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Continuing Bonds with the Departed during Special Occasions

Season #5

 

Episode Description

The holidays are often branded as "the most wonderful time of the year," but for those sitting with grief, they can be the most isolating. In this bonus episode, Kathy—EMDR Consultant, Trainer, and Thanatologist—explores the Continuing Bonds framework.

We’re moving away from the outdated idea of "closure" and instead looking at how we help our clients (and ourselves) maintain a healthy, evolving relationship with those who have died. Whether you are a trauma therapist supporting a grieving client or a clinician navigating your own seasonal heaviness, this episode offers a soft place to land and a professional lens on bereavement during the holidays.

Key Takeaways from the Couch

  • Moving Beyond "Moving On": Why the goal of grief therapy isn't to sever ties, but to transform them.

  • The Continuing Bonds Framework: How internalizing the deceased’s values and presence helps stabilize the "SUDs" of holiday triggers.

  • Rituals of Remembrance: Practical, trauma-informed ways to incorporate a loved one into holiday traditions without becoming overwhelmed.

  • The Empty Chair: Navigating the physical absence vs. the psychological presence during family gatherings.

  • Therapist Self-Care: Acknowledging the "Secondary Loss" clinicians feel when their clients' grief intensifies during the winter months.

Featured Resources & Community

  • The Kathy on the Couch Membership: Your home for grief and trauma consultation. Join a community of therapists who finally have a place to ask the hard questions and get real support. [Link to Membership]

  • EMDR University: Are you a Certified EMDR Therapist or Consultant looking to deepen your work with complicated mourning? Explore our advanced skill-sharpening modules. [Link to EMDR University]

  • Grief Tools: Access our holiday "Resource Kits" inside the membership, featuring NBCC CEs and clinical handouts for bereavement.

Reflection Question

“If you could invite your loved one’s best quality to the table this year—their humor, their resilience, or their kindness—how would that change the energy of your holiday?”

Welcome to Kathy On The Couch: EMDR Podcast, the show that unveils and explores the transformative power of EMDR therapy. Our mission is to support clinicians through meaningful conversations, practical resources, and honest dialogue about EMDR, therapy, and the business side of clinical work. We are your hosts, Tony Parmenter and Kathy Couch, and we are thrilled to embark on this journey with you. About Rewired360 Rewired360 equips clinicians and business owners to step into the CEO mindset as they learn, lead, and thrive. We support the full EMDR career pathway, including becoming an EMDR International Association Certified Therapist and Approved Consultant. Our offerings include consultation, training programs, podcasts, Facebook groups, blogs, YouTube channels, free peer huddles for business and EMDR, and a free Rewired360 swag store. View all offerings and social platforms by visiting http://www.rewired360.com .

In this week’s episode, meet ...

 Stephanie Pearce is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in PA & NJ. She obtained her MSW from Rutgers University in 2002 & has worked in the social work field for 23 years in settings ranging from a family crisis unit to an outpatient setting. Ms. Pearce currently facilities a private practice in the Pocono, PA area that customizes services for individuals & couples impacted by grief & loss across the life span, maternal mood disorders, reproductive trauma, developmental trauma & infertility.

 Ms. Pearce is a certified EMDR therapist, certified in Brainspotting, a certified perinatal mental health professional & a certified grief informed professional. She is passionate about participating in ongoing learning & is awaiting her Thanatology professional certification exam results.

 She enjoys working with students in the academic environment. Ms. Pearce also works as an adjunct instructor through Grand Canyon University, as well as supporting students in their social work field work programs through Marywood University. She facilitates CEU trainings for the Nurturing Mamas Network & for NASW-PA.

 Stephanie enjoys hiking with her family including an energetic rescue dog. She is a lifelong NY Jets & Mets fan.

Stephanie and Kathy discuss the Continuing Bonds in the Holiday Traditions

Join the free Facebook Group for EMDR Therapists. Subscribe to the YouTube Channel for Everything EMDR.

Subscribe to the Blog for marketing tips and business ideas. Visit the Rewired360 Swag Store for free merchandise.www.rewired.360.shop When Kathy isn’t working with clinicians, you can find her enjoying holistic therapies and spending time with her husband, children, and twin boys.

About Your Co-Host: Tony Parmenter, MA, LCMHC, EMDRIA Approved Consultant Tony Parmenter, co-host, is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor, Certified EMDR Therapist, EMDRIA Approved Consultant, and founder of Seiyu Institute for Health & Training, L3C, where he specializes in complex trauma and intergenerational healing. A U.S. Air Force veteran who served in Operation Enduring Freedom before teaching ESL in Tokyo and training as a Mental Health Counselor, Tony brings a unique perspective to his work with veterans, first responders, healthcare professionals, and creatives. He is the creator of innovative trauma treatment approaches including the Medicine-free Altered State Recovery System (MARS) and Therapeutic Fly-fishing with EMDR (TF-EMDR)®, which integrate nature-based interventions with evidence-based practices. His holistic approach draws from EMDR, Acceptance & Commitment Therapy, polyvagal theory, Reiki, clinical hypnosis, and ketamine-assisted psychotherapy. Tony is also a musician, outdoor enthusiast, professional trainer who has held visiting or adjunct professorships at NYU, Bellevue University, Purdue University, and others. Additionally, he is a volunteer with the Vermont TRN and American Red Cross, bringing a whole-person/whole-spirit perspective to trauma recovery that honors the interconnection of mind, body, and spirit.

 Whether you’re seeking foundational skills or advanced expertise, EMDR University is your partner in growth and excellence.If you’re looking for more resources, be sure to check out our full list of courses at rewired360.com or rewired360.ce-go.com/courses/all. And don’t forget to visit our swag store at rewired360.shop for some fun mental health and EMDR tees!

If you’re interested in learning more about EMDR intensives or want to explore innovative tools like Dharma Dr. EMDR Tappers, you’ll find all the links in our show notes and at linktr.ee/rewired360.