Free “Healing Hearts Grief Program” offers peer-to-peer therapy for kids, young adults

COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO) — According to Prisma Health Children’s Hospital of the Midlands, one in 10 children will experience the death of a parent or sibling by the age of eighteen.

A new program, entirely free to participants,  is helping them work through their emotions with other kids their own age.

Participants of their Healing Hearts Grief Program between the ages of five and 18-years-old attend four classes made for specific age groups — focusing on emotions, memories, coping skills, and changes.

“And so the program is designed to get kids that have experienced a loss together so that they can talk about some of the shared experiences that they’ve had,” says Child Life Specialist Annie Insley.

ABC Columbia’s Lee Williams asks,  “What’s the approach with the children and how do you start the process?”

“The first session is a little quiet, but then the second session, they’ve all heard each other’s stories, and they know what each of them have gone through. And expressing those emotions are a little easier,” says Manager of Child Life Programs Christy Fink.

Caregivers are also encouraged to attend their separate class for adults as they learn to better handle their own grief while simultaneously supporting the child.

They say their team of therapists aren’t drilling kids with questions, they simply create a space for them where they’re comfortable to share — if and when they feel like sharing.

“I think that’s the cool thing about the group that we have too, is that we kind of provide that space for them. They hear others talking about their experience. If they want to talk about it they can, if they don’t they don’t have to. But then typically by the end we’ll see them be a little more open and willing to talk about it,” says Insley.

“Do you all encourage any child who’s lost a loved one to attend the classes, or do you feel like it’s more about if they feel like they need it, then they should do it?” asks Williams.

“We think the program is amazing for everyone. The only thing we will say is, there needs to be enough time between the loss and the program, and sometimes if it’s not, you know, six… eight months between, it can be a little bit… that can be hard. It’s too soon,” says Fink.

The next set of classes begin August 29th at 5:30 p.m. and include free dinner.

To register, visit Eventbrite by clicking here.