PSYCHOLOGICAL INTERVENTION IN THE PROCESSING OF GRIEF IN CHILDHOOD

Abstract

Grief in childhood, despite being a natural process, can present particularities. The general objective of this research was to investigate the contributions of the psychologist's role in promoting the elaboration of grief in childhood. To this end, the study sought to explain grief in childhood and its psychological particularities; to characterize the process of elaborating childhood grief in light of psychology; and to analyze the strategies that psychologists can use to help children name, understand, and process grief. To achieve these objectives, semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven psychology professionals, aiming to capture their perceptions and work strategies. The results indicated that grief is a natural and at the same time unique process, whose experience is usually manifested through behaviors and play. Furthermore, the professionals interviewed recognize that grief can occur in the face of different types of losses. The psychologists pointed out that the elaboration varies according to factors such as the stage of development, the nature of the bond with the lost object, family support, and the circumstances in which the loss occurred. The main strategies employed by professionals were extended listening and genuine dialogue, the use of diverse play resources, and parental guidance. In subsequent investigations, it is suggested to expand the sampling by contexts of practice, such as clinical, school, and public health, as well as to seek to differentiate how interventions are treated by different theoretical approaches.