Counseling Adolescents Through Loss, Grief, and Trauma

184 Pages·2016·1.11 MB·English

by  Pamela A. Malone

COUNSELING ADOLESCENTS
THROUGH LOSS, GRIEF,
AND TRAUMA
Loss, grief, and trauma come into the lives of adolescents in many forms and
with more frequency than the adults in their lives may realize. Assessing
the depth and nature of their emotions can be diffi cult; adolescents are
typically reluctant to show strong emotions and can be diffi cult to reach,
particularly when they experience the untimely death of a loved one. How
best to work with a young person who may have trouble communicating
his or her emotions even under the best of circumstances? And what if
he or she has learned about the death of a loved one or classmate from
another peer rather than from a family member? What about gender dif-
ferences and the infl uence of culture and family? What role do cell phones,
text messaging, and technologies such as Facebook play in the adolescent
grief experience? Adolescents’ use of technology creates unlimited access to
friends, support systems, and information, but news that spreads quickly
without buffering effects can intensify the strength of the adolescent grief
responses. C ounseling Adolescents Through Loss, Grief, and Trauma not
only examines these issues; it also provides clinicians with a wealth of
resources and time-tested therapeutic activities that are sure to become an
indispensable part of any clinician’s practice.
Pamela A. Malone, PhD, LCSW , developed the Adolescent Grief and Loss
(AGL) group. She is a psychotherapist in private practice and teaches
at the graduate and undergraduate level at St. Edward’s University in
Austin, Texas. Dr. Malone has presented on loss, grief, and trauma locally,
nationally, and internationally and is the author of several articles and
book chapters.
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COUNSELING ADOLESCENTS
THROUGH LOSS, GRIEF,
AND TRAUMA
P a m e l a A . M a l o n e
First published 2016
by Routledge
711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017
and by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4RN
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an Informa business
© 2016 Pamela A. Malone
The right of Pamela A. Malone to be identified as author of this
work has been asserted by her in accordance with sections 77 and 78
of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or
reproduced or utilized in any form or by any electronic, mechanical,
or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including
photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or
retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.
Trademark notice : Product or corporate names may be trademarks
or registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and
explanation without intent to infringe.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Malone, Pamela A., author.
Title: Counseling adolescents through loss, grief, and trauma /
Pamela A. Malone.
Description: New York, NY : Routledge, 2016. | Includes
bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2015037833 | ISBN 9780415857048 (hardback :
alk. paper) | ISBN 9780415857055 (pbk. : alk. paper) |
ISBN 9780203699638 (ebook)
Subjects: LCSH: Loss (Psychology) in adolescence. | Grief in
adolescence. | Psychic trauma in adolescence. | Grief therapy. |
Teenagers—Counseling of. | Adolescent psychotherapy.
Classification: LCC BF724.3.L66 M35 2016 | DDC 155.9/
30835—dc23
LC record available at http://lccn.loc.gov/2015037833
ISBN: 978-0-415-85704-8 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-0-415-85705-5 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-0-203-69963-8 (ebk)
Typeset in Sabon
by Apex CoVantage, LLC
To my husband and closest friend, Tom, whose
support is rock solid throughout all my endeavors,
especially this one. To Connor, you are my sunshine . . .
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CONTENTS
List of Tables xi
Preface xiii
CHAPTER 1 Adolescent Development 1
Early Adolescence 2
Late Adolescence 5
Brain Development During Adolescence 9
CHAPTER 2 The Nature of Adolescent Loss, Grief,
and Trauma Responses 11
Risk Factors 13
Protective Factors 14
Adolescent Loss, Grief, and Trauma Responses 16
Disenfranchised Grief 29
CHAPTER 3 Non-Death Loss in the Lives of Adolescents 31
Parental Divorce 32
Incarceration of a Parent 35
Relocation 37
Friendship Loss 40
Romantic Breakup 42
CHAPTER 4 The Death of Loved Ones and Others 47
Death of a Parent 47
Death of a Grandparent 51
Death of a Sibling 52
Death of a Pet 55
Death of a Friend or Peer 56
Death in the School 60
vii
CHAPTER 5 Gender Differences 63
Adolescent Girl Relationships 63
Adolescent Boy Relationships 65
Different Ways of Grieving 66
CHAPTER 6 What Grieving Adolescents Need 71
Family Connection 71
Friends and Peers 73
Psychoeducation 74
Symptom Management and Reduction 77
CHAPTER 7 The Use and Impact of Technology and
Social Media 85
The Use of Technology in Grieving and Coping 86
Continuing Bonds 90
Facebook as a Virtual Grave Marker 93
CHAPTER 8 Group Therapy: An Ideal Modality 97
Coed vs. Gender-Specific Groups 101
Groups in Various Settings 103
Group Activities 106
CHAPTER 9 The Adolescent Grief and Loss (AGL) Group 113
Interactional Groups 113
Mutual Aid Groups 116
Adolescent Grief and Loss (AGL) Group Model 118
Therapeutic Factors 119
Mutual Aid Processes 120
The Adolescent Grief and Loss (AGL) Group
Structure 122
CHAPTER 10 Therapeutic Activities for Working With
Adolescents 129
The Use of Ritual 129
Loss, Grief, and Trauma Narrative Construction 134
Therapeutic Questions About Loss, Grief,
and Trauma 136
Art Work 138
Bibliotherapy 139
Music as Connection 140
Journaling 142
Loss History Timeline 142
Body Map 145
viii CONTENTS
Empty Chair 147
Memory Box 148
Conclusion 151
References 153
Index 163
CONTENTS ix