Discussing death is never easy, but when it comes to supporting a child or teenager through grief, the challenge can feel even greater.
Registered psychotherapist Colleen Mousseau, who specializes in grief support, offers insights for parents and caregivers on navigating these conversations.
“Grief looks so different depending on the person, depending on their relationship with the person who died, depending on their kind of styles for coping,” she explains.
Mousseau emphasizes the importance of recognizing that every individual copes differently.
From emotional outbursts to private reflection, there’s no right or wrong way to grieve — provided it doesn’t involve harm to oneself or others.
“Some people are quite expressive and want and need to talk about it,” she explains.
“Others are a bit more intuitive or internal in that they need to do something with it, but more in private, before being able to connect with others.”
When discussing grief …