Children And Loss

Few books written for practitioners provide any practical information regarding grief and loss issues with children and adolescents. In a clear and concise manner, Children and Loss: A Practical Handbook for Professionals details the strengths perspective of grief and loss developed by the editors. It discusses grief and loss in relation to individual children while also addressing issues and strategies for families and professional teams. The handbook specifically focuses on the dynamics of grief and assessment issues and provides in-depth case examples. This realistic and usable application of essential techniques and resources will immediately enhance practitioners' skills with children and adolescents in specific settings where children are most likely to present with grief and loss issues. This book is a great resource for all practitioners who work with children, from foster care professionals and therapists specializing in divorce to counselors in schools and churches. This book can also be used to academic settings for any course related to child development, child psychology, children and families, grief and loss, end of life, and death.

Through captivating stories and thoughtful analysis, Maria Trozzi explains how to handle the difficult job of talking with children and adolescents about loss, with discussions about: * How children perceive and interpret events such as death, disability, and divorce * Guiding children through the four tasks of mourning * Helping children face funerals, wakes, and memorial services * Children's fears and fantasies: how they express them, and how to address them * Age-appropriate responses to children's questions and concerns * Talking to children about long-term illness, suicide, family or community tragedy, and other special situations * What to do when children won't talk about loss, and when to seek professional help"The wisdom, authenticity, and sheer presence of the author are evident from page one until the end of the beautifully written book. Terms like 'ground-breaking' and 'innovative' have been triviliazed by overuse. In this case they are deserved." --Stan Turecki, M.D., author of The Difficult Child

To watch a child grieve and not know what to do is a profoundly difficult experience for parents, teachers, and caregivers. Yet, there are guidelines for helping children develop a lifelong, healthy response to loss. In When Children Grieve, the authors offer a cutting-edge volume to free children from the false idea of "not feeling bad" and to empower them with positive, effective methods of dealing with loss. There are many life experiences that can produce feelings of grief in a child, from the death of a relative or a divorce in the family to more everyday experiences such as moving to a new neighborhood or losing a prized possession. No matter the reason or degree of severity, if a child you love is grieving, the guidelines examined in this thoughtful book can make a difference.

Whether it’s the grief of bereavement, the strain of divorce or the uncertainty of a new home or school, loss and change affect children in countless ways. Nevertheless, teachers and parents frequently find themselves ill-equipped to help children struggling with the difficult feelings that these situations, and others like them, bring. Helping Children Cope with Loss and Change offers guided support for teachers, health professionals and parents. Designed for use with children aged 4-10, this guide offers: Case studies illustrating various signs of grief and loss, to help the caregiver spot and manage a child’s pain. Therapeutic stories designed to be read with the child, and with prompt questions to encourage discussion. Creative activities and exercises that can be developed into a therapeutic ‘toolkit’ to support the child and the caregiver themselves. With chapters that move from Loss and Change to Resolution and Resilience, addressing the needs of both the child and caregiver, Helping Children Cope with Loss and Change will be an invaluable therapeutic tool.

For decades, Life and Loss has been the book clinicians have relied on for a full and nuanced presentation of the many issues with which grieving children grapple, as well as an honest exploration of the interrelationship between unresolved grief, educational success, and responsible citizenry. This classic edition, which includes a new preface from the author, brings this exploration firmly into the twenty-first century and makes a convincing case that children’s grief is no longer restricted only to loss-identified children. Children’s grief is now endemic; it is global. Life and Loss is not just the book mental health professionals need to understand grief in the twenty-first century—it’s the book they need to work with grief in a practical and constructive way.

When a loved one dies, children are faced with a kaleidoscope of feelings, thoughts, and questions. Struggling with these issues can be overwhelming without guidance, support, and creative forms of expression. This bereavement book contains simple, effective activities to help children and parents communicate about death and the grieving process. Through these activities, children will learn how to grow and thrive after the loss of a loved one.

"The book is well organized, well detailed, and well referenced; it is an invaluable sourcebook for researchers and clinicians working in the area of bereavement. For those with limited knowledge about bereavement, this volume provides an excellent introduction to the field and should be of use to students as well as to professionals," states Contemporary Psychology. The Lancet comments that this book "makes good and compelling reading....It was mandated to address three questions: what is known about the health consequences of bereavement; what further research would be important and promising; and whether there are preventive interventions that should either be widely adopted or further tested to evaluate their efficacy. The writers have fulfilled this mandate well."

No one should have to experience the death of a child, but many go through the deep pain and anguish. There are no words that can describe the ache and agony. This book is short, but precise, and written to guide those who have lost a child and in the process of dealing with grief. The book also gives pointers and advice for those who are willing to reach out and help others through one of the most difficult experiences a human being can walk through. This book is a must-read for those who are suffering from the loss of a child as well as anyone who helps to minister to those grieving. It may also be used as a tremendous tool in a group therapy class or setting. You will find this book to be very open, honest, transparent, and candid in nature.