This presentation explores the impact of grief on children and adolescents, with a focus on understanding bereavement through a developmental and trauma-informed lens. Participants will gain insight into how grief manifests differently across ages, the key factors that influence the grieving process, and practical frameworks for supporting grieving youth.

Grounded in established grief theory, including Dr. William Worden’s Four Tasks of Mourning, this session contrasts traditional stage-based models with more flexible, individualized approaches to grief.

Childhood grief is often misunderstood or overlooked, yet it has lasting impacts on emotional, social, and developmental outcomes. By becoming grief-informed, professionals and caregivers can respond with greater empathy, reduce harm, and provide meaningful support during one of the most vulnerable times in a young person’s life.