Though experiencing a death can be a life-changing event for anyone, adolescence is a crucial period of development. Something we’ve learned from teens who have had someone die is that it can be beneficial to figure out what actually helps you cope with grief and loss and also know what doesn’t help.
Given this, grief support can take many forms. We have created a variety of support services for 8th-12th graders that are purposefully different and complement each other so that teens can consider what might feel helpful and supportive for them. Our Teen Services are designed to meet the unique needs of adolescents who have experienced the death of a parent or sibling:
MONTHLY TEEN EVENTS
At these monthly events, teens are given the opportunity to meet others who have had similar loss experiences while also enjoying a fun, age-appropriate activity. Events are typically held on the weekends and include a variety of outings and workshops, such as culinary nights, attending a sporting event, outdoor climbing activities, team-based challenges, visiting amusement parks, and exploring a variety of arts and media.
TEENS-ONLY GROUP
This group series is held twice annually for 8-10 sequential weeks. In this unique, in-depth series, teens participate in a grief group independently from their families and take the time to share their experiences, voice their opinions, discover commonalities, and build connections with other teens who have ever experienced the death of a parent or sibling.
TEENS IN FAMILY-BASED GROUPS
These groups allow families to come together to our Center in Arlington and then break into smaller groups (based on grade level) to be with their same-aged peers. There is space during each group for structured activities around grief and loss and unstructured free-choice time where teens can have a conversation, play card games, engage in creative arts-based activities, and much more.
For information on our programs and services for teens, please email us at info@childrensroom.org or call 781-641-4741. We’ll be happy to answer your initial questions about the program.
