Surviving Suicide Loss: 

Level: Beginner

Summary

Suicide is a traumatic event that disrupts survivors’ previously stable constructs about life, often shaking the very foundations of their assumptive world. While post-traumatic growth (PTG) has gained increasing attention, many clinicians have historically focused on helping clients cope with trauma, often overlooking the potential for resilience and growth. This workshop, designed for licensed mental health professionals and ministry leaders, provides clinical guidance for working with suicide loss survivors. Participants will explore three key areas of impact that can facilitate PTG, providing clinicians with a roadmap to assist clients in reconstructing new, sustainable frameworks of meaning. Specific focus will be given to Narrative Therapy, Parts Work, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) exercises as tools for meaning-making reconstruction. Attendees will also examine how tacit assumptions about life, one’s spiritual beliefs, and the world are challenged by trauma, and be equipped to guide survivors toward a more resilient and integrated sense of self. Through the personal and professional experiences of the presenter—both a suicide loss survivor and clinician—this workshop will prepare clinicians to work effectively with suicidal clients and those left behind by suicide.

Learning Objectives

Participants will:

1. Identify and describe three key areas of impact that affect suicide loss survivors.
2. Discuss meaning making reconstruction for loss survivors using Narrative therapy, parts work, and DBT exercises
3. Identify resilience building skills that will move survivors toward PTG and discuss how to target clients with underdeveloped and over developed skills

Continuing Education Statement

Live: Approved for LPC, LMFT, LCSW, and IBCC

The American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC) offers some psychologists, therapists, counselors, social workers, and play therapists Continuing Education (CE) credit due to good standing with certain states and a limited number of professional organizations. It remains the responsibility of each participant to be aware of state licensure and CE requirements. Participants should check their state and/or local regulations regarding required Continuing Education hours. *Webinars MUST be watched LIVE to receive CE Credit.  

On-Demand: 2 NBCC Credits 

Effective immediately, participants can now earn “On-Demand” NBCC credit for CounselTalk webinars that are not attended live. To receive this credit, participants must complete a 10-question quiz and an evaluation following the On-demand CounselTalk webinar.

Please note the following details:

• The CounselTalk webinar will switch to “On-Demand” credit after 11:59 pm on the day of the webinar.
• Participants must sign up for the CounselTalk webinar prior to its start time to be eligible for this type of credit.