Loss of Parent

The majority of us will experience the loss of a parent at some point in our lives. It is a “rite of passage” that follows the normal course of a lifespan. That doesn’t make it easy or “lighter” on the scale of grief. In fact, losing a parent or caregiver can tear us at the core, because in some cases, that is our original source of life and love.

Some of us never get to meet our parents. Others have a parent in their lives for a short time. Some get to see their parents live to a ripe old age. Whatever the situation, it can come with it’s own host of joy and pain.  

Online Resources

Support Groups

Support Groups

Local School Site

Ask your local school site if the school-based mental health team is able to provide short-term individual or group counseling support for grief/loss. Most districts have programs to assist all students regardless of if they attend public or private school. Contact your home school for more information.

Drop in Groups

Child’s Bereavement Art Therapy through Sutter (ages 4-16)

All programs are accepting registration. The Children’s Bereavement Art Group (CBAG) and Children’s Art Therapy Support (CATS) programs are meeting in-person at Sacramento and Roseville sites. Healing Images (HI) will meet online until further notice.

Call (916) 887-5275 to register or inquire about art therapy programs.

This peer support group, facilitated by trained art therapists and volunteers, assists grieving children (ages 4 through 17) in expressing emotions over the recent death of a loved one by utilizing art and other creative outlets.

The group meets for ten sessions, held every other week over a five-month period from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. This program is provided free of charge to all grieving children and teens in the greater Sacramento region.

Olivia Chan Foundation

At Olivia’s Club House, we provide a nurturing space where children, teens, and families who are grieving the loss of a loved one can find solace, understanding, and connection. Our peer support program, led by compassionate facilitators, brings together individuals who share similar experiences, helping them navigate the complex emotions of grief in a safe and supportive environment.

Through shared stories and mutual support, participants are empowered to express their feelings, learn healthy coping strategies, and begin to heal—at their own pace. There’s no “right” way to grieve, and no timeline for healing. Families are invited to participate in our program for as long as they need, knowing they have a community that understands.Bereavement Outreach Meetings (open to the public)

Though our meetings are held at Greenhaven Neighborhood Church in Sacramento, California, Olivia’s Club House is a nondenominational program, and we warmly welcome participants of all backgrounds and beliefs. Everyone is welcome here.

Our groups meet every other Monday from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. These sessions focus on peer connection and support, not therapy or counseling, and are offered completely free of charge, thanks to generous donations.

https://oliviachanfoundation.org/

Sutter Grief Support

www.suttercareathome.org

916-388-6215 or 916-388-6255

GriefShare Support Groups

A GriefShare support group is a safe, welcoming place where people understand the difficult emotions of grief. Through this 13-week group, you’ll discover what to expect in the days ahead and what’s “normal” in grief. Since there are no neat, orderly stages of grief, you’ll learn helpful ways of coping with grief, in all its unpredictability—and gain solid support each step of the way.

Find a local GriefShare Support Group.

UC Davis

Remembering Together is a group for children between the ages of 6-16 who are coping with the death of someone significant to them. The group focuses on grief and processing loss through self-expression and art. Groups are separated by age and facilitated by a Child Life Specialist and Art Therapist, trained in bereavement, child development, and self-expression.

If you have any questions or are interested in having your child participate in the group, please contact a facilitator at RememberingTogether@ucdavis.edu.

See More Info Here.

Kaiser

916-486-5300

Counseling

Grief Recovery Method

916-764-3062

  • Host: Heather Brooks

Creekside Counseling Associates of Elk Grove

creeksidetherapists.com

916-685-5258

A Place Within Counseling – Folsom

www.theplacewithinfolsom.com

At The Heart Counseling

At the Heart is a community counseling center whose goal is to bridge the gap that exists in access to services and to help heal our community, families, and individuals. All members of our community need respect and acceptance. Our counselors provide a caring and non-judgemental environment for clients to get the support and encouragement they need, when they need it. We provide both traditional/secular counseling and Christian based counseling, determined by a client's preference. We meet our clients where they are at and work collaboratively to help each client achieve their individual goals.

