Grief Monster Lesson & Craft

This lesson helps students personify and project their grief onto their own monster that they create with the therapeutic aim to reflect and gain insight. This intervention asks students to create a representation of grief and give it a name. By externalizing grief, it becomes something that they can deal with and manage. It is no longer an abstract idea that they have no control over. It becomes manageable.

Everyone grieves differently and experiences different emotional reactions. Some may not want to discuss while others may want to share memories of their loved one. Therefore, it is important to allow every individual to express themselves as much as they feel comfortable doing so. This activity supports the individual to do this.

This therapeutic intervention requires the therapist to be very curious and unconditionally accepting of the Grief Monster that the student creates and imagines. Remember the vital role of empathy and at the end of the intervention sincerely thank the student for sharing what their grief looks like as a monster to support integration. Further discussion ideas for integration might include exploration of the themes and trends that arise during this intervention.

This resource includes:

– Therapist Notes

– We are sorry for your loss…

– What is grief?

– How does your body feel today?

– What feeds your grief?

– Getting to know your Grief Monster?

– Safe Place for your Grief Monster

– What it looks like?

– Monster Diaries

– Coping Strategies – Ways to care for your Grief Monster

– My Helping Hand

– Monster feelings chart Poster

– Post Session Reflective