Horizons Children's Loss Program
Hospice of the Comforter’s Horizons Children’s Loss Program helps grieving children and young adults adjust to the loss of a loved one by providing free grief support and education.
Studies have shown that grieving youth are most effectively helped in a group setting because they learn that their peers have experienced similar losses and that their feelings are not ‘bad’ or ‘unusual.’
Through the compassionate support of the group process, youth gain the skills they need to heal from the loss of a loved one and learn that reaching out to others can be a source of healing and growth. Our master’s level children’s educators and counselors employ expressive arts techniques such as puppetry, drama, music, art, creative writing and play to help youth adapt to life following a loved one’s death.
Our in-school, six-week educational groups provide specialized grief support to children and adolescents by teaching healthy, age-appropriate coping skills. The Horizons Children’s Loss Program provides a safe, supportive environment in which youth can express their feelings, connect with other grieving youth, and learn how to cope with strong emotions such as anger and sadness. Groups consist of 4-8 students with similar developmental needs and meet for about one hour during each stage of the six-week program. Groups are available at no charge to any private or public school in Orange, Seminole or Osceola counties.
In addition to our in-school program, individual grief counseling sessions for children are provided in our office in Altamonte Springs at the Horizons Bereavement Center and are available to the community at no cost.