​We provide individual (children, adolescents, adult, family and conjoint) counseling around a wide variety of issues such as depression, anxiety, trauma, ADHD, addiction, and relational issues amongst many others We teach both co-parenting and anger management classes.  We also have someone that can help you achieve your personal goals through coaching.

At the Heart is a 501(c)3 non profit counseling, coaching, and training center founded by Andrea and David Peterson in 2018 in order to provide affordable individual, couples, group, and family counseling as well as coaching and psychoeducation for our community. At the Heart provides various services based on a sliding scale determined by household income and services requested. Our goal is to see that everyone gets the help and training they need regardless of their financial situation.

​At the Heart is comprised of Christian men and women who wish to serve God by spreading His love, acceptance, and healing throughout our community. 

More about At The Heart​

Activities

CAMP HOPE

www.camphopeca.com

THE BREATHING SPACE

www.ourbreathingspace.com

  • Guided Meditation – Jill Weston

  • 916-201-3335

FAMILY LIVES ON

PO Box 494

Lionville, PA 19353

(610) 458-1690

www.familyliveson.org

*Family Lives On makes it possible for children and teens, ages 3-18, whose mother or father has died, to continue traditions, or family activities, that they used to celebrate with their deceased parent, EVERY year until they turn 18.  Parents embrace the Tradition Program because its family based and truly child focused. Children and teens embrace it because they get to select which tradition they want to continue (and are excited about doing so!). The average child chooses to remain in our program for 7.2 years.

 Services are provided at no cost to the family and available anywhere in the United States.

Education

Education

Financial Peace University

Wills/Trusts/Life Insurance

Funeral Planning

Words That Help and Hurt

How to Write an Obituary

Physical Health

Supporting Children

Children suffer grief when someone they know and love dies, although they may express their feelings somewhat differently than adults. Although they may seem relatively unaffected, they are processing their feelings through age-appropriate play and conversations. The child's age determines the degree of understanding she or he will have, and adults need to modify their explanations and support to meet the developmental maturity of the child.

It is not uncommon for children to feel left out of the experience of the adults, so a special effort needs to be made to help them find age-appropriate ways to participate in the events surrounding the death. Writing a letter to the loved one, drawing a picture, participating in the funeral or memorial service, or sharing stories and tears with others who are also grieving, helps them feel included and supports their healing. Be prepared to answer questions about death and what happens after a loved one dies.

WAYS TO SUPPORT CHILDREN

The following are a few ways to support children during the grieving process:

·        Offer physical closeness, comfort and reassurance.

·        Talk about special memories and relationships with the deceased.

·        Read books about grief, look through photo albums together.

·        Acknowledge and validate feelings.

·        Talk about your family's ethnic or faith tradition about life, death and the afterlife.

·        Be patient.

·        Know that it's alright not to have all the answers. Children need adults to contemplate with them on important matters.

HELPING CHILDREN WITH FUNERALS AND MEMORIALS

Allowing children and teens to say goodbye to the person who died is an important part of their grieving process. Participating in a service will show children how important their loved one was to others, and will let them know that it is okay to grieve.

Before the service, it is helpful to let children know what to expect: What is going to happen, who will be there, when and where it will take place and why it's important. Let children's questions and natural curiosity guide the discussion. If you are also grieving, it is helpful to assign another adult to share responsibility for observing and supporting children during the funeral or memorial.

Some children may wish to participate in the service. Bereaved children feel that their feelings matter when they can share a favorite memory or read a special poem as part of the funeral. Shy or young children can participate by lighting a candle or placing something special in the casket or on an altar. Depending on age and emotional maturity, children can also help pick out the casket, select clothing or jewelry for a loved one to wear, or select songs, music or readings for the ritual.

Should children choose not to participate, invite them to create their own ritual or activity for saying goodbye — for example, lighting a candle or planting a special flower or tree.

Books & Media

Books & Media

CHILDREN

TEENS

ADULTS

Movies/TV/Podcasts

CHILDREN

  • Bambi

  • Lion King

  • Frozen

TEENS

  • Stepmom

ADULTS

  • This Is Us