I'm trying my best to help my daughter (7.5) cope with the recent passing of a close family member. The loss occurred about six months ago and by and large she has coped remarkably well, but just recently she's become incredibly angry, and she seems to have a great deal of trouble expressing herself. We've tried and tried to get her to open up and talk to us but she can't seem to find the words. So basically we've decided to get some help and have found a fantastic child psych - my question is how do explain it all to her? How do I explain the purpose of therapy to her in a way she'll understand, that won't make her feel like she's done something wrong or there's something wrong with her? I'm particularly worried about her feelings here because her sister is quite a bit younger and coping absolutely fine, but big girl will want to know why she has to go and little one doesn't.
I would so appreciate any advice anyone can give me, I've written in before and always been amazed by your responses. Thanks ladies!
3 Replies
Keep it simple. Don't go into too much detail as the psych will probably chat to your daughter about what she thinks.
Just say mummy and daddy are worried we aren't helping you be happy so a nice lady is going to help us with it.
Id avoid using the word happy. Grief is normal and natural being sad sometimes is normal and natural it is only an illness if it is extended or out of context.
Her feelings are valid. They are hers to have and this is one thing the psych will teach her to accept grief and process it.
They will also help her develop language to help her discuss and express her emotions and healthy ways to express them...
No one is meant to be happy all the time....I have seen people tear themselves up on the inside and beat themselves up thinking happy all the time is achievable and considering it failure to not be....
Calm and accepting of our emotional states and knowing they will pass is where it is at.
Your just taking them to meet a friend to play and talk with it is someone they can trust.....keep it simple I won't complete the acronym
But KISS is the way to go