Loss & Bereavement Parent Counselling
Are you preparing your child for the loss of a loved one due to illness? Have you experienced an unexpected or traumatic death in the family and you don’t know how and what to tell your child/children?
When a child experiences the death of someone close, it is likely to be devastating. According to UK child bereavement charity, Grief Encounter, 1 in 29 children suffer the death of a parent before they are 16. What makes it even harder is the adult supporting the child is grieving themselves.
Having time to prepare a child for the death of someone close can make a huge difference and our team can help you prepare for their loss. We can advise on how to stay connected when someone is seriously ill, help you work out what you want to say about the illness or death and and how to respond to difficult questions or intense emotions that might emerge. If on the other hand you have experienced an unexpected or traumatic death in your family or community, reaching out for that first conversation can be a powerful way to find your centre during a storm.
It’s important to remember that most children and young people are resilient and can recover from major life events with the right emotional support at the right time. Our team can provide a safe space to reflect on the emotional needs of your child/ren and help you find the words and the ways to support them through their grief. Learn more, about our parent counselling sessions or Book Today.
Our Experts in Loss & Bereavement
Karen Lever
Child & Adolescent Psychotherapist
I manage therapeutic services in two London primary schools, as well as supporting trainee psychotherapists. I also work clinically with children.
Sama Hunt
Child & Adolescent Art Psychotherapist
For 18 years I have worked in adult mental health within the NHS. I have also worked with young people and their families within school settings for the past 8 years.
Karen Raingold
Child & Adolescent Art Psychotherapist
I am an experienced and intuitive Art Psychotherapist who has been working therapeutically with children and families for thirteen years.
Tamsin Lemkow
Child & Adolescent Counsellor
I have been working as a therapist with Child in Time since 2013 in schools. I also support parents with a range of difficulties such as divorce, family breakdown, bereavement, and mental health.
Helen Curren-Anaman
Child & Adolescent Psychotherapist
I have over 20 years of experience practicing within private, public, and charity settings offering consultations for children, young people, and families.
Isabel Squirrell
Child & Adolescent Psychotherapist
I am an integrative child and adolescent psychotherapist and my approach is bespoke to the specific child, teenager or family.
Clemmie Mason
Child & Adolescent Psychotherapist
I have over 12 years experience working with children and their families and more recently have started offering more focussed support to parents and carers.
Symone Stephens-Morgan
Child & Adolescent Art Psychotherapist
I work holistically with parents/carers, recognising the many internal and external factors that contribute to difficulties within parental and family dynamics.
- Helping Children Cope with Grief
There are many ways to lose a loved one and many ways to grieve. One commonality is that grieving is composed of two different processes, the need to deal with the loss and the need to restore ourselves. These experiences can look quite different and goes some way to explain the sense of feeling energised one minute and very low the next. It’s natural and healthy for children to oscillate quite instinctively and often surprisingly quickly between the two…. Read more.
Additional Parent Resources
There are many exceptional resources for parents available online but it can be hard to find them if you don’t know where to look. Our team has compiled a list of recommended organisations, website and helplines for a wide range of parenting concerns. As well as support for more serious mental health issues, you’ll find our latest creations and recommendations of parenting videos, podcasts and books to add to your reading list. Learn more…
Recommendations for Parents
“Muddles Puddles and Sunshine” by Diana Crossley and Kate Sheppard. An activity book to help when someone has died.
“The Secret C: Straight Talking About Cancer” by Julie Stokes. Supporting parents & carers with open communication and questions about cancer within the family.
“Beyond the Rough Rock” by Di Stubbs & Julie Stokes. Practical advice for families in the immediate days and weeks following a death by suicide.
Recommendations for Children
“Badgers Parting Gift” by Susan Varley. Provides young children with a means to understand grief.
The Sad Book” by Michael Rosen. A heartbreakingly honest account of a father’s grief for his son.
“Milly’s Bug Nut” by Jill Janney. A story of a family finding their way through bereavement.
“The Day the Sea Went Out and Never Came Back” by Margot Sunderland. A story for children who have lost someone they love.
“The Memory Box” by Joanna Rowland. A story about dealing with the loss of a loved one.
“The Invisible String” by Patrice Karst. A picture book about the unbreakable connections between loved ones.
“Missing Mummy” by Rebecca Cobb. Tells the story of the loss of a parent from a child’s point of view.
Recommended Organisations
Grief Encounter. Support for bereaved children & young people.
Winston’s Wishes. Bereavement support for children, young people and families.
Child Bereavement UK. Advice on coping with bereavement.
FAQs
What is Confident Parenting?
Confident Parenting enables you to feel back in control of your parenting choices. We give you options based on the reality of your family at this time, rather than advocating for one approach. All of our consultants are vetted and extremely experienced child/adolescent or family therapists so you know you are in safe hands. Our vision is of accessible, professional and empowering parent support. A space to reflect and to come away with new strategies during challenging times. We believe the right conversation at the right time can empower parents to move forwards themselves.
How much will the session cost?
Sessions cost £80 per single session (45mins) + follow up email summary.
Who are Confident Parenting sessions for?
Sessions are suited to parents and carers of all ages. In the early years especially, parents often struggle with emotional and behavioural issues that typify development at this stage including emotional regulation, sibling rivalry, eating, sleep, boundaries and peer relationships.
At primary and secondary age, parents may be seeking advice about many of the areas outlined above as well as issues often seen at this stage, including work stress and anxiety, growth mindset, confidence and body issues, gender, sexuality and identity.
Where do the sessions take place?
The Confident Parenting sessions take place online via Zoom. You will receive a link prior to the selected date and time.
Who should attend sessions?
Sessions are for parents and primary carers. Where there are two parent families we recommend that both parents attend sessions if possible. This is so that the presenting issue can be discussed from the perspectives of all carers involved. A whole-family approach can be explored and developed.
How many sessions can I have?
We recommend two sessions – a single session consultation with a follow up session. You can always book in another session when you choose. The single session/follow up model ensures you make the most of the one session but return to discuss your issue and develop your thinking after you have put new ideas into practice.
What’s involved in the pre-session questionnaire?
- What is your main concern (NB how old is your child and how long have you been concerned)?
- What have you already tried that has/hasn’t helped?
- What would you like to get out of the session?
Where do I find the pre-session questionnaire?
This questionnaire will be generated online when booking.
What should I do in advance?
Please complete the questions on the pre-session questionnaire generated online when you book.
We also recommend that you consider these additional questions in preparation for your session.
- How is the problem affecting A. your child B. you C. other people in you/your child’s life?
- What do you think we need to know about the situation in order to be able to help?
- For the therapist to be most helpful, is there anything you feel is important to know about your culture, ethnicity, religion, language, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, mental or physical health or any other factor?
Can I record my session?
No – we do not record sessions. Your session is a space for introspection and reflection as well as a place to learn strategies and techniques to take away. It is likely that recording a session would inhibit free expression during the session and risk client confidentiality after the session.
Instead we provide a follow up email with a summary of the session and strategies to try at home, so you don’t have to take notes during the session.
