Regardless of how long a child had with the parent they lost, their absence will always be felt

A child’s grief may be obvious or they can wear an “everything is ok” mask. Sometimes, they avoid addressing the loss to protect the surviving parent. I can provide your child with the space they need to express their distress and confusion. The journey through grief is never linear. Therapy gives your child the opportunity to wander the path of grief at their own pace.

What does therapy for parental loss look like?

Before meeting with your child, I will ask you to share details about the loss you and your child have experienced. I will ask about the actual circumstances of the death, what your child understands about the death, specific vocabulary you have used for these communications and any spiritual practices/beliefs around death with which your child is familiar. I will also ask you about your child’s strengths and challenges, familial and peer relationships, academics and extracurricular activities and how these have changed, if at all, since the parental death.

For the initial weekly sessions with your child, my goal is to build a bridge of trust and safety between us. I want them to feel comfortable and confident that I can tolerate any conversations or feelings about death.

How I engage with your child will depend on their age. Younger children typically leverage play to express themselves. Older children are more likely to engage in conversation. Some sessions may be a combination of both talking and activities.

And, I will meet with you at least once a month for parenting sessions where we will exchange thoughts, observations and questions.

Therapy will soften your child’s journey through this overwhelming loss

Every child grieves in their own way and at their own pace. But, forward motion is important, no matter how tiny and hesitant the steps. I will be your child’s training wheels as they navigate the rest of their life without one very important person.