Grief and Trauma Support Group

 

Grief and trauma support group. Group therapy directed towards issues of grief assist those who are feeling alone and isolated. They may feel that no-one understands what they are going through. There is power in working through grief that brings others together to from strong bonds. Under the guidance of a mental health professional, and a peer support specialist, those that are grieving are able to share their pain, stories, openly discuss how they feel.

Grief and Trauma Support Group

Grief and Trauma Support for Children

Children seem to often be the most overlooked when it comes to grief and trauma. Parents can be so lost in their own grief that they are unable to hold the space for their children. This leaves them feeling lost, confused, even taking on the responsibility of caretaking the parent. understand less about a loss than their parents and thus process grief in different ways. Specialized counselors can help children understand what happened, talk about their feelings, and cope with the negative effects of grief.

Therapists allow children to talk about death or loss in a way that makes sense to them. They also include the parents in sessions. Parents help ensure that the family’s religious beliefs remain respected.

Furthermore, the counselor can teach parents how to help the child grieve at home between sessions. For example, therapists may advise parents to:

• Talk about their own emotions in front of their children
• Keep the line of communication open about the loss
• Make space for bursts of anger or sadness from their children

Grief Counseling for Teenagers

Although teenagers understand more about death and loss than their younger counterparts, they do not have the fully developed brains that adults have. This leads them to experience loss differently than other people.

Parents can help teenagers grieve with these tips:

• Acknowledge their feelings, even if they differ from your own
• Give them space to grieve in different ways than you might
• Look out for signs that they need professional help, such as suicidal thoughts or pervasive depression
• Talk with teachers and school counselors to get on the same page
• Continue to communicate about the loss as often as they need it

Even teens who do not show signs of mental illnesses can benefit from grief counseling. LifeStance Health professionals can give teenagers safe spaces in which to process their feelings.