The Effect of Grief and Loss On Adolescents and their Development

The loss of a parent to death is a traumatic experience for children that can impede their normal developmental process as they encounter the tasks of life. Children going through adolescence may have more difficulty with this loss because of the challenges and changes that accompany this stage of development. Contemporary research offers insight into the risk factors and symptoms that differentiate uncomplicated grief from complicated grief. This thesis explores using a combination of individual, family and group therapy as the most effective way to help adolescents through the grieving process.