Coffee, Conversation & CEUs: Treating Grief Complicated by Trauma

Coffee, Conversation and CEUs is a monthly, professional education series sponsored by Garfield Park Behavioral Hospital, Hartgrove Behavioral Health System and Mental Health America of Illinois (MHAI).

The sudden or violent death of a loved one can leave survivors navigating far more than bereavement alone. Trauma, unanswered questions, guilt, anger, stigma, fractured relationships, conflicting emotions, and the circumstances surrounding a death can profoundly affect the grieving process—and complicate a survivor's ability to find support that feels appropriate to their experience.

Presented in recognition of Suicide Prevention Month, this special Coffee, Conversation & CEUs session explores how behavioral health professionals can better understand and respond to individuals and families experiencing traumatic and complex bereavement, particularly following suicide and violent loss.

Michael Vinton, Co-Founder of Impacted Survivors of Murder-Suicide (ISMS), will share his lived experience of devastating family loss and the grief journey that followed, including his efforts to find counseling and…