Children and Young Persons Service
When someone in the family has a diagnosis of a life limiting illness, or someone close to them has died, the whole family can have a range of complex emotions, and children are no different.
For some children and young people specialist support is helpful in supporting them through the process of grief, and to be more aware of how to manage their feelings around illness and loss.
We offer specialist counselling to children and young people from 5-18 living in Ayrshire and Arran who have a relative or friend with a life-limiting illness, or who have lost a relative or friend due to a life-limiting illness. No previous link to the hospice is required.
Referrals can be made by family members, schools and other professionals working with the young person.
Children and young people experience loss just as deeply as the adults around them, but they can show it in different ways. How a child understands illness, death and loss will be influenced by their relationship with the important person, as well as their age and understanding.
Children may show their feelings through behaviour you would not normally expect, they may seem sad and withdrawn or have physical symptoms like tummy aches. Other children may not wish to talk about their feelings for fear they will upset those around them. This is not unusual and most children adjust and manage this, however, for some children and young people, specialist support may be beneficial.
When experiencing loss, early intervention and prompt access to services can help to build resilience and adjustment during both childhood and beyond. Our team offer a service to support each child and young person to be more aware of their emotions around illness and loss and to develop and practice ways to manage strong feelings.
Our counsellor provides a safe environment to ask questions and using a combination of games, art and talking provides children with some insight into managing difficult feelings and develop skills that they can take forward into their lives.
