CBT Therapy: Helping Children Navigate Grief During the Holidays
Helping Children Navigate Grief During the Holidays with CBT Therapy
The holiday season is often described as magical, joyful, and full of excitement, but for grieving children, it can bring emotional complexity, confusion, and sadness. Many parents wonder, ” or “How do I support my child when the world expects us to be cheerful?” CBT therapy offers children a safe way to explore their emotions, understand their thoughts, and learn skills that help them cope during difficult seasons.
Understanding How Grief Shows Up in Children
Children do not always express grief the way adults do. They may become irritable, withdrawn, clingy, or unusually quiet. People may show sudden bursts of sadness or anger that seem unexplainable.
During the holidays, children often struggle with:
Memories of holiday traditions shared with the person they lost
Changes in routine, which can make grief feel larger
Guilt about having fun, or fear that joy means “forgetting” their loved one
CBT therapy helps children explore these feelings without judgment, making room for both grief and the joys of the season.
How CBT Supports Grieving Children
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) teaches children how their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are connected. When a child learns to identify and understand their internal experience, their emotional world becomes less overwhelming and more manageable.
1. Naming Big Emotions
Many children feel grief physically but cannot articulate it. CBT helps them label sadness, anger, guilt, fear, or loneliness making these feelings less scary and more understandable.
2. Understanding Holiday Triggers
Children learn why certain events like decorating, seeing relatives, hearing holiday music, intensify their emotions.
3. Challenging Unhelpful Thoughts
Children commonly think:
“I should be happy, something is wrong with me.”
“If I enjoy the holidays, it means I don’t miss them.”
“Other kids don’t feel like this.”
CBT helps reframe these beliefs into more balanced, compassionate thoughts.
4. Learning Coping Skills for Overwhelming Moments
CBT therapists teach tools such as:
Deep breathing
Grounding exercises
Journaling or drawing activities
Creating a “holiday coping plan” for stressful situations
These skills help children regulate emotions before they become too heavy.
5. Creating Healthy, Meaningful Rituals
CBT supports children in honouring their loved one in comforting ways, such as:
Making a memory ornament
Sharing stories
Lighting a candle
These rituals help maintain emotional connection while fostering healing.
Supporting Your Child Through the Holidays
Parents play a crucial role in a child’s healing journey. Simple actions can make a tremendous difference:
Keep routines predictable
Encourage open conversations about grief
Validate their feelings, joy and sadness can coexist
Offer choices during holiday activities
Create new traditions that feel emotionally safe
When to Seek Professional Support
If your child is withdrawing, struggling to participate in daily activities, experiencing intense anxiety, or showing signs of prolonged distress, CBT can provide the support they need.
Therapy gives children a safe space to process their grief, learn emotional skills, and rebuild their sense of security especially during the holidays.
Your Child Deserves Support, Safety, and Emotional Comfort
Grief is not something children “grow out of.” It is something they learn to move through with connection, tools, and support. If your child is struggling this holiday season, our team, Healing Voices Psychotherapy, is here to help. Book a free 15-minute consultation with one of our trained child therapists today.
