EMDR and Grief with Dr. Stephanie Heitkemper

Welcome to our conversation with Stephanie Heitkempher, MA MFT, LPC, RPT, FT, the owner of Resilient Minds Counseling. In this discussion, Stephanie, an expert in the field of EMDR, discusses the nuanced relationship between Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and grief.

As the driving force behind Resilient Minds Counseling, Stephanie specializes in supporting individuals, children, and families navigating change, especially in the realms of grief and trauma. Her approach seamlessly weaves together play therapy (as a Registered Play Therapist), creative expression, and EMDR (she's also an EMDRIA Approved Consultant).

In addition to her private practice, Stephanie serves as the Camp Therapist and board member for Camp Jojo, where she employs a unique model that combines grief support and mental health education with hands-on adventures, focusing particularly on teens impacted by suicide. She's also the lead facilitator for CAMP HAL, a program by the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, designed to assist young children ages 3-6 who have experienced a line of duty death.

Stephanie's dedication to the field of grief support is further underscored by her role on the board of directors for HeartLight Center, a Denver-based grief support and education center, since 2017. Moreover, her active volunteer work with Comfort Zone Camp since 2010 showcases her commitment to healing young hearts.

As a Ph.D. graduate from Regent University, Stephanie conducted groundbreaking research on peer support bereavement programs and their effectiveness in addressing childhood bereavement risk factors. Her vast experience and insightful knowledge shine through in this conversation as she shares valuable insights into the distinctions between grief, mourning, and trauma. Stephanie also addresses the crucial aspects of language, shame, various types of grief, grief models, health disparities, and the vital role of assessment in the therapeutic process.

For easy navigation, we've included timestamps for key points in our conversation:

0:00 Introduction
04:49 Psychoeducation
06:13 Difference between grief, mourning, and trauma
08:00 Language nuances in grief
09:30 Shame and its impact on grief
10:00 Exploring diverse types of grief
12:30 Various grief models and their significance
14:00 Health disparity and bereavement risk
18:00 Importance of comprehensive assessment in grief therapy
19:00 Exploring the intersection of EMDR and grief

Join us on this profound journey as Stephanie illuminates the path toward understanding and effectively utilizing EMDR in grief therapy. Don't miss out on this valuable conversation that promises to enhance your therapeutic insights and practices.

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