Constructing Culturally Sensitive Creative Interventions for Use with Grieving Children and Adolescents

A family's culture dictates not only the established traditions for mourning, but also the ways in which a person may internalize the experience of loss. In addition to viewing death within the context of their family's culture, children's understanding of death and experience of grief will also depend upon their level of cognitive development. In this practice-based article, the authors explore developmental and cultural considerations for mental health practitioners counseling children and adolescents who are navigating the grieving process. After detailing steps for enhancing cultural sensitivity, two case studies are presented that describe various ways to utilize culture-specific knowledge when creating developmentally appropriate interventions.