1st Edition

Counseling Adolescents Through Loss, Grief, and Trauma

By Pamela A. Malone Copyright 2016
    184 Pages
    by Routledge

    184 Pages
    by Routledge

    Loss, grief, and trauma come into the lives of adolescents in many forms and with more frequency than the adults in their lives may realize. Assessing the depth and nature of their emotions can be difficult; adolescents are typically reluctant to show strong emotions and can be difficult to reach, particularly when they experience the untimely death of a loved one. How best to work with a young person who may have trouble communicating their emotions even under the best of circumstances? And what if he or she has learned about the death of a loved one or classmate from another peer rather than a family member? What about gender differences and the influence of culture and family? What role do cell phones, text messaging, and technologies such as Facebook play in the adolescent grief experience? Adolescents’ use of technology creates unlimited access to friends, support systems, and information, but news that spreads quickly without buffering effects can intensify the strength of the adolescent grief responses. Counseling Adolescents Through Loss, Grief, and Trauma not only examines these issues; it also provides clinicians with a wealth of resources and time-tested therapeutic activities that are sure to become an indispensable part of any clinician’s practice.

    Preface  1.Adolescent Development  2. The Nature of Adolescent Loss, Grief, and Trauma Responses  3. Non-Death Losses in the Lives of Adolescents  4. The Death of Loved Ones and Others  5. Gender Differences  6. What Grieving Adolescents Need  7. The Use and Impact of Technology and Social Media  8. Group Therapy: An Ideal Modality  9.The Adolescent Grief and Loss (AGL) Group  10. Therapeutic Activities for Adolescents  Conclusion  References  Index

    Biography

    Pamela A. Malone, PhD, LCSW, developed the Adolescent Grief and Loss (AGL) group. She is a psychotherapist in private practice and teaches at the graduate and undergraduate level at St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas. Dr. Malone has presented on loss, grief, and trauma locally, nationally, and internationally and is the author of several articles and book chapters.

    "Adolescence is a difficult time to cope with loss. That is why Counseling Adolescents Through Loss, Grief, and Trauma is such a useful book for clinicians, educators, parents—anyone interested in adolescence or adolescents. In this one book, Malone offers a valued overview of how adolescents deal with the wide range of losses they experience and how they can be helped and supported. Malone has great sensitivity to the adolescence experience recognizing both death and non-death losses as well as the way digital natives navigate grief."

    Kenneth J. Doka, PhD, professor, The College of New Rochelle, and senior consultant, The Hospice Foundation of America

    "Pamela Malone built this fine book around both her clinical experiences with adolescents and her grasp of contemporary scholarship on bereavement, grief, and trauma. This book will be especially welcome to persons asking "What can I do to help?" There are many carefully explained procedures. There are lots of practical suggestions, particularly in use of groups with adolescents. Malone embeds these many ideas within a solid conceptual framework about adolescent development."

    David E. Balk, PhD, professor and chair, department of health and nutrition sciences, Brooklyn College of the City University of New York

    "This much-needed book skillfully applies a thorough understanding of adolescent development to the various experiences of loss, death, grief, and trauma in the lives of adolescents. The inclusion of romantic break-ups, family moves, and the impact of technology on grief and coping, in addition to content on deaths of loved ones and peers makes this book a comprehensive overview. Detailed helping interventions provide an extremely helpful guide for practitioners and students involved with grieving adolescents."

    Nancy Boyd Webb, DSW, LICSW, RPT-S, university distinguished professor of social work emerita, Fordham University

    "Dr. Malone summarizes a range of death and non-death related losses, describing risk and protective factors that impact adolescents’ responses within physical, social, emotional, and cognitive domains. In addition to information about the role and impact of technology on adolescents’ experiences with grief, readers will learn about therapeutic factors associated with the adolescent grief and loss group therapy model. This practical resource outlines therapeutic activities and rituals to assist clinicians in their work."Carla Sofka, PhD, MSW, professor of social work, Siena College

     

    "The book offers a guide to those working with adolescents as they try to navigate and make sense of the loss and grief experience in their lives. I recommend it for nurses and anyone working with adolescents as a useful library resource."- Reviewed by Helen Bennett , director of care, Alexander Devine Children’s Hospice, Maidenhead, Berkshire, Nursing, Children and Young People, October 2016