Roger Solomon, a master trainer and clinician with extensive expertise in grief and mourning, granted his permission to share highlights from a past workshop to further educate EMDR clinicians in this critical presenting issue.
Highlights
Roger underscored the profound impact of EMDR therapy in addressing long-standing grief, showcasing significant healing within even initial sessions. Deep pain and anguish were cleared out, particularly from traumatic events such as finding a loved one who had completed suicide, being present when a family member was murdered, and tragedies such as the pandemic and mass shootings both survivors and those responding to these events experience.
Deep Emotional Engagement in Therapy
Roger’s workshop is a masterclass in navigating deep emotional territories within therapeutic settings. He demonstrated exceptional patience and compassion, guiding the release of intense, long-held emotions related to traumatic loss. This not only provided valuable learning for participants but also highlighted the emotional resilience and dedication required of therapists working in the healing of grief and mourning.
Roger maintained a a supportive presence that revealed confidence in the client’s ability to work through their experiences, validating clients’ feelings without taking on their emotional burden. His mantra, “If your client is in hell, you go in hell with them,” resonates deeply, emphasizing the therapist’s role in supporting clients through their darkest times while focusing on healing goals.
Clearly there is need courage among EMDR clinicians dealing with grief and loss as they trust EMDR processing to do this work. Roger’s experiences illustrate how confronting and working through clients’ enduring pain lead to remarkable recovery. His insights into managing personal emotional responses to client experience by continuously focusing on healing and professional growth are invaluable.
Clinical Insights and Strategies
Roger emphasized the importance of fully experiencing grief to facilitate healing by addressing all aspects of loss and mourning. Techniques such as his use of questioning are used to transform the client’s relationship with the deceased and embracing life post-loss.Strategic use of questioning explored clients’ stuck points and unresolved emotions provide a roadmap for interventions.
Roger Solomon’s profound commitment to healing and professional sharing is evident and worth checking out further. He has a book throughout the training, leaving a lasting impact on all attendees.
For more insights from Roger Solomon on EMDR therapy and its applications in grief and mourning, listen to this Healing Connections podcast interview conducted by Elyse Harper. His workshops are offered through the EMDR Institute, and his book EMDR Therapy Treatment for Grief and Mourning is available for purchase through EMDRIA.
Bonnie Mikelson LISW
