An Experiential Psychotherapeutic Approach to Children in Mourning
Journal Title: Journal of Experiential Psychotherapy - Year 2014, Vol 17, Issue 3
Abstract
The trauma of losing a family member is experienced differently by children depending on their age and level of development. Although every mourning process is unique, all children go through 4 stages: denial, protest, hopelessness and solving the situation. Some children may remain trapped on any one of these levels. Many children prove to be resilient when an important family member dies. The protection factors can be either individual or coming from the family, and therapists must take them into account when assisting children who have suffered losses. The experiential therapeutic approach, in which we use creative expressive techniques as provocation, helps children blocked in the mourning process get closer to their blocked emotions in a nonthreatening manner, express them and follow the natural path of integrating loss. I will present three cases of children who suffered the loss of an important family member and who were assisted in their mourning process.
Authors and Affiliations
Elena Otilia Vladislav
Keywords
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