Grief in the midst of change: Art therapy for adolescents in clinical group settings

Adolescence is a time of significant developmental change as adolescents transition from childhood into adulthood. During this 13-to-19-year age span, adolescents are likely to experience some form of significant loss. This presents an added challenge for adolescents as for many it may be their first encounter with grief and loss. Another factor which complicates feelings of grief and loss is pre-existing mental health conditions. In the context of partial hospitalization programs (PHP) and intensive outpatient programs (IOP), adolescents are already navigating a myriad of factors which require support. This paper examines past and current literature to identify the many factors which make adolescent grief so unique and impactful. Factors include developmental changes, pre-existing mental health conditions, culture, and sex. This paper proposes a three-week group art therapy curriculum to be used alongside a standard adolescent PHP or IOP framework to process feelings of grief and loss.