some. Considering the frequency of parental death and its potential for traumatic impact on the psychological development of children, research is needed to better understand the consequences and outcomes associated with it and factors that moderate various reactions (Thompson et al., 1998).
Many researchers have examined the efficacy of treatment techniques for children who have been exposed to a variety of traumas. Therefore, examining the efficacy of interpersonal and cognitive-behavioral therapies for children experiencing normative and traumatic grief around parental loss should be a chief research goal. Similarly, studies are needed to determine the effectiveness of current treatment models for decreasing symptoms and increasing the adaptive functioning of children (Cohen & Mannarino, 2004).
The loss of a parent can have a devastating effect on the life of a child. When the grieving process is complicated, an inability to adequately navigate the normal tasks of bereavement can lead to negative psychological effects for children. Counselors who are sensitive to the importance of critical factors during the grieving and adaptation process for parentally bereaved children can provide valuable clinical services to families and child survivors. Creating a safe place for children and family members to mourn and providing an opportunity to build skills to manage stress are essential. Counselors should follow up with bereaved children for long periods of time because of the potential for delayed effects following parental death (Worden & Silverman, 1996). Finally, counselors should remain sensitive to the continuing and life-long nature of parental bereavement, particularly surrounding common life transitions for children as they grow into adulthood and beyond.
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