Grief Support Programs For Children Ages 3 - 19 That Have Lost A Loved One

At The Healing Place, our focus is helping children ages 3 through 19 that have experienced the death of a loved one such as a parent, grandparent, sibling or friend.

You may be visiting this web site because you have experienced the death of a special person in you life. Many kids wonder if the feelings they have after the death of a special person are "normal." Kids who have had a special person die may feel one or more of the following:

• tightness in the throat or heaviness in the chest
• have an empty feeling in their stomach and lose their appetite
• feel guilty at times and angry at others
• feel restless and look for activity but find it difficult to concentrate
• feel as though the loss isn’t real, that it didn’t actually happen
• sense the loved ones presence, like finding themselves expecting the person to walk in the door at the usual time, hearing his voice, or seeing his face
• have difficulty sleeping, and dream of their loved one frequently
• wander aimlessly and forget and don’t finish things they’ve started
• take on mannerisms or traits of their loved one
• feel guilty or angry over things that happened or didn’t happen in the relationship with the deceased.
• feel angry at the loved one for leaving them
• feel as though they need to take care of other people who seem uncomfortable around them, by not talking about the feelings of loss
• need to tell and retell and remember things about the loved one and the experience of the death
• feel their mood changes over the slightest things
• cry more easily
• fear the deaths of others in their lives

• keep a diary of your feelings
• do something physical to blow off steam (hit a stack of pillows, play loud music, gather a bunch of old newspapers and rip and tear them up, hit a punching bag, throw balls hard at a wall
• don't be surprised or feel guilty if you haven't cried, let your feelings take their natural course and remember there is no right way to grieve
• have "time-out" from grief, have planned periods of fun
• draw a picture of a favorite memory of your loved one
• search for more information to help you understand why and how the loss happened
• join a support group to be with other kids who have experienced a death
• write a poem, short story or song about your loved one
• listen to a favorite song
• find a new hobby you enjoy
• hug a stuffed animal
• watch a funny movie
• spend time with someone who makes you feel good about you
• plan to be with a friend on special anniversary dates or do something special to comfort yourself or to remember
• make and decorate a memory box and put special objects inside
• make a donation to a charity in your loved ones name
• spend time with your pet
• make your loved ones favorite dessert and you may even want to give it to someone who lives nearby
• call The Healing Place 383-7133 and talk to a counselor