Class Description and Information
Helping the Hurt -
How to Help a Grieving Child
Cherie L. Spehar, MSW
Course Information:
When a child is grieving, it is so hard to know what to say and even harder to know what not to say. A child's grief is expressed in many different ways throughout their lifespan and might not be what you expect. This makes it even harder to know how to respond, especially if you are dealing with grief and sadness as well.
This compassionate and nurturing class will help you understand the way children grieve at different age levels, how they may share their feelings and what you can do to nurture them through that process. We will also emphasize complicated grief, and important signs for healing, or when it may be time to seek additional help.
Of special note is that although the main emphasis of grief will be devoted to a child's experience of a loss through death, we will also spend time on grief reactions due to any loss or change in a child's life (for example,a move, divorce, school change, etc.).
This class is appropriate for parents, social workers, counselors, or any person wishing to learn more about how to nurture and support a child through their sorrow.
Here's what we will cover:
- Typical grief responses from infancy through adolescence
- Special grief situations - anticipatory reactions, sudden losses, traumas
- Very specific and practical guidance about what to expect and how to respond
- The importance of honest, direct, and factual communication at an age appropriate level
- What to say and do for your child - and what to avoid
- How to identify and develop an appropriate support system for the entire family
- Specific behaviors indicating healing, or a complicated grief response
- How to assess when it's time to seek outside help
