Beyond the Loss: Recognizing Grief and Building Connections That Heal

Grief is a natural response to loss, yet it often looks different in youth than it does in adults. For children and adolescents, grief may be expressed through behavior changes, emotional distress, withdrawal, or difficulty coping with everyday challenges. This training explores the intersectionality of grief and trauma, helps participants recognize common grief responses, and provides practical strategies for supporting youth, families, and colleagues through loss. Participants will leave with increased confidence in recognizing grief, responding with empathy, fostering resilience, and promoting hope in the lives of those they serve. Presenter: Shirley Ryan| CEO and President of Crossroad Child and Family Services Learning Objectives: • Identify and differentiate common types of grief, grief reactions, and the ways grief may present differently in youth and adults. • Apply practical interventions to support grieving youth and families, including strategies for active listening, validation, emotional regulation, and resilience building. • Recognize the impact of grief on helpers and implement strategies to support personal wellness.