Grief & Loss

Experiencing the death of a loved one, the separation of parents, or another significant loss can shake a child’s world. Children and teens process grief differently than adults, and their emotional reactions can fluctuate rapidly between sadness, anger, confusion, guilt, and moments of normal play. Because of this, parents often struggle to know whether their child is coping in a healthy way or if they need additional support.

Grief in children can sometimes manifest as behavioral changes, academic difficulties, withdrawal, or increased anxiety. Younger children may express grief through play or regression, while older children may feel isolated or struggle to articulate their pain. Teens, in particular, may push others away or mask their emotions, leaving parents feeling helpless or disconnected.

Our Treatment Approach At Moroz Child Psychology Group, we understand that grief is not a linear process, nor is there a “right” way to grieve. Our goal is to provide children and families with a safe space to process their loss, honor their loved ones, and learn how to move forward while carrying their grief in a healthy way.

Key Areas of Focus in Treatment:

• Helping Children Make Sense of Loss: Children often grapple with big questions about death, fairness, and permanence. We create space for these difficult conversations, offering age-appropriate explanations and helping children work through confusion, guilt, or fear.
• Normalizing the Grieving Process: Children sometimes worry their reactions are “wrong” or feel pressure to “be strong” for others. We help children understand that grief looks different for everyone and that it is okay to experience sadness, anger, or even moments of joy while grieving.
• Naming & Expressing Emotions: We help children identify and name their feelings, giving them permission to talk openly about their pain without feeling like they need to protect others. We introduce creative outlets like art, writing, or play to help younger children process emotions that may be difficult to verbalize.
• Preserving Connections & Memories: Loss can sometimes feel like an erasure of the person who died. We help children and families find meaningful ways to remember their loved one, whether through creating memory books, sharing stories, or establishing personal rituals that honor their connection.
• Building Coping Skills: We equip children with strategies to manage grief waves when they arise unexpectedly. This might include grounding exercises, breathing techniques, or developing personal coping rituals for difficult moments like birthdays, anniversaries, or holidays.
• Rebuilding Stability & Routine: Loss often disrupts a child’s sense of safety and predictability. We help families re-establish structure at home, balancing the need for grieving space with the comfort of familiar routines.
• Parent & Family Support: Grief affects the entire family, and parents often feel uncertain about how to best support their child while managing their own pain. We work alongside parents to strengthen family communication, guide parents in answering difficult questions, and offer strategies for supporting siblings who may grieve differently.

Our goal is to help children understand that their grief is valid and that healing does not mean forgetting. We strive to help families find a path forward that honors their loss while nurturing hope, resilience, and connection.