Supporting Grieving Children Part 2

Posted on 10. May, 2018, in Christian Values, Community, Conflict, Family, Grief1 Comment

Sr Helen Culhane, founder of a local support service which has helped more than a 1,000 children affected by loss through death, separation or divorce, has been named Limerick Person of the Year 2017.

She founded the Children’s Grief Centre in 2009 which sees around 30 children a week, aged four to 18 years. 70 percent of the children who attend have separated parents while 30 percent have suffered a bereavement.

In total, there are approximately 30 volunteers attached to the centre. The volunteers include a retired career guidance teacher, a play therapist, psychologist, psychotherapist, and an art therapist.

In part 1 of this two part piece, she looked at stories of how children were helped by the centre. In this part, she looks at how parents too can be helped by the centre – how they can find a way out of a difficult divorce and to achieve mutual respect for the sake of the children.

Miriam Gormally began by asking Helen whether parents were even aware of the stress that their fighting can have on the children.

For more information go to the Children’s Grief Centre

Warning – piece contains one incident of bad language.

One response to “Supporting Grieving Children Part 2”

  1. Suzanne Ryder says:

    I am very affected by this interview in its starkness. Our society is changing rapidly and marriage breakdown is rampant. This interview spells out clearly some of the effects of this momentous change. I thank God that such a service as Helen provides exists and I pray it continues to provide a safe place for the increasing number of children who are victims of their parents.