Helping Children and Youth with Loss: Companioning in Grief

“Grief can be the loneliest place on earth…” but it doesn’t have to be. Experiencing the death of someone significant can be very isolating for children, and their behavior can often be misinterpreted as something other than an expression of grief. Risks of unaddressed grief in childhood include isolation, substance abuse, depression, poor school performance and anxiety. One in 7 children will experience the death of a parent, sibling or close loved one by the time they are 20 years old.

This free seminar will provide insight into the natural grief reactions of various age groups with an emphasis on the uniqueness of grief for each individual. Attendees will learn about supportive ways that caring individuals can companion the bereaved so that no person living with grief has to feel alone. Through this presentation, participants will be able to identify:

• natural grief reactions of children and teens at various developmental levels;
• three grief “tasks” in companioning the bereaved; and
• four principles that guide a compassionate and attentive response to the unique grief experiences of individuals.

Speaker

Tara Ntumba, MA, LMHCA, Grief Therapist and Support Group Director –

Tara Ntumba is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor Associate with a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling from Indiana Wesleyan University. In addition to her work with Brooke’s Place, she has worked extensively with at-risk teen girls through addiction, self-harm and other life-controlling issues, as well as serving in an ongoing non-profit partnership in sub-Saharan Africa supporting grieving and traumatized communities.

Community Partners

Community Foundation of Boone County

Boone County Guardian Ad Litem/CASA

United Way – Boone County Office

Indiana DCS – Boone County Office