A collection of Hopefully Helpful Hints on Supporting Children with Grief and Loss put together by me. I hope you find them helpful.
~ Dallas Shirley, Registered Clinical Counsellor and BC Registered Play Therapist
“KidsGrief.ca can help you understand how children (ages 0 to 18) grieve and how to support them as they face the life-limiting illness, dying and death of someone important to them.”
“Coping with the death of a loved one brings enormous challenges for the whole family. Grieving may never completely end, but working through the difficult feelings can become easier with time. Through support, open conversations, and finding ways to keep the person’s memory alive, families can begin healing together.”
“The BC Bereavement Helpline (BCBH) was established as a charity in 1988 and has become a provincial leader in providing education, support and advocacy for the bereaved, their caregivers and professionals.”
This is a blog written by a dear friend and mentor Johanna Simmons who is a Registered Clinical Counsellor and BC Registered Play Therapy Supervisor who specializes in children and family therapy.
This is a blog written by a friend and Registered Clinical Counsellor, Cordelia Mejin, whose “specialty is supporting young adults and adults process the different layers and emotions in grief and loss, grow one’s capacity to carry grief and integrate grief into their life story.”
“This worksheet was originally developed as a way to discuss dreams in bereavement support groups.” “I have found that you don’t need a group to actually make use of the worksheet. Using this in one-on-one sessions (or alone) can be a creative way to explore one’s loss (with any age group). On the Grief Dreams Podcast we ask each guest to build a grief dream, and it is amazing to hear what they come up with.”
This is a book series I wrote and co-illustrated with my sister called Woodland Wisdom Books. They are children’s books and guides for parents, caregivers, educators, support workers, social workers, counsellors, mental health clinicians, aunts, uncles, grandparents, or any adult wanting to help support children as they navigate tough stuff like grief, loss, anxiety, and anger.
Living Through Loss Counselling Society of BC has an excellent collection of resources for those experiencing grief and loss.
“Have you ever wished that your child came with an instruction manual? Sesame Street Tool Kits are the next best thing. They provide opportunities to build closeness and confidence, making learning fun, and keep your child’s world safe and secure.”
“Kids Help Phone is Canada’s only 24/7, national support service. We offer professional counselling, information and referrals and volunteer-led, text-based support to young people in both English and French.”
“We help families across the province navigate the mental health system, listen and offer peer support, and connect them to resources and tools.”
Mental Health Services – “We provide psychiatric assessment, short-term individual, family and group treatment, and medication review.”
“We provide specialized development and rehabilitation services for children, youth and their families.”
“Foundry offers young people ages 12-24 health and wellness resources, services and supports – online and through integrated service centres in communities across BC.”
~ Foundry
“YouthInBC.com is first and foremost an on-line crisis chat service, where you can chat 1-on-1 with a trained volunteer from the Crisis Centre, where our service is based. We also have this site, with information so you can learn more on a variety of youth-related issues, as well as resources: a list of organizations and websites where you can get help.”
“Anxiety Canada™ is a leader in developing free online, self-help, and evidence-based resources on anxiety.”
“Founded in 1918, the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) is the most established, most extensive community mental health organization in Canada.”
“The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) is Canada’s largest mental health teaching hospital and one of the world’s leading research centres in its field.”
“The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals.”
Dallas Shirley 