EMDR Protocol for Grief
Would you like to strengthen your connection with your deceased loved one?
You might be interested to know that there is a specific EMDR protocol that honors continuing bonds after death while decreasing the distress that accompanies grief. It is especially helpful for those that have experienced a traumatic loss. IADC is a brief psychotherapeutic intervention that can be done in two treatment sessions, typically 90-minutes each. However, it is often more helpful to integrate this protocol into more comprehensive therapy that addresses the many layers of grief.
IADC (Induced After Death Communication) is an EMDR protocol. It is unlike traditional talk or grief counseling. The IADC protocol feels much more experiential and spontaneous. When the grief-related distress diminishes, clients generally experience a state of calmness, openness, and receptivity. In this state of calmness, up to 75% of clients describe feeling a deeper connection with their loved one. Some describe a general feeling of love, joy, or peace. Others report sensory experiences (sights, sounds, tastes that they associate with their loved one). It is also common for clients to say that they feel the “presence” of their loved one. Much like EMDR, in general, your experience will be unique to you and guided by your internal wisdom.
But is it real or in your head? In truth, it does not matter from a therapeutic standpoint. My role is to administer a grief protocol that sets the stage for a healing experience aligned with your own natural way of grieving and belief system. Some people do believe that they are connecting to their loved one “on the other side”. Others see it as a therapeutic tool in which the nervous system experiences catharsis brought about by the release of distressing emotion and desensitization of traumatic memories. Most do agree, however, on the authenticity of the experience and its healing effects.
Will the waves of grief stop? Maybe. It really depends on your situation and your relationship with the deceased. Many clients report improvement in grief-related symptoms. For them, the waves of grief may subside or be much less intense. But I cannot say that this is true of all losses. Having lost a child, I cannot imagine a time in my life without waves of grief. For me, personally, it created a small opening that allowed joy and peace to peek through, providing me with moments of respite from the sadness – moments where I was able to connect to the love that still lives in my heart for my son.
If you are interested in learning more about this unique form of therapy, there are a few resources that are helpful.
Dr. Bodkin’s book, Induced After Death Communication: A Miracle Therapy for Grief and Loss, is a great place to start.
Life with Ghosts, is a documentary that chronicles one woman’s grief experience, as well as the research on IADC conducted at the University of North Texas, and
The Center for Grief and Traumatic Loss website provides resources and information about ongoing research.
If this is something that interests you, schedule a free consultation so that we can chat.
