The Art of Healing Childhood Grief

Section I: This is the Backbone of the program where The HEALS story and the philosophy of The HEALS Program is outlined. How children grieve based on their social and emotional development is explained as well as the signs of grief and how to listen to grieving children. Since the expressive arts are a significant part of our work, each of the arts is explored in a modicum of depth to provide some insight and awareness into the Creative Healing Approach of The HEALS Program.

Section II: The Heartbeat is where the threads of the program are carefully knit together. The HEALS framework begins the section; the roles of the counselor and facilitators are defined, and the forms are explained and gathered here. Creating the physical environment and establishing the psychological climate are discussed as well as The HEALS Rights for the program and how to handle behavioral problems. 

Section III: The Creative Mind begins with The HEALS Program Framework followed by the learning objectives, sample HEALS plans for a variety of age levels for each session, and the core curriculum. This section also includes a segment on attunements, centering exercises, circle closures, imaginary journeys, and puppet shows. A resource list of our favorite books and films can be found in the Bibliography.  

Section IV:  Helpful information on Death Crisis Intervention can be found in this section as well as how to develop a HEALS Death Crisis Intervention Team to support schools in the event of a sudden and traumatic loss. Valuable troubleshooting tips, guidelines for dealing with students in grief, sample letters to send to parents, and information on secondary losses are also included. Specific information to help support children, staff and parents pertaining to suicide, homicide, disaster, and terrorism can also be found here.

Section V: Anyone who is in the position of facilitating and supporting groups of children or adults in grief can be most effective when they take care of themselves physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Facilitator Sustenance is a special section full of nourishment for the body and soul and offers gentle ways for facilitators to take time every day to nurture themselves.

Section VI:  In the Bibliography and Resource section you can locate bibliographies for both children and adult referencing, resources, networking organizations, websites, related articles and references used for this publication.

The HEALS Program Framework and Objectives

Based on the work of Sandra Fox, founder of the Good Grief Program, and expanded by Anne Black and Penelope Simpson for The HEALS Program.

SESSION I:    WE ARE NOT ALONE WITH OUR LOSS

To acknowledge that each member in the group has experienced a loss. To allow for the opportunity to share the death of the significant person in a child’s life and to determine if there are any areas of question, concern, confusion, or misunderstanding.

SESSION II:    TELLING THE STORY

To provide an opportunity for each child in the group to tell where they were when they first learned about their significant person's death...how they found out...and how they felt at that time.

SESSION III:   GRIEVING THE LOSS...FEELING THE FEELINGS

To increase understanding and learn how people commonly feel and behave when someone or something they care about dies. To acknowledge that the feelings related to loss may be varied and difficult to have and/or to share.

SESSION IV:   TAMING THE WILD THINGS

To understand that anger, fear, guilt, and worry are natural responses when we lose someone or something special. To learn how to safely and creatively access and express uncomfortable feelings.

SESSION V:   FAREWELL RITUALS AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS

To provide the opportunity for each participant to express and complete any unfinished business they may have around their significant person.

SESSION VI:   COMMEMORATION

To provide the child with an opportunity to affirm the value of the life of the person who died.

SESSION VII:  THE JEWELS WITHIN...TREASURING OURSELVES

To remind the children that they are strong and powerful...each unique