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Grief Management

Grief Management in Children

In early life children may experience many different losses as they grow up. As they have their own thinking process and longings which are innocent and subtle. There are many circumstances where a child may feel the brunt of grief such as a friend moves away, a loss of a cherished item, a child moving grade may mean leaving behind a favorite teacher, a pet dies, a family member has a serious illness, a grandparent, neighbour or family friend passes away. Sometimes parental relationships end and with divorce or separation which also brings change to the whole the family. AWC Dubai specializes in Grief Management for Young Adults and Children.

Children grieve differently to adults. In fact, you may not recognize that your child is grieving. You may not realize the degree to which a loss or the "sad parts" of children's books and movies or a news report about a tragic event affects them.

Children experience grief in many different ways:
  • Death of a family member or friend
  • Death of a family pet
  • Parents separating or a family break-up
  • Moving to a new home or school
  • Loss of a favourite toy
  • Changing teachers or classes
  • Loss of a friendship or friends moving away
  • Having a disability or medical illness
  • Finding out a family member is sick
  • Loss related to a crisis - fire, flood, accident

 What are the common grief responses in children?

  • Sadness
  • Disbelief
  • Guilt
  • Frustration
  • Fear
  • Anger
  • Panic
  • Shock
  • Confusion
  • Anxiety
  • Numbness
  • Longing
  • Lack of emotions

We encourage you to take it seriously and attend this on priority basis before their grief escalates to other mental health issues.

What are the signs that a child might be grieving?

Cognitively

They might have trouble concentrating, making decisions or get easily confused. You might see nightmares, lack of motivation, or a decline in school performance and self-esteem, regressed behavior and or bed wetting.

Emotionally

Children tend to go in and out of the grief process - crying one minute, then playing the next. They may also be unsettled, express anxiety about the safety of others or feel responsible for their parents.

Physically

Children may feel sick more often, experience headaches, stomach aches, tiredness, lack of energy or hyperactivity. You may also notice changes in their eating habits and sleeping patterns.

Spiritually

Children will be curious about death and dying and may ask a lot of questions. They may start to question why this happened and where the person might be now.

Socially

It’s common for children to either withdraw from family and friends, or become more dependent or clingy. They might also attempt to take on the role of an older sibling or adult who has died.

Behaviourally

They might show more challenging or demanding behaviour as they try to get care or reassurance from you. Themes of death may show up in their drawings or play. Behaviour may also show regression like bed wetting.

Grief looks different in children and teens. The loss is lifelong, and they often become isolated in their pain, confusion, and self-blame. Safety and security are replaced by trauma and anxiety. Their understanding of death, and their responses to the grief that follows, are largely influenced by their developmental level, making their treatment much different from that of an adult.

At American Wellness Center based in Dubai Healthcare City our western trained and well qualified child psychiatrists, child psychologists, pediatric neuropsychologists and therapists provide evaluation and grief counselling that can help children who are going through a grievance. We offer individual and group therapies for children of all ages based on an initial evaluation of 50 minutes. After the evaluation the clinician will diagnose a treatment plan based on symptoms and severity of the child’s condition.  

We encourage to follow up with the treatment plan of your child’s therapist to obtain maximum results.

Visit our clinic in Dubai Healthcare City or give us a call today.

Our Clinicians

Dr. Muhammad S. Tahir

Consultant Psychiatrist, Neurologist (Child , Adolescent and Adults ) Director Educational Programs

M.D. ABPN (USA) - American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology

Dr. Cynthia Roukoz

Clinical Psychologist, Neuropsychology

Clinical Psychologists, Clinical Neuropsychologists PhD Psychology, Emphasis Child Neuropsychology, University of Angers, France

Ms. Farah El Khiami

Clinical Psychologist

BA, MA Clinical Psychology, PHD (ongoing)

Ms. Lara Tyan

Clinical Psychologist & EMDR Specialist

MA Clinical Psychology

Mrs. Nancy Hage

Psychology, Counseling

BA, M.A, , LMFT, PhD candidate (USA) - California Board of Behavioural Sciences

Dr. Jessica Rios-Habib

Clinical Psychologist

BS, MSEd, PhD (US) - University of Miami Miller School of Medicine Fellowship, University of Toronto Sick Kids Hospital Fellowship
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FAQs

Grief management for children addresses the unique ways children experience and express loss, which can include the death of a loved one, a family pet, or even the loss of a friendship. Children often process grief differently than adults, so having professional guidance through grief management can help them understand and express their feelings in a healthy way. At the American Wellness Center in Dubai Healthcare City, our trained specialists provide structured support to help children cope with loss and navigate complex emotions.
Common grief responses in children may include sadness, anxiety, confusion, anger, guilt, and even physical symptoms such as stomachaches or headaches. Children may also show behaviors like regression (e.g., bed-wetting) or clinging to parents. Recognizing these signs early and providing appropriate support can prevent grief from leading to long-term emotional challenges.
Children often experience grief in stages, moving between sadness and other feelings like playfulness or anger. They may not fully understand the concept of loss or death, which can make the grieving process confusing. Unlike adults, children might not express grief continuously and may instead show emotions in shorter, more intense bursts.
Signs of grief in children can manifest cognitively, emotionally, physically, spiritually, socially, and behaviorally. You might notice trouble concentrating, changes in appetite or sleep, increased questions about death, clinginess, and regressed behavior like bed-wetting. Recognizing these signs helps caregivers provide the necessary support.
Grieving children may experience physical symptoms such as headaches, stomachaches, and fatigue. Changes in appetite and sleep patterns are also common. These physical symptoms can be part of how children express or cope with emotional distress and should be monitored as part of their overall support and care.
Parents can support a grieving child by providing a safe space to express emotions, answering questions honestly, and being patient as they process their grief. Encouraging them to talk openly, offering comfort, and validating their feelings are all essential steps in supporting a child through grief.
If your child shows signs of persistent grief, such as frequent nightmares, withdrawn behavior, a decline in school performance, or feelings of intense guilt or anger, professional support can be beneficial. At the American Wellness Center, our team offers evaluations to determine if grief counseling is appropriate based on the child’s needs and symptoms.
We offer individual and group therapies tailored to a child’s age and developmental level. Our specialists, including child psychiatrists and psychologists, conduct an initial 50-minute evaluation to create a personalized treatment plan based on the child’s specific symptoms and needs.
A child’s understanding of death evolves with their developmental level. Younger children may see death as reversible or temporary, while older children may have a more adult-like understanding of its permanence. This developmental perspective impacts how they process and express grief, which is why age-appropriate support is crucial.
Group therapy provides children with a supportive environment where they can share their experiences with peers who may be going through similar losses. This shared experience can help reduce feelings of isolation and foster a sense of community and understanding. Group therapy also helps children learn coping skills in a supportive and guided setting.
Yes, grief can impact a child’s focus, motivation, and overall performance in school. Teachers may notice that a grieving child has trouble concentrating, a lack of motivation, or emotional outbursts. At AWC Dubai, we work with families and, when appropriate, provide guidance to help children cope in school environments.
Children often have questions about the nature of death, where people go after they die, and why loss happens. These spiritual or existential questions can be challenging for children, and answering them in an age-appropriate way can provide comfort and clarity during their grieving process.
Parents play an essential role in their child’s grief management by supporting them emotionally and participating in therapy sessions when recommended. Our professionals at AWC Dubai offer guidance for parents on how to talk with their child about loss, understand their grief responses, and create a stable environment for healing.
You can book an appointment by visiting our Contact Us page. Our team in Dubai Healthcare City is here to help you through the process and to answer any questions you may have about grief management services for your child.

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