Play therapy for bereaved children: Adapting strategies to community, school, and home settings

Abstract

Play therapy is a highly adaptable treatment method that can be modified according to children’s ages, circumstances, and settings in which counseling occurs. Play therapy may be used in schools, community settings, and homes to help children following the death of a significant other. After reviewing basic developmental factors that affect children’s ability to comprehend the meaning of death, the article discusses the special circumstances of grief in different situations, including community-based counseling after Hurricane Katrina, school-based group play therapy following a teacher’s death, and conjoint parent-child play therapy after a father’s death in a terrorist attack. Increasing the acceptability and effectiveness of play therapy, professionals must consider and incorporate family and community traditions and beliefs. Additionally, professionals are encouraged to support teachers and parents in utilizing play-based activities to facilitate children’s expressions of grief.

Grief and loss and children: a guide for caregivers and educators

“…The nature of the relationship between the child and the deceased has a significant impact upon how the child is affected by the loss (Massat, Moses & Ornstein, 2008). The closer the relationship of the deceased to the child, especially that of a parent or sibling, the more profound the loss (Webb, 2011 ). If the death causes a disruption or change in daily life, its impact becomes more profound.…”

“…However, the reactions of a child to loss are also dependent on his or her stage of cognitive development (Schoen, Burgoyne & Schoen, 2004). Webb (2011) contends that most children do not understand the basic facts about death until about the age of 8. Broderick and Blewitt (20 1 0) reviewed Pia get's four developmental stages of childhood.…”

“…For many children, the ability to comprehend the finality of loss due to death does not happen until they are in the concrete operational stage of development, sometime after the age of 8 (Webb, 2011). During this stage, children are better able to express logical thought about death itself, but with greater understanding comes fears associated with death.…”

“…They are better able to think about death in abstract terms (Morgan & Roberts,201 0). Children in this stage often struggle with causality, and may feel guilt or responsibility that, had they acted differently, the outcome may have been altered (Webb, 2011 ).…”

“…The close bond between siblings can make the loss a deeply traumatic event, impacting the ability ofthe child to grieve (Webb, 2011). A child may experience not only grief and sadness, but also guilt and regret for past wrongs or unresolved issues (Schoen, Burgoyne & Schoen, 2004).…”