Grief counselling for ASD children

[Daffydilys]

Can anyone recommend resources/counselling services for ASD children who are grieving the death of a close family member? Thank you.

[Headfirstintothewild]

I can recommend speaking with Winston’s Wish and Cruse. We found them helpful.

Did the family member have hospice involvement? We found them helpful for counselling/play therapy.

If you would like book recommendations to read with DC, if you post how old/developmental level I can tell you what helped for us.

[Daffydilys]

Thank you @Headfirstintothewild
The children are 10 and 6 years old.

[Headfirstintothewild]

I’m sorry, I assumed they are your DC when I shouldn’t have. I apologise if they aren’t. It was insensitive of me.

We read a lot of books.

Sad Book by Michael Rosen - Give us a story had a YouTube video of his book in lockdown, it might still be there.
No Matter What by Debi Gliori

It took me a long to be able to read these without becoming a blubbering mess. I still can't read them without tears.

We also read:
The boy who built a wall around himself by Ali Redford
Always and Forever by Alan Durant
Paper Dolls by Julia Donaldson
Badger's parting gifts by Susan Farley
Invisible strings by Patrice Karst
The heart and the bottle by Oliver Jeffers
When Dinosaurs die (a guide to understanding) by Laurie Krasnyed
Sad isn't Bad by Mundy 
The huge bag of worries by Virginia Ironside - aimed at worries and anxiety but one of my DS’s in particular carried around fear with him which is similar to the book.

Some maybe a bit too young for the 10 year old. For them, You will be Okay by Julie stokes (who is the founder of Winston’s wish) may work well depending on their developmental level.

[Daffydilys]

Hi @Headfirstintothewild thank you . I really appreciate your time. please don’t apologise, you haven’t been insensitive.

[icantlivewithouttea]

Not specifically for ASD children, but when my sister died, I ordered a pack for bereaved children from Grief Encounter for my kids. It was just right - highly recommended.

Also our local hospital has a bereavement counselling service for children that we accessed for my youngest. It was counselling through play, so was very gentle and just went at the right pace. The counsellor was brilliant at picking up when my DS wanted to talk about things and when he didn’t. I think I found the service on the Cruse website - so worth exploring what available in your area.

so sorry for your loss 💐

[icantlivewithouttea]

this just came up on my facebook feed - hope it helps x

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/woHiKwJKRgJ3me89/?mibextid=WC7FNe