Season 2, Episode 9: Grief Through Their Eyes — Helping Children Navigate Loss
Grief is something we all experience, but for children, it can look very different—and sometimes it doesn’t look like grief at all.
In this episode, Ashley and Courtney, therapists and forensic interviewers at Butterfly Bridge Children’s Advocacy Center, talk about helping children navigate grief and loss, including:
Sympathy vs. empathy, What grief can look like in children, What should you say when a child is hurting?, Helping children remember, Helping children process
One of the conversations in this episode focuses on the difference between sympathy and empathy. We’ve also included a video that beautifully illustrates this difference:
Empathy vs. Sympathy:
https://youtu.be/rUiAhqR7o4U
When a child is grieving, we may not always have the right words or be able to take away their pain. But we can listen, acknowledge their feelings, and let them know they don't have to walk through it alone.
Grief doesn’t have a timeline, and there is no single “right” way to grieve. Sometimes, the most important thing we can offer is simply our presence and understanding.
Listen to Season 2, Episode 9 here:
If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis or having thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
