At first, you may think that grief is the same experience for everyone, but that is far from true. Grief is unique to the individual and is experienced differently for everyone.
Not every person will experience immense pain for a long time or be able to overcome their grief without professional support, and that is OKAY. No one person or relationship is the same, so everyone expects the grieving process differently. However, some responses to grief are common at specific ages.
Grief Responses in Children
How might children display signs or symptoms of grief? Children, especially preschool-aged, may not show any apparent signs of distress as adolescents or adults would. It can be challenging for parents to know if their child’s changes in behavior are due to loss and grief or perhaps a regular part of development.
Potential indicators of grief in children:
Temper tantrums
Frequent crying
Clinging to caregivers
Repeatedly asking where the deceased person is or when they will be back.
Nightmares
Physical complaints (stomachache)
Changes in sleep and appetite.
Trouble focusing
Social withdrawal
Grief Counseling & Treatment for Children
Suppose a child has experienced a loss and displays any of the above-listed behaviors. In that case, it may be beneficial to seek out treatment. A grief counselor or mental health professional can assist your child with understanding, processing, and accepting their grief. These services are provided through individual counseling in schools, offices, or telehealth settings. Grief counselors use several interventions and techniques that focus on treatment for grief.
Grief therapy for children may involve:
Worksheets and activities to understand emotions and learn how to identify them.
Use arts, crafts, and games to help express and process emotions.
Building and practicing coping skills to self-regulate emotions.
Learning how to communicate hard feelings.
Validating emotions and experience with grief.
Additional support outside of home and school.
Replacement of inappropriate behavior/responses with adaptive ones.
Grief Responses in Adolescents
Adolescent years come with many developmental stressors. When something as devastating as the death of a loved one occurs, it can undoubtedly intensify and complicate the emotional challenges we expect during adolescence. Adolescents can communicate emotions and recognize grief; however, they may not be willing to share these sorts of things with others, particularly parents. Adolescents tend to keep difficult emotions hidden. Caregivers need to be aware of potential signs suggesting that your adolescent struggles with grief after a loss.
Potential signs to watch out for:
Risky behaviors, high risk-taking.
Behaving as caretaker to others.
Self-harming
Suicidal ideation
Perfectionism
Low energy
Trouble concentrating
Fear/Appearing afraid
Hyper-vigilance/ sensitivity
Social withdrawal
Problematic behaviors at school, home, or in relationships.
Grief Counseling & Treatment for Adolescents
If your adolescent-aged child has experienced a loss and displays any of the above-listed behaviors, seeking professional help may be necessary. If you’re concerned about how your adolescent is coping with a loss or grief and believe counseling may be beneficial, please do not hesitate to seek treatment.
Grief counseling for adolescents can provide a safe, supportive, and validating environment to work through difficult emotions associated with grief. Additionally, it’s important to note that a mental health professional should see adolescents who may be self-harming or experiencing suicidal ideation. Services for adolescents most often involve individual or group therapy in offices, schools, or telehealth.
Grief therapy for adolescents may involve:
Discussing the loss, your grief experience, and sharing memories of a lost loved one.
Processing and accepting loss/grief.
Developing skills to cope with grief healthily.
Improving the ability to communicate complicated feelings with others.
Discovering ways to incorporate your loved ones into your life despite them being gone.
Exploring ways to honor and remember your loved one.
Validating feelings and personal experience with grief.
Receiving additional support.
Grief Responses in Adults
Adult responses to grief vary widely due to additional life factors that may complicate or interfere with the grieving process. Many adults have various roles to play and responsibilities to meet, such as being a parent and caring for children. The opportunity to work through grief is limited for most adults with duties that require time, attention, and energy. I suspect many busy adults do not have the time or cannot afford the time to process and work through grief, leading to unaddressed grief, depression, and unhealthy coping strategies. If you or someone you know is dealing with grief, you have probably experienced one or more of the following.
Common responses to grief in adults:
Withdrawal/Isolation
Difficulty meeting personal or professional responsibilities.
Relationship issues.
Irritability/easily upset.
Suicidal Ideation
Feeling hopeless or lost
Lack of interest in hobbies or once enjoyed activities.
Feelings of guilt or blame
Feeling anxious, on edge.
Feeling sad, frequent crying
Exhaustion, feeling overwhelmed
Avoid people, places, and things that remind you of a lost loved one.
Unhealthy coping skills (overeating, alcohol/drugs, staying busy/distracted).
Grief counseling for adults
If you’re finding it challenging to work through your grief while trying to balance life responsibilities, please know that there’s professional support available to assist you in coping with your grief. You do not have to do it alone.
Grief counseling provides adults with a supportive and confidential space to work through their grief effectively. Counseling services for grieving adults tend to be individual or group therapies in an office or telehealth setting.
Grief therapy for adults may involve:
Discussing the loss, your grief experience, and sharing memories of a lost loved one.
Processing and accepting loss/grief.
Developing skills to cope with grief healthily.
Discovering ways to incorporate your loved ones into your life despite them being gone.
Exploring ways to honor and remember your loved one.
Validating feelings and personal experience with grief.
Receiving additional support.
Reconnecting with life after loss.
Participating in support groups.
Contact Mindsight Behavioral Group to schedule with one of our caring counselors with immediate openings. There IS hope and healing in mental health treatment for grief.
What's Next?
Ready to take your next step? Request an Appointment with a Mindsight counselor.
What online counseling options do I have? There are lots of great telehealth treatment options and lots of incredible therapists to choose from. Check it out!
What is Mindsight Behavioral Group all about? Mindsight has locations throughout Kentucky and they are dedicated to making sure their clients are cared for. Learn more here!
What if I own a mental health group practice and need extra support and resources during this time? We have just the thing! Kasey Compton, CEO of Mindsight Behavioral Group, is incredibly passionate about helping other practices succeed! Check out KC Consulting!
Looking for a supportive community for group practice owners, check out Mindsight Partners.