Problem: Write a response to the following discussion post
Understanding trauma, grief, and loss requires a careful review of the circumstances and reactions to environmental factors. Traumatic grief is defined as the reaction to the loss of someone with whom a person has close emotional ties (Carroll & Lipkin, 2017). According to the narrator of the video, Trauma, grief, and loss, a child's response to the death of a loved one can vary based on the child's reaction to the unfortunate event (death of a loved one). The variation can occur due to several factors, including the child's age, the established family support system, and the family dynamics present within the family. Grief can take various forms; each child deals with grief at their own pace and responds in their own unique style (Carroll & Lipkin, 2017). The emotions associated with the grieving process include crying, emotional outbursts, and social withdrawal. Every person, whether a child or not, goes through the grieving process differently. There is no step-by-step grieving process that everyone must follow, but each person experiences grief differently. Need Assignment Help?
Beneficial Information Shared (for Counselors and Educators)
Children are resilient, but they need guidance to properly deal with their emotions after the loss of a loved one. The child must be allowed to grieve in their own way; each process is different. Some children may experience extended periods of "ebbs and flows." I have labeled the grief process of a child as "ebbs and flows" because the child may be emotionally unbalanced at one point and may eventually balance out their emotions by using calming techniques and best practices grief exercises (2012).
On the other hand, some children dealing with trauma or the loss of a loved one may not experience the "ebbs and flows" process. It is helpful to the child if they are encouraged to express their feelings through various suggested outlets (the professional counselor will provide the student/client with a list of suggestions). The information shared in the short video presentation, "Trauma, Grief, and Loss," is very beneficial. The information is presented to the audience (listeners) with research-based information about the effects of grieving on children and adolescents. The information shared in the video highlights the various ways students can express their emotions during periods of grief and loss. Adults tend to believe that children are resilient, not affected by grief /loss, but children are affected immensely by grief /loss (with varying processing times).
How will the shared information be used in the future?
The presenter in the video clarifies that children experience grief just as adults, and each experience is tailored to the relational boundaries of the child's connection to the deceased person that they are grieving. Knowing that information will help professional counselors provide the needed assistance to clients as they are experiencing the loss of a loved one.
Characteristics that manifest as reactions to grief include irritability, emotional outbursts, poor academic performance, and shouting (Carroll & Lipkin, 2017). The maturity level of the student has a direct effect on their ability to deal effectively with emotions related to loss/grief. The five stages of grief must be mentioned at this point. Everyone, directly or indirectly, experiences the five stages of grief as outlined by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross. The five universal stages of grief outlined by Ross are denial, anger, depression, bargaining, and acceptance (2012). Each person, regardless of age, race, or gender, processes through the five stages of grief at a different pace. The steps that are taken during the grieving process depend on the person who is being affected by the loss of a loved one. The person experiencing grief may go through the five stages of grief more than once. That same individual may skip some stages in the grief process ( five stages of grief), and they may spend more time in one stage of grief than another. There is no timeline for the grieving process. It is important to remember that the stages of grief do not have a sequential order or a specific pattern to follow, but people (children included) will experience loss/grief at some point in their lives. The way that individuals cope with the death of a loved one is dependent on the individual who is currently experiencing the loss (Poland & Ferguson, 2025).