That isn't really how it works Discussing questions of life, death and afterlife with bereaved children and young people

Bereaved children today are likely to encounter a vast plurality of beliefs, often conflicting and deeply held, about what may or may not happen after death. Practitioners working with bereaved children may find their own personal and professional understandings and beliefs challenged - not just about death and what follows but also about children's cognitive capacities. In this article a bereavement counsellor draws on her own work to emphasise the importance of keeping an open mind and a willingness and curiosity to explore with children their thoughts and beliefs about life, death and afterlife, in order to help them create a narrative that is meaningful and helpful to them.