Parent and Caregiver Coaching

Caring for children and adolescents is one of the most rewarding and difficult jobs a human being can take on. Caretaking in grief can feel almost unimaginable. Every parent and caregiver deserves support and partnership as they work to attune to their child’s needs, help them understand the circumstances of a death, and respond to the emotional and behavioral shifts that can occur after loss.

The goal is not to always know the “right” thing to say or do. Rather, caregiver consultation can provide a space to notice what is happening, attune to both yourself and your child, and practice responding from a place of groundedness, empathy, and connection. I work directly with caregivers to help them support their grieving child or teenager as they move through the waves of grief together.

Parents and caregivers I work with may wonder:

  • What should I tell my child? What words are appropriate for speaking about death, dying, and grief to a child of my child’s age?

  • How do I share the circumstances of the person’s death to my child? For example, how do I speak with my child about brain death, organ donation, transition to hospice, death by overdose, or death by suicide?

  • How can I help my child make the most of their time with a loved one who is at end-of-life?

  • What is a “typical” grief response for a child of this age?

  • How can I understand what my child’s behaviors may be communicating?

  • What can I do to support my child at this time?

Through holistic, developmentally-informed coaching, we can partner to:

Find the words when there are no words. Learn language and approaches for discussing death, dying, and grief with children and teenagers of all ages. We will partner to find the language that works best to speak with your child about what is happening.

Attune to yourself and your child. Together, we will notice and reflect on your child’s expressed thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, while also becoming aware of your own responses and needs.

Respond from a place of groundedness and connection. Practice tolerating difficult moments, staying present with your child’s emotions, and responding with empathy and intention rather than feeling pressure to “fix” the grief.

Build and maintain connection with your child. Explore ways to stay connected even when your child may need quiet, space, reassurance, structure, conversation, or simply your presence.

Build confidence in supporting your grieving child. Develop the capacities to notice, attune, reflect, and respond to your child’s emotional, behavioral, and relational needs as they navigate the grief process.

SHALL WE BEGIN? Schedule a 15 minute introduction with Rebecca to get started.

I OFFER PARENT AND CAREGIVER COACHING WORLDWIDE VIA TELEHEALTH.