Interview With A School Counselor Essay

After interviewing my school counselor who has an advance degree in School Counseling/Death and Dying (Thanatology), I’ve learned how she address issues of grief as well as promoting healthy grieving for students as a School Guidance Counselor. As a School Counselor it is part of her duty to educate students in grief interventions using theories in preparation for the educational settings. I am aware now that most grief counseling training occurs through continuing education rather than in graduate programs.

School grief counselors provide counseling services in three areas: educational, career, personal/social. Their services and programs assist students to resolve emotional, social, or behavioral issues and make them easier to develop a clearer focus or a sense of direction. An effective school counselors programs are important to the school

climate as well as the part in improving the individual student's accomplishments. Grief counseling for school-aged children is intended to help guide children through the journey of the grieving process in a healthy and productive way. By the time children complete high school most would have experienced death of a family member or friend.
An adult's personal loss may impact the helping relationship with children by affecting their sense of security or survival.

Children who experience a loss through an adult may grieve differently. Death in general can be difficult for children of all ages because they can be confused about the changes they see taking place around them. Parents try to protect them from the truth or from their own display of grief. Children limit understanding and are not capable of expressing feelings in this type of situation which puts them at a disadvantage. Young children may revert to earlier behaviors such as bed wetting, sleeping with lights on/scared of the dark, physical behaviors if experienced in the past etc. Coping with a children's grief puts more strain on a mourning parent or caregiver. However, angry outbursts or criticism only deepens a child's anxiety and delays recovery. Instead, talk honestly with children, in terms they can understand. Take extra time to talk with them about death and the person who has died. Help them work through their feelings and remember that they are looking to adults for suitable

behavior.
The value of cultivating and nurturing resilience in caregivers is the ability to overcome challenges such as trauma, tragedy, personal crises and life problems. This is important because it is what we need to do when faced with life’s difficulties. Having the ability to bounce back stronger and more powerful. Cultivating and nurturing resilience comes from the way children learn to think and act when faced with obstacles of any size. The road to resilience comes from children's supportive relationships with parents, teachers, and other caring adults. These relationships become sources of strength when children work through stressful situations and painful emotions. When we help young children cultivate an approach to life that views obstacles as an important part of success, we help them develop resilience. Resilience is crucial for human thriving and an ability needed for healthy development. It's what helps children come up from challenging experiences with a positive sense of themselves and future. Children who develop resilience are able to face disappointment, learn from failure, cope with loss, and adapt to change. We see resilience in children when we notice their determination to tackle problems and cope with the emotional challenges of school and life as whole.
Children grieve by

The steps to support a grieving child

With support, patience and effort, children will survive grief. Some day the pain will lessen, leaving them with wonderful memories of their loved one.