Review by Allison Martin

In her book Helping Children Cope With Separation and Loss, respected family therapist Claudia Jewett Jarratt provides detailed guidance on ways to counsel children who have been faced with a severe loss, such as death or separation from a family member. Intended for therapists and parents, her book takes you through all the stages of grief and provides tools and discussion on how to address each difficult passage. For anyone dealing with a child who has suffered an intense loss, this book is key to understanding the issues and is a helpful resource for resolving the emotional trauma.

The themes covered by Helping Children Cope With Separation and Loss include : breaking the news; helping with resultant change; understanding grief and facilitating the grief process; responding to self-esteem and control issues; and reviewing and moving on.

Claudia Jewett Jarratt, a nationally known family therapist, has raised ten children, seven of them adopted. The style of the book is erudite but accessible. Jarratt doesn't shrink from providing detailed explanations of theories of loss and resolution, but does so in a manner that is easy to both understand and apply to your own situation. Parents who have adopted older children will find the examples and discussion in this book helpful, as complex issues of adoption and loss are an area in which the author's experience is apparent. Other losses are also well addressed, including death of a family member and divorce.

The wealth of experience demonstrated in Helping Children Cope With Separation and Loss make this book a cornerstone for families and children coping with loss, and for those who seek to help them in this emotionally difficult process.

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