PCN-518 Topic 8: Bereavement Across the Life Span

Directions: One’s understanding of death and the bereavement process changes over the life span. Using the matrix provided below, summarize how the various stages of life understand death, and how each might grieve the loss of a loved one. Create a short vignette for each age group that expresses your understanding of the age group’s response to death and bereavement. Finally, hypothesize how a professional counselor might counsel each age group through the bereavement process. The first stage has been completed for you as an example.

Age Group

Perception/Cognition of Grief

Response to Grief

Vignette

(short example/story of a child’s loss scenario)

Counseling Interventions (including best practice interventions) for this age group)

Baby and Toddler

Does not understand the permanency of grief.

Excessive crying and yearning to being held.

A baby’s birth mother died during delivery.

Counsel the guardians of the baby to be sure to tend to the baby’s need for touch and comfort.

Preschool Age

Grade School Age

Adolescence/Teenage Years

Adulthood

Late Adulthood