A bereavement support group for children: fostering communication about grief and healing

Abstract

After the death of a loved one from cancer, spouses and children can feel adrift from the hospital and home care supports that were available to them throughout the illness. In response to this need, a time-limited series of three activity-based children's bereavement support groups (preschool, school age, adolescent) that run simultaneously was developed. A fourth group was added for parents, which used a psychoeducational model and focused on issues raised when parenting a grieving child. All of the groups served to reduce anxiety around the subject material and decrease isolation caused by loss. Offering bereavement support groups for children and their parents promoted family communication and healing and provided continuity of care within the outpatient cancer care program and community-based home care agency.