Grief and Change

It’s NEVER easy.

Regardless of when they come, death, loss, grief, and unwanted change are unwelcome visitors and can result in major upheavals in our daily lives.

Well-adjusted, high-functioning adults – even those seasoned by plenty of previous experience – can take a tumble in the tidal wave of resulting emotions and consequences.

It shouldn’t happen to a young person.

Unfortunately, for too many teenagers, death or loss and the resulting grief are part of everyday life.

While it’s true that these experiences may not always result in actual death, the loss of friendships, jobs, positions in the family or important groups, and status – to name just a few – can trigger equally devastating levels of grief for teens.

Dealing with loss in today’s climate:

By the end of high school…

5% of today’s students will have lost one of their parents by the end of high school
20% will have experienced the death of someone close by age 18
90% say they have experienced the death of a loved one

From 2010 to mid-2018, more than 170 U.S. students were killed in school shootings.

So what can you do?

The biggest understatement about grief: Therapy can help.

But how?

First, there’s no “Right” or “Wrong” way to grieve. Teens who experience the death of a loved one need to know that.

But… there are both helpful and not-so-helpful ways to do it.

Providing constructive outlets through which teenagers can express their grief will help prevent prolonged or unresolved sadness and depression.

In therapy, we’ll explore positive ways to express their feelings:

talking to people they trust
journaling
creating art

Together, we’ll devise specifically tailored, healthy coping methods they can use – instead of holding feelings in or resorting to more destructive choices, such as drinking, substance abuse, or antisocial or high-risk behaviors.

And they can learn to use these methods to help themselves overcome other problems they encounter as they navigate the tempestuous waters of adolescence.

The journey through grief is different for everyone, but you don’t have to go through it alone.

Reach out for a consultation now. Let’s work together to help your teen emerge stronger on the other side.