CBP CBP Child and Adolescent Bereavement 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In the context of adolescent bereavement, 'continuing bonds theory' suggests practitioners should:
- Discourage teens from thinking about the deceased to promote 'moving on'
- Help teens maintain a healthy internal relationship with the deceased (Correct answer)
- Redirect grief energy entirely toward future goals
- Limit discussion of the deceased after the first three months
Correct answer: Help teens maintain a healthy internal relationship with the deceased
Continuing bonds theory, developed by Klass, Silverman, and Nickman, supports maintaining an evolving inner connection with the deceased as a healthy part of grief.
Question 2: A school-based bereavement practitioner is designing a support group for grieving middle schoolers. Which format is MOST developmentally appropriate?
- Formal lecture-based psychoeducation sessions
- Activity-based sessions that integrate verbal and nonverbal expression (Correct answer)
- Pure talk therapy mirroring adult group formats
- Individual journaling only, with no group interaction
Correct answer: Activity-based sessions that integrate verbal and nonverbal expression
Middle schoolers benefit from multimodal activities (art, movement, storytelling) that allow expression of grief in ways that match their developmental capacities.
Question 3: A parent asks if they should bring their 7-year-old child to a grandparent's funeral. The BEST CBP guidance is:
- Never bring children under 10 to funerals as it causes trauma
- Prepare the child in advance, let the child choose if they wish to attend, and ensure a supportive adult is present (Correct answer)
- Let the child attend but provide no preparation to avoid anxiety
- Delay all bereavement rituals until the child is an adult
Correct answer: Prepare the child in advance, let the child choose if they wish to attend, and ensure a supportive adult is present
Preparation, choice, and the presence of a supportive adult are the three pillars of best-practice guidance for children attending funeral rituals.
Question 4: Which theorist is MOST associated with the concept of 'tasks of mourning' adapted for use with children?
- John Bowlby
- J. William Worden (Correct answer)
- Elisabeth Kübler-Ross
- George Bonanno
Correct answer: J. William Worden
J. William Worden adapted his four tasks of mourning specifically for children in his work 'Children and Grief,' emphasizing age-appropriate applications.
Question 5: Disenfranchised grief in adolescents MOST commonly occurs when:
- A parent dies unexpectedly
- The death of a pet, friend, or non-traditional relationship is not socially recognized (Correct answer)
- An adolescent openly expresses sadness at school
- The adolescent attends a formal funeral service
Correct answer: The death of a pet, friend, or non-traditional relationship is not socially recognized
Disenfranchised grief occurs when a loss is not socially acknowledged, which frequently happens with adolescent losses such as pets, online friends, or romantic partners.
Question 6: A CBP practitioner working with a bereaved child should AVOID which of the following statements?
- 'It's okay to feel sad and angry.'
- 'Your dad is in a better place now, so you shouldn't be sad.' (Correct answer)
- 'Would you like to draw or write about your feelings?'
- 'Different people feel differently when someone dies.'
Correct answer: 'Your dad is in a better place now, so you shouldn't be sad.'
Statements that imply the child should not feel sad invalidate grief and can increase confusion and shame in bereaved children.
CBP CBP Child and Adolescent Bereavement 2
In the context of adolescent bereavement, 'continuing bonds theory' suggests practitioners should: