Understanding and Supporting Bereaved Children: A Practical Guide for Professionals

Author: Andy McNiel MAPublisher: Springer Publishing CompanyPaperback:ISBN 10: 9780826140487ISBN 13: 978-0826140487This welcome addition to the field of childhood bereavement provides a clearly organized overview of innovative and practical interventions for human service professionals helping bereaved children and their families in a variety of settings. Written by noted experts with over 40 years of combined experience, this comprehensive, “how to” book provides a framework for understanding how grief resulting from a death impacts the lives of children, and includes models, techniques, and interventions for individual, family, and group counseling.Based on best practices and the authors’ experience working with grieving families, this book describes how children are affected by the death of someone close to them, and provides a framework for addressing the needs of these children and their families and caregivers. The authors’ approach is straightforward and compassionate, and examples of children’s artwork reinforce the concepts discussed. Specific approaches are provided for individual and group support, including practical ways to create meaningful spaces for young people to find help, encouragement, and healing. In addition, the book offers a chapter on professional accountability, ethical concerns, and educational recommendations and training. Professionals who work with bereaved children daily, as well as those who only occasionally encounter them in their practice, will benefit from this book.Key Features: Brimming with innovative, practical approaches for supporting bereaved children and teens, including “How to Help” sections and suggested activities to use with this population Provides individual, family, and group counseling models, techniques, and interventions Outlines effective strategies for working with bereaved youth that can be used in a variety of settings, including mental health, health care, schools, and faith communities Offers a useful framework for understanding how grief impacts the lives of children Provides visual and emotional dimensions to concepts through artwork created by bereaved children of different ages Includes a chapter devoted to professional and ethical considerations Review "This book is exactly what the authors intended it to be: a practical guide for professionals who work with bereaved children. Andy McNiel and Dr. Pamela Gabbay have written a comprehensive text that clearly demonstrates their many years of knowledge and experience working in the bereavement field. The authors have put together a book filled with solid information relevant to current practice in the field of Thanatology as well as excellent examples that link scholarly information to practical use. They also provide many wonderful activities in the book which can be used by professionals who work with bereaved children. As a professor at a Monmouth University teaching a course in grief counseling, my students use this as their required text for the course. They have given very positive feedback on this book and appreciate the clear, concise way in which the information is portrayed. This book is a must for professionals wanting to know more about how to work with bereaved children." (Lynn M. Snyder, LPC, ATR-BC, FT Common Ground Grief Center)"Understanding and Supporting Bereaved Children: A Practical Guide for Professionals by Andy McNiel and Pamela Gabbay is now required reading for my graduate student intern cohort here in Boston. I find it so useful and clear. It serves as a great introduction to those new to the field, and as a helpful affirmation to those of us who have been doing the work for a while!" (Jennifer Wiles, MA, LMHC, BC-DMT Heart Play Program) About the Author Andy McNiel, MA, is a co-owner of Satori Management and Consulting, LLC, providing education and consultation to the death, end-of-life, and bereavement fields. Andy serves the childhood bereavement field as a national fund-raiser, thought leader, and ambassador for issues related to childhood bereavement support, traveling extensively throughout the United States. Andy has served as a nonprofit manager and leader throughout his career, and has provided support and counseling to bereaved children, teenagers, and adults in a variety of support settings. He has served as chief executive officer of the National Alliance for Grieving Children, executive director of The Amelia Center in Birmingham, Alabama, and director of grief support services for Treasure Coast Hospice in Stuart, Florida. He is a national trainer for Boys and Girls Clubs of America and a member of the facilitator training corps of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. He is a nationally recognized presenter and trainer, using a balance of humor, teaching, and facilitating on a variety of topics related to strategic planning, nonprofit leadership, childhood bereavement support, adult bereavement issues, and group facilitation. He holds a BA in religion from Palm Beach Atlantic University and an MA in counseling from The University of Alabama at Birmingham. Pamela Gabbay, EdD, FT, is a co-owner of Satori Management and Consulting, LLC, providing education and consultation to the death, end-of-life, and bereavement fields. Dr. Gabbay is an adjunct faculty member at Brandman University in California and is a member of the training corps for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Formerly, Dr. Gabbay was the director of the Mourning Star Center for Grieving Children. She created and served as camp director for Camp Erin, Palm Springs, a bereavement camp for children. She served two terms on the board of directors of the National Alliance for Grieving Children (NAGC). Dr. Gabbay served as the president of the Southern California Chapter of the Association for Death Education and Counseling. Each year, Dr. Gabbay presents at multiple national conferences. She has presented at the annual conferences for the NAGC, the Association for Death Education and Counseling, the MISS Foundation, the American Association of Suicidology, Soaring Spirits Loss Foundation, and the Childhood Grief and Traumatic Loss Conference. Dr. Gabbay holds a Fellow in Thanatology certification from the Association for Death Education and Counseling and earned a master of arts degree in cognitive psychology from Claremont Graduate University. She earned a doctor of education degree in organizational leadership from Brandman University.