Child & Family Support
Coming to terms with a loved one having an advanced or terminal illness and their death can be an overwhelming experience for adults and children alike. Children may be left with many uncertainties, fears and difficult issues to cope with and often find these very hard to talk about, especially to another close family member or friend. Often, not acknowledging children are involved and what is going on is a common way families struggle to cope. Our CAF booklet will be released soon.
This is where our dedicated Child & Family Support team of counsellors and psychologists can help. We will work with parents and guardians alike, helping you to understand your own fears and prepare you to support the children/young person in your care. We can do this with 1:1 work, couple work and family work either at the Beacon Centre in Guildford or at the Hospice in Farnham.
For more information on the areas where we can help you, please read our ‘Because you’re important too’ booklet or contact the Patient & Family Support team on 01252 729430 or email caf@pth.org.uk
Carl’s story shows his family’s experience of the care from Phyllis Tuckwell, and the continuing support after Emily died.
Family Support
Here at Phyllis Tuckwell, we recognise that for families this can be an incredibly challenging and difficult time. One of the most common questions we are asked is, ‘What do we say to the children?’ We are producing a booklet to help adults supporting children or young people that answer this and other questions. Coming soon…
For children who have a parent or relative diagnosed with cancer, we have created a ‘What is cancer?’ leaflet, specifically designed for children to help them understand this difficult and complex subject.
Not knowing what to say, or just saying nothing at all in the hopes children can be protected from the pain of loss is all too often a common misconception. Involving children appropriately and not shutting them out is the first big step in helping them understand and prepare for what lays ahead.
Our trained team can also work 1:1 with children and young people either at the Hospice, at the Beacon Centre, or at school, both before and after the death of their loved one. We have a range of skills so we can support your child/young person in the most appropriate way.
Our professionals will, where invited, also work directly with the child/young people’s place of education, offering support, guidance and resources to ensure they are appropriately and sensitively supported and cared for in the school environment.
Little Rays
This group runs approximately every six weeks over two Sunday morning sessions and is aimed at primary school-age children who have been affected by the death of a loved one. Due to the coronavirus pandemic this group has now moved to Zoom. The children attend two zoom meetings on consecutive Sundays. The children are supported and guided through a range of activities aimed at helping them express their thoughts and feelings and provide them with ‘coping strategies’ to take away with them.
Storm
This group is for young people of secondary school and sixth form age. Due to the coronavirus pandemic we will now be offering a drop-in zoom session. It is an informal group with an activity/entertainment element. The objective of the group is to provide a platform where young people may develop peer relationships, where feelings of isolation and ‘being the only one’ will be dispelled, and where they feel safe to talk about and share their own experiences with those in a similar situation.
