Children who are grieving often face challenges in processing emotions and adapting to loss in developmentally appropriate ways. This presentation explores the integration of EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) with play-based approaches to support children navigating the complexities of grief. Participants will delve into the core principles of EMDR, including its eight-phase protocol, and discover how to tailor it specifically for children who are grieving.

The session highlights the role of play and creative expression as vital tools to complement EMDR, making interventions more engaging and effective for young clients. Attendees will learn at least three practical, play-based techniques to help children externalize emotions, process their grief, and rebuild a sense of stability.

Additionally, participants will gain insights into three trauma-informed strategies for integrating EMDR into grief work. These strategies are designed to address the unique developmental, emotional, and cognitive needs of children, ensuring a holistic and compassionate approach to care.

The presentation includes guided worksheets to help attendees create a structured framework for future EMDR and play-based interventions tailored to their clients. By combining EMDR’s structured, evidence-based methodology with the creativity and adaptability of play, participants will leave equipped to support grieving children in processing emotions, building resilience, and discovering paths toward growth and adjustment after loss.

Continuing Education (CEs) Available: 1.5 hours pending
Target Audience: Counselors, Social workers, Bereavement support professionals
Instructional Level: Intermediate – This best describes a topic or issue that the audience likely has a theoretical foundation for understanding and/or a working knowledge.
Format: Live Interactive Webinar

Cost: Free for NACG Members; $60 for Guests without CEs; $75 for Guests with CEs

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Objectives:

After attending this webinar, participants will be able to:

• Identify the core principles of EMDR and its eight-phase protocol with an emphasis on its application for grieving children.
• Name at least three developmentally appropriate play-based approaches to complement EMDR focused on children’s grief.
• Identify at least three trauma-informed strategies for integrating EMDR into children’s grief support to process emotions and build resilience.
• Develop practical skills to use EMDR and play-based interventions to support children navigating the complexities of childhood grief.

Speaker Bio:

Stephanie Heitkemper, PhD, LPC, RPT-S, FT is the owner of Resilient Minds Counseling which specializes in working with individuals, children, and families around change including grief and trauma. Stephanie finds energy in utilizing play therapy (as a Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor), creative expression, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) (EMDRIA Approved Consultant) and. bibliotherapy in her counseling practice, program creation, and presentations. Stephanie serves on the board of directors for Heart Light Center (2017), a Denver-based grief support and education center as well as Camp JoJo (2020), a camp dedicated to supporting teens impacted by suicide. In addition to Resilient Minds Counseling, Stephanie is the Clinical Director of Camp Erin NYC, which is part of Cope. Stephanie’s self-care includes early morning coffee, CrossFit, and Ironman training as well as exploring Colorado with her husband and beloved boxer.

Continuing Education (CE) Provider Information:

Continuing education credits have been applied for with the following agencies.

Each professional is responsible for the individual requirements as stipulated by their licensing agency. Please contact your individual licensing board/regulatory agency to review continuing education requirements for licensure renewal. Please note: You must attend “live” (in real-time) to earn CEs. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the CE process, please contact Megan Lopez at megan.lopez@childrengrieve.org or at (432) 288-4688.

The National Alliance for Children’s Grief has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7221. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. The National Alliance for Children’s Grief is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. Counselors completing this course will receive 1.5 contact hours.

The National Alliance for Children’s Grief is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0689. Social Workers completing this course will receive 1.5 contact hours.

The National Alliance for Children’s Grief is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0238. Counselors completing this course will receive 1.5 contact hours.

National Alliance for Children’s Grief, #1819, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers.  State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. National Alliance for Children’s Grief maintains responsibility for this course.  ACE provider approval period: 07/20/2023 – 07/20/2026. Counselors completing this course will receive 1.5 continuing education credits.

Refund/cancellation policy: If you need to cancel your registration, please contact Megan Lopez at megan.lopez@childrengrieve.org or at (432) 288-4688. Please note that no refunds will be given.

To request accessibility accommodations: The National Alliance for Children’s Grief is committed to providing universal access to all our events. Please contact Megan Lopez at megan.lopez@childrengrieve.org or at (432) 288-4688 to request disability accommodations. Advance notice is necessary to arrange for some accessibility needs.

Attendance policy: To earn CEs for this event, you must attend the entirety of the event as demonstrated by your autogenerated login and logout time on the Zoom Webinar report and complete an online event evaluation within seven (7) days of the event. Please make sure you are signed into Zoom using the name that matches your professional license and not the name of your place of employment, as there is no way to verify your attendance after the fact if your name does not appear on the Zoom Webinar report. CE certificates will be sent out within 30 days of the educational event. The link for your certificate will come from “certificates@simplecert.net” as the National Alliance for Children’s Grief. Please be sure to add this email to your “safe sender list”. The NACG is unable to process certificates after 90 days from the date of the event. 

CE Certificate retrieval request: The NACG maintains continuing education records for at least six years from the date of completion of the educational event which include: the name and curriculum vitae of the presenter, a record of attendance, an outline of the course, date, and location of the course, and the number of hours for completion of the course. If you attended a CE educational event and need a copy of your CE certificate, please complete this form to obtain a copy: https://nacg.wufoo.com/forms/qfsln7r1twqpty/. Please note if the education event was more than 90 days ago, and a required evaluation was not completed, a certificate cannot be provided per the policy.

Grievance policy:  To view the NACG’s Continuing Education Grievance Policy, you can find it HERE. Please complete THIS form to share a grievance with the NACG regarding a continuing education event.