The Therapist Thrival Guide 39. Complicated Grief and Suicide Loss
September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, and we are highlighting this important topic throughout the podcast this month. As we work together to de-stigmatize the societal beliefs around therapy and increase access to outpatient care, we recognize there's a LOT we can do to bring this often taboo topic into a new light while raising awareness about suicide as a public health concern, educating about prevention, and by supporting the healing of those affected by suicide.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
ABOUT OUR GUEST:Erin Opoku, LMFT obtained her Master’s degree in Adlerian Psychotherapy with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy from the Adler Graduate School. Erin has worked in multiple different mental health settings over the years and has found herself loving the balance of therapeutic and director work at Ellie since 2017. Erin enjoys specializes in grief and loss with her clients.Jennifer Keehn, LPCC has worked in the human services field for over 15 years providing care to children, adolescents, adults and families in a variety of settings including schools, hospitals, treatment programs, and outpatient clinic. Her main areas of focus have been with grief/loss and supporting families through challenging times.
RESOURCES:
- Episode about talking about suicide with clients: https://youtu.be/Uqc9Xm3qOdA
- Three Tips for Asking Someone about Suicide Blog Post: https://elliementalhealth.com/three-easy-steps-to-asking-someone-about-suicide/
- Episode about how to cope when you lose a client or supervisee to suicide: https://youtu.be/xOlkZS6hIko
- "The Dinner Party" organization that Erin shared: https://www.thedinnerparty.org/
OUR HOSTS:
Miranda Barker, MSW, LICSW, has been practicing as a therapist for several years. She previously worked as a child protection investigator, adoption social worker, case manager, and the Director of Brand Content at Ellie Mental Health. Follow her on LinkedIn.
Dr. Lucas Volini, LMFT, has been practicing as a marriage and family therapist for over ten years. He has worked as a couple's therapist, a graduate and undergraduate professor, researcher, author, and the Senior Director of Innovation at Ellie Mental Health...But he mostly sees himself as a professional recreational golfer.
The Therapist Thrival Guide is a podcast by Ellie Mental Health. We want to move therapists beyond surviving and into the realm of thriving by covering all the things that graduate school didn't teach you! This mental health podcast is hosted by Miranda Barker, LICSW and a rotating cast of seasoned therapists. Each episode features a therapist speaking to their areas of expertise to help us learn how to thrive as therapists.
Ellie is a national mental health brand organized around community-based outpatient mental health clinics. It all began with a single office in St. Paul, Minnesota back in 2015, and has expanded to an explosive number of locations across the country.