A Community Focus in Grief Groups: Children and Adolescents Experiencing Cancer Related Parental Loss

Abstract

Approximately 2.85 million children under 18 live with a parent affected by cancer in the United States and cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide. These children are at risk for developmental and mental health related distress. The purpose of this study was to gain a deeper understanding of the ways group art therapy can be used to work through grief processes and build a sense of community in the group for children. It was hypothesized that a community focus and building community in a group art therapy setting would be an effective and beneficial way in teaching coping strategies for dealing with grief and loss for children that have lost one or more parents to cancer. A traditional literature review was conducted to review the impact community-based art therapy can have on children and adolescents who have lost one or more parents to cancer. Group art therapy was found to be an effective and beneficial treatment for working with children that are experiencing grief, though more research is needed to clearly define the influence and definitions of a focus on community. Finding ways to improve treatment for children’s grief processing can work to reduce present and future developmental and mental health risks.