Children’s Grief Counseling
Supporting Young Grievers Through Loss
Grief therapy for your child in person or online
Helping Kids Cope with Death, One Feeling at a Time
When someone important dies, children grieve, just like adults do. But they often show it differently: through questions, outbursts, silence, or even play. They might ask the same thing over and over, act “too grown-up” all of a sudden, or seem fine one moment and fall apart the next.
This is all normal. Grief in children is complex, and it changes as they grow. That’s why they need a safe, supportive space to process what’s happened, on their terms.
A Grieving Child Can Be Accidentally Overlooked
Children grieve differently than adults. While adults often “settle into” their grief, children tend to grieve in bursts—moving between deep sadness and everyday play in ways that can seem confusing or even contradictory.
This means that children are often the forgotten grievers, not out of neglect, but because their grief doesn’t always look the way we expect. As adults focus on managing their own grief, the signs from a grieving child—withdrawal, irritability, physical complaints, or regression—can be easy to miss.
When those signs are misunderstood or overlooked, a child’s grief can become overwhelming. Grief counseling offers a space where those feelings are seen, supported, and given room to move.
Who I help
I support children of all ages who are grieving the death of a:
Parent or primary caregiver
Sibling
Grandparent
Friend, teacher, or beloved pet
Whether the loss was recent or occurred years ago, grief counseling can help your child navigate what they’re feeling and begin to heal.
Losing A Parent Is Difficult For Children
Grief in children can look like this:
Crying, especially crying privately
Bedwetting
Lack of focus
Waking up at night and having nightmares
Reluctance to go to bed
Sudden clinging to a parent, teacher, or family member
Change in child’s energy level
Eating more or less than usual
Arguing, talking back more than usual, or tantrums
Sometimes, it’s hard to tap into the mind of a child, especially when they are trying to cope with death. Children often struggle to process their emotions at the best of times, and their anxiety, fear, and confusion when a parent dies can manifest in unhealthy ways.
Grief counseling for children can be a beneficial and often necessary solution.
Grief Counseling for Children Works
I’m so glad we found you because now my child has a place to express her feelings since her Dad died. I love the creativity and fun you use to make her feel comfortable. Of course, she still gets sad about her Dad, but she’s smiling and having fun again, too.
— Parent of a 9-year-old girl
After the sudden loss of his father just before the pandemic and then being stuck at home for months, my son was becoming inexpressive and uncommunicative. I had no idea how to help him. I’m relieved we found someone who could guide him through this experience.
— Mother of a 13-year-old boy
Jill Cohen is a Nationally Recognized Grief Counselor
Jill Cohen, is a nationally recognized Grief Counselor, trusted by the New York Times, Prevention, Bravo, and many other media outlets. With more than 20 years of experience, Jill knows how to help grievers honor their loved ones and move forward into a new normal. Schedule a call to discuss how Jill can help you during this difficult time
Are you unsure whether your child needs a grief counselor? Download my free guide.
You May Have Questions Like These:
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Each session is tailored to your child. We may use play, art, stories, memory boxes, collages, energy/anger work, and guided conversations. The goal is to build a coping toolbox while honoring their loved one. Over time, children often feel more emotionally regulated, expressive, and even happy again. When sharing memories with me, I often see a child’s face light up with a smile or a laugh!
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Children often grieve in "bursts"—crying one minute and playing the next. Their grief might look like bedwetting, nightmares, trouble focusing, increased clinginess, changes in eating habits, or sudden outbursts. These signs are a child’s way of trying to understand and cope with a profound loss.
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While adults often move through grief in a continuous emotional process, children grieve in intervals. They may seem fine one moment and overwhelmed the next. Unlike adults, they don’t always have the language to express what they’re feeling, so their grief can surface through behavior or play.
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Grief counseling offers children a safe space to express their emotions and process the loss in a healthy way. Without support, children might internalize their feelings or act out in ways that mask deeper pain. With guidance, they learn to name their emotions, share their memories, and feel less alone.
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Through creative and gentle approaches like drawing, making feelings masks, play therapy, storytelling, "feelings cubes," and memory-sharing flash cards, children are invited to explore their emotions at their own pace. I use these tools and meet each child where they are, in each session.
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If your child is withdrawing more each day, acting out persistently, or showing signs of depression, anxiety, or low self-worth, it may be time for professional support. Trust your gut—if something feels “off,” it’s worth exploring with a professional, trained grief counselor. I can help evaluate their need, if you’d like.
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Yes. Grief doesn’t affect just one person—it touches the entire family, and family dynamics change critically once a loved one dies. offer guidance and education for parents, and can work with siblings or other relatives together or separately, depending on what’s most supportive.