Coping with Grief and Loss: Supporting Kids through Grief Counseling

Grief is an emotion that touches all of our lives at one point or another, and it can be particularly challenging for children to navigate. The loss of a loved one or a cherished pet can have a profound impact on a child’s emotional well-being. At Lifeworks Counseling Center, we understand the importance of helping children cope with grief and loss. In this blog, we’ll explore the journey of grieving kids and how grief counseling and support can make a world of difference in helping them heal. Understanding Grief in Children Grief is a natural response to loss, but it manifests differently in children than in adults. Young children may struggle to understand the permanence of death, while older children may experience a range of complex emotions. Common reactions to grief in children include: Sadness: Children may feel profound sadness and may express it through tears, moodiness, or withdrawal. Confusion: Understanding the finality of death can be challenging for kids, leading to confusion and questions about where the deceased has gone. Anger: Grief can trigger feelings of anger, either directed towards themselves, the person or pet who passed away, or even those around them. Guilt: Children may feel guilty, believing…

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Benefits of Choosing Family Therapy

  Have you ever considered going for family therapy? Or have you ever wondered how family therapy helps improve your relationship with your loved ones? Family therapy is an effective way to improve family relations and treat mental health problems and co-occurring issues. Let’s understand the most important benefits of family therapy through this blog. Top 3 Benefits of Choosing Family Therapy Improves Communication One of the most important benefits of family therapy is that it can help improve communication and understanding between parents and children. When parents can talk openly about their child’s behavior, they can build a better relationship with their child. This will also help them understand more about what their child needs from them, which can lead to fewer misunderstandings when dealing with difficult situations. Helps Parents Work On Their Relationship With Each Other Another benefit of choosing family therapy is that it can help parents work on their relationship with each other. If parents have been arguing over specific issues like discipline or how much time they spend together, they may also start having similar arguments at home. Family therapists can help parents learn how to resolve these issues through different methods such as play…

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Divorce Counseling: Why It’s a Good Idea

Starting the process of divorce can be a challenging step to take. Some families choose to put off filing for divorce until after the holidays or a celebratory life event to delay the misery. However, it is possible to navigate divorce in a minimally invasive way for the couple and the children. Divorce counseling is a great way to discuss divorce as a couple with a mental health expert to guide you. What Is Divorce Counseling? Divorce counseling can start pre-divorce when you meet with a trained divorced counselor to discuss their intentions. The counselor will guide you and your spouse through the divorce. They will provide tools along the way to help ease the burden on the children, in-laws, friends, and even pets. When the couple meets with a divorce counselor, they share a goal of navigating the divorce in a civilized matter. What Benefits Will Counseling Offer? You will find there are many benefits of divorce counseling. Communication is vital to the process, and meeting with a therapist creates a safe place for both sides of the couple. The counselor can guide you to: Decide if Divorce Is the Best Option: Part of the pre-divorce counseling includes the…

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How to Successfully Balance Work & Life

Having a Successful Work/Life Balance Helps Your Health Life is full of various aspects that everyone has to learn how to effectively juggle. From family and relationships to school and your career, many people are torn searching how to successfully balance their work and life. Your career should be important to you. After all, it is a way for you to make money to afford a roof over your head, clothes, and food. However, it should never take your entire focus. Failing to find a balance between work and your personal life can lead to mental and physical health issues. Studies have shown that working long hours and leaving little personal time can actually increase your risk of stroke by 33% and your risk of heart disease by 13%. A small level of stress can be helpful in pushing you to perform your best, but too much is a bad thing. Increased stress levels have been known to weaken your immune system, putting you in danger of a number of illnesses. Here are some tips to help you balance your work and life better: Define Your Work/Life Balance Your work/life balance refers to how much time you devote to your…

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How To Balance Work And Family  

Balance is key in life, and that pertains to just about every aspect of it. Finding and maintaining that balance can be quite difficult. There are certain things that we need to prioritize when it comes to our effort and time management. Things like diet and exercise are important aspects of a healthy life that require balance, but the most important and most commonly detrimental is the act of balancing work and family. People are social beings, we desire connection, companionship, and contact with other people by nature. An expert or any wise person will tell you that your relationships with others are one of the most important means of feeling purpose and happiness in your life. With relationships being so vital to our mental and emotional health and well-being, it puts it into perspective just how important those relationships are with those closest to us, such as our family members. While we must work to live, we shouldn’t live to work, and we must remember to prioritize and cherish those relationships that we have closest to us like our family. Conflict between work and family is actually one of the most common stressors amongst working adults. Finding that balance…

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How to talk to kids about divorce?

