Supporting Bereaved Students at School

Supporting Bereaved Students at School provides educational professionals with essential information to support bereaved students. The book specifically targets helping children and adolescents cope with their emotional, physical, and social reactions during the period of grief, lasting for months or years, following a significant death in their lives. Chapters focus on foundational knowledge and offer a range of evidence-based intervention strategies, integrating school-based best practices throughout. This contemporary and informative guide provides tools that can be easily integrated into daily practice and will be especially useful for school-based professionals and graduate students in the fields of school psychology, school counseling, school social work, and clinical child psychology.

Jacqueline A. Brown, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in School Psychology at the University of Montana and is a Nationally Certified School Psychologist. Her interests include school-based bereavement support, crisis prevention and intervention, and resilience in school-age youth.

Shane R. Jimerson, PhD, is a Professor of Counseling, Clinical, and School Psychology in the Gevirtz Graduate School of Education at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Dr. Jimerson is a Nationally Certified School Psychologist and recognized by The American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress as a Board Certified Expert and Diplomat, and is included in their international registry of Experts in Traumatic Stress with specialization in working with children, families, and schools.

FOREWORD by Kenneth J. Doka

SECTION 1: Foundational Knowledge to Support Bereaved Students at School

1. The Importance of Supporting Bereaved Students at School
Jacqueline A. Brown and Shane R. Jimerson

2. Defining Loss: Preparing to Support Bereaved Students
Tina Barrett and Lindsey M. Nichols

3. Cognitive Developmental Considerations in Supporting Bereaved Students
Victoria A. Comerchero

4. The Importance of Assessment in Supporting Bereaved Students
Catherine B. Woahn and Benjamin S. Fernandez

5. The Importance of Consultation in Supporting Bereaved Students
Jeffrey C. Roth

6. Cross-Cultural Considerations in Supporting Bereaved Students
Sandra A. López

7. Family Considerations in Supporting Bereaved Students
Melissa J. Hagan and Allie Morford

8. The Role of Digital and Social Media in Supporting Bereaved Students
Carla J. Sofka

SECTION 2: Interventions to Support Bereaved Students at School

9. Using Grief Support Groups to Support Bereaved Students
Renée Bradford Garcia

10. Using Cognitive and Behavioral Methods to Support Bereaved Students
Rosemary Flanagan

11. Using Bibliotherapy to Support Bereaved Students
Ellie L. Young, Melissa A. Heath, Kathryn Smith, Afton Phillbrick, Karli Miller, Camden Stein, and Haliaka Kama

12. Using Music Therapy-Based Songwriting to Support Bereaved Students
Thomas A. Dalton and Robert E. Krout

13. Using Play Therapy to Support Bereaved Students
Karrie L. Swan and Rebecca Rudd

14. Using Creative Art Interventions to Support Bereaved Students
Grace Zambelli

15. Using Writing Interventions to Support Bereaved Students
Lysa Toye and Andrea Warnick

16. Using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to Support Bereaved Students
Tyler L. Renshaw, Sarah J. Bolognino, Anthony J. Roberson, Shelley R. Upton and Kelsie N. Hammons