Play Therapy is an important type of therapy in counseling for children. It helps children better express themselves about trauma, loss, or emotional issues. Children are less verbal and the play associates more with their brain development in how they communicate. Clinical Professional Counselors who specialize in play therapy are able to help children face issues and help them find healing. Grief Counselors can utilize Play Therapy as well in helping grieving children. Obviously, pastoral counselors cannot utilize this type of therapy even if grief certified since they are not licensed counselors, but those certified in grief counseling who are also licensed counselors are employ its use in helping children grieve properly. For those who not licensed counselors, but still perform grief counseling at a pastoral level, one can discuss basic loss with a child but if it becomes apparent of deeper pathology, the child should be referred to a licensed counselor who specializes in play therapy.
Children grieve and process loss differently than adults. This a critically important concept for all grief counselors to grasp in their understanding of helping children deal with grief. Children depending on their age as well as mental and emotional maturity all process grief differently. Understanding this key concept can prevent numerous errors in child development when helping a child a through the process of grief.
It is important to teach children about the nature of loss. Please also review AIHCP’s Child and Adolescent Grief Counseling Program
In the past, emotional and mental barriers to development of children were innocently but ignorantly created by concerned caregivers seeking to shield children from loss. Children were denied final farewells at death scenes, or prevented from attending a funeral. Hiding death, even that of a family pet as simple as a fish, were all considered important steps in protecting a child’s innocence from death.
In reality, sparing children the realities of death, or diminishing the event of death caused more damage to the mental and emotional development of children. Children would then inherit improper coping mechanisms as adults when dealing with loss. They would also have grief complications with past losses. The inability to say good bye, find closure, or fully understand the nature of the loss crippled their abilities to deal with grief as adults.
In preventing these issues, adults, caregivers and grief counselors need to address loss to children. An explanation of the loss should correlate with the understanding and mental maturity of the child regarding the finality of death. Death and loss should be seen as opportunities for the child to learn about death, especially in regards to smaller losses.
In dealing with these losses, caregivers should express death clearly without any figurative language and also encourage children to express their feelings and thoughts. If a child wishes to express that is fine and if a child wishes to express less, that is fine. The importance is that children are able to express their feelings and know that life will continue.
It is critical to allow children to express themselves as they fit not only for their own understanding but also to dismiss any ill thoughts regarding the loss that may fester within the child. Children sometimes can blame themselves for the death of an individual or hold guilt that most adults would dismiss. It is hence important to discuss the death clearly but also to have a full understanding of the child’s understanding of the loss in relationship to him or her.
By responding uniquely to each child’s need during a loss based on the child’s understanding, one can eliminate any possible grief complications and also allow the child to fully express him or herself. This enables a better transition mentally, socially and emotionally.
To learn more how to speak to and understand grieving children, then please review AICHP’s Child and Adolescent Grief Counseling Program. The program is open to currently certified Grief Counselors and is offered as an advanced specialty program. Those who meet the qualifications can become certified in this advanced specialty field and learn to better help children cope with loss and grief.
The loss of a mother for a child alters the child’s life permanently. Grief Counseling and a strong family life is important for the child to cope and adapt to life without his or her mother.
Please also review our Child and Adolescent Grief Counseling Program and see if it meets your academic and professional goals
The article, “Children Mourning the Loss of a Mom” by Mike McEnaney looks at the loss of a mother and the difficulties children have mourning the loss of their mother. How to deal with this type of loss is difficult but varies depending on the age. The article states,
“Grief takes on many forms, sometimes it’s sad and sometimes it can be powerful and lifechanging as well. For Aidan the spirit of his Mom is alive within him and that mutual love has been a force in his life. That love is in a lot of places if you take the time to look.”
Child grieving is unique and different than adult grieving. Child grief is multi dimensional based on the child’s age and maturity. Children grieve differently and understand reality and death and loss differently. Due to this, it is critical to discuss loss with children and expose them to the reality of it in a good way.
It is important to understand children and how they grieve. Please also review our Child and Adolescent Grief Counseling Program
The article, “How to Help a Child Cope With Grief” by Jen Chesak looks deeper into how one can better discuss loss and grief with children. She states,
“Let’s be real. Grief is tough enough for adults — even though we understand that death is an inescapable part of life. The loss of a loved one is never easy, regardless of our age. That’s why when it comes to explaining grief to kids, we can get a big knot in our throat.”
To learn more about child grief and loss and to read the entire article, please click here
Children who lose a parent need guidance, counseling and care. The loss of a parent is a permanent loss that has life long implications for a child and it is important a child receives emotional support. Children need to learn how to adjust to life but also still be secure.
Helping a child deal with the loss of a parent is a difficult thing. Please also review our Child and Adolescent Grief Counseling Program
The article, “How To Help Children Handle Grief After The Death Of A Parent” by Kelsey Borresen states,
For bereaved children dealing with the loss of an important figure like a parent, these intense feelings can be particularly hard to process. Kids need their surviving parent, caregivers or the other trusted adults in their lives to help them navigate the murky waters of grief.
Miscarriages can be very confusing for children expecting a baby brother or sister. Parents need to be able to explain the loss in a logical way to the child. How to go about explaining loss can be difficult but it needs to be done in a sensitive but informative way
Explaining a miscarriage to a child can be difficult. Please also review our Child and Adolescent Grief Counseling Program
The article, “How to Talk to Your Kid About Miscarriage” by Meghan Moravcik Walbert states,
“Despite how common miscarriage is, those who go through it often find it to be a painfully isolating experience. It frequently happens before the expectant mom or couple have told friends or family—or even their other children.”
Miscarriages happen in families and it is important to discuss with other children in the family. To read the entire article, please click here
Play therapy has always been a beneficial tool in helping children in counseling. Expressing grief is no different. Children are able to express grief and trauma through play. A counselor is then able to help the child express the grief in a productive way through play therapy.
Play therapy is an excellent way to help children communicate grief. Please also review our Grief Counseling Training
The article, How play therapy can help children heal, by Karen Marley looks at the benefits of play therapy. She states,
“Play therapy is an evidence-based practice that helps a child build a greater sense of self. When engaged in play therapy, a child uses his or her entire self – mind and body – to express unconscious fears, thoughts, wishes and feelings.”
AIHCP offers a certification in Child and Adolescent Grief Counseling which can help prepare counselors for dealing with child grief. Please review our full Grief Counseling Training and see if it matches your academic and professional needs.
Good article on how grandparents can better talk to their grandchildren about grief. Children grieve differently and need help expressing and understanding it. Sometimes only grandparents are available or in the child’s life
The article, How to speak to your grandchildren about grief and death, by Starts at 60 Writers states
“Grief can be one of the hardest emotions to deal with at any age, but for a small child, it’s also extremely confusing and can be very scary.
That’s why children so badly need the adults in their lives to help them make sense of the emotions they may be feeling, and while parents play a huge role in this, grandparents are a much-needed support to their grandkids too, especially if the parents aren’t available or are suffering with grief themselves.”