Divorce can be extremely hard on children. As a parent, having to tell your children that you are getting a divorce will likely be one of the most difficult things you will do. It is important to remember that even if the divorce doesn’t seem like it would come as a surprise – for example, if you are already separated or have been arguing a lot – your child is likely clinging onto hope and the shock can still be just as severe as if the child had no clue this was in the cards. How you talk to your children about the divorce is of immense importance. Experts state that almost all children remember this conversation vividly for the rest of their lives. Unfortunately, because of the shock and trauma a child feels during the moment they are told, many go on to experience pain when the conversation is recalled, and this pain is said to never dull in some children. Because this moment can be so traumatic for a child, it is very important to ensure that you take all measures to have the conversation in the best way you can. Present the situation from equal standpoints As…

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The Numbers are Rising in Children Attempting Suicide

Over the past ten years or so, there has been a significant increase in children and young teens having suicidal thoughts. Doctors are seeing more and more of these children and young teenagers in emergency rooms showing up for anxiety attacks, depressive episodes, and suicidal thoughts, feelings, and attempts. This is even more common during the school year as the kids are feeling the pressure of school as well as suffering from issues related to social anxiety, bullying, peer pressure, and more. There was a study recently published by the American Academy of Pediatrics found that from 2008 to 2015 children ages 5 years old to 17 years old are being admitted to children’s hospitals for reasons relating to suicide, either suicidal thoughts, feelings, or attempts. It was found by researchers at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt that girls are more often attempting suicide than boys are. It was also found that the suicide numbers were higher during the school year and lower during the summer months. Depression in children should never be taken lightly or dismissed One of the issues that kids face is that many parents don’t take depression and anxiety in their children seriously. They…

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Live Your Best Life While Raising an Autistic Child

Finding out your child has been diagnosed with autism is something no parent wants to go through. However, it is a reality that many face. These days there is a slew of information on the web about autism and how to raise a child that has been diagnosed. When it comes to raising a developmentally different child, there will undoubtedly be challenges along the way for most parents. The very first uphill battle a parent will face is accepting the fact that their child is not “normal” and will probably experience different struggles than many other children. It is only natural to experience feelings of sadness and anger over this diagnosis, but it is important to move forward with a positive, hopeful attitude. Aside from your internal struggles, you will likely also have to learn how to tell your family and friends and help them with this diagnosis as well. These people will become a vital part of the parents’ support system and making sure everyone is on the same page is a must. The exact causes of autism are unknown and there are no clear cut answers or treatments right now. Therefore, it is imperative parents work with a…

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5 Signs Your Family Needs Therapy

Family dynamics can be difficult, no matter how close you are and how well you have raised your children. When families are happy, healthy, and in good spirits, it may seem like nothing could get them down. However, not all families are stable, and events happen in life that can create turmoil and issues amongst family members. This is especially true in today’s modern age, where we are constantly exposed to negativity, acts of violence, and other crises that can harm your family dynamics. So, how do you know when it is time for your family to seek therapy? First of all, there is absolutely nothing wrong with seeking help and guidance for your family. There is a stigma around therapy and counseling that we must fight every single day. Luckily, it seems more and more people are understanding – and embracing – the benefits of therapy and how it can help shape a healthier life and self. There are many reasons why a family may want to look into therapy, from raising children with disabilities, financial stresses, behavioral challenges, and the various stages of different children and family members that may need some outside assistance. While many families are…

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