, some of the myths of grief recovery, things that survivors can do to help themselves, and when to seek professional help. The workshop is geared towards people who are grieving the loss of a loved one to suicide, but will also be of value to those who wish to support a grieving survivor, and to professional caregivers such as therapists and clergy who are working with survivors. The format includes didactic presentation, case examples from the presenter's practice, and lots of time for questions and answer with the audience.

WORKING TOGETHER: The loss of a child to suicide can be devastating, and healing sometimes requires the support of a skilled mental health clinician. In this presentation, a mother who lost her young adult son to suicide, and her grief therapist, with whom she worked for several years, will together describe their journey through her mourning process. The therapist will briefly provide a framework for understanding the clinical tasks, and the client will describe in her own words what was helpful (and not helpful) about the therapy process. She will also discuss some of the changes in her grief that occurred over the course of her sessions. Time will also be allotted for questions and comments from the audience. This presentation should be helpful for therapists, counselors, and suicide loss survivors.