Grief Counseling in TherapyLand—Child Grief Counseling  

Grieving the loss of a loved one is very difficult for all of us, but it is especially difficult for a child. When a child loses a parent, sibling, grandparent, friend, or even a pet, they can have trouble understanding and coping with their grief. Children process things differently than adults and traumatic experiences can leave a lasting effect on their developing minds. It can also be very difficult to watch a child grieve and can cause caregivers additional pain.

My hope is that when a child goes through that heartbreaking experience of losing a loved one, they don’t come out of it feeling as though the adults in their life knew what was going on but didn’t tell them about it or that they were lied to. –Andrea Warnick

When a child is dealing with grief or loss, Thriveworks TherapyLand child counselors and therapists are ready to step in. We have experts in this field, ready to help your child or teenager process their loss in a healthy way. We have specialized methods of communicating with children so that way we can reach your child in a way that may be very difficult for you, as the parent. If you feel like your child could benefit from speaking with a professional grief counselor or therapist, reach out to Thriveworks today.

What Is Grief Counseling for Children?

When children are dealing with grief, they may become withdrawn and quiet, unable to express their feelings. Alternatively, they may seem completely fine, and then have unusual acting out behavior, such as hitting or biting. Teenagers may turn to substance abuse or other bad influences to try to numb their pain. As a parent, this can be very overwhelming, and difficult to manage. You don’t have to do it alone. Thriveworks child therapists and counselors are able to help share your burden. We can partner with you and your family to process this grief and create a new, healthy normal.

Some different types of therapy techniques for children include:

• Family Therapy – parents or siblings may be invited to join a grief counseling session together so everyone can talk about the loss. When parents join, they are given their own tips and tricks on how to best support their grieving child in a way that they can understand and relate to.
• Art Therapy – by giving children or teens the ability to color pictures, create sculptures, and work with their hands, they can identify what they miss about the person that passed away.
• Play Therapy – similar to art therapy, play therapy gives little ones a way to talk about their feelings and process emotions in a healthy way.
• Talk Therapy – the traditional talk therapy method allows kids to express their emotions verbally with their counselor. Thriveworks TherapyLand child counselors have the tools and resources available to meet your child on their level and communicate with them in a way that makes the most sense to them.

These are just some of the ways that grief counseling can help children. Your child’s counselor will work with them through several different methods to find what works best for them.

Signs You Should Seek the Help of a Grief Counselor for Your Child

As explained before, every child experiences grief differently. However, there are certain warning signs you may pick up on that would grant the need of a professional grief psychologist. Some warning signs are:

• Lack of interest in activities that used to excite them
• Increased behavioral problems such as physical alterations or arguing
• Frequent bad dreams or nightmares about death or their deceased loved one
• Decline in school performance
• Irritability/moodiness
• Chronic fear of losing another family member or friend
• Increased social isolation

The loss of those we love is a normal part of life. But for a child experiencing it for the first time, it seems anything other than normal. There are many different ways to understand grief and loss, and we will be respectful of your family’s beliefs and traditions. Thriveworks child counselors are experts in their field, able to deal with whatever situation you present. When it comes to the emotional health of your child, you want to make the best choice possible.

Schedule an Appointment with a Child Grief Counselor at Thriveworks

It can be hard to know who to trust in a sea of choices. Thriveworks providers are leaders in their field, ready to put their expertise to work for your child and your family. Unlike most therapy and counseling offices, we do not operate with a waiting list. We have appointments available for new clients within 24 hours in most cases. Don’t let your child suffer alone any longer.

Call Thriveworks today. We look forward to joining your child on this journey of recovery, acceptance, and happiness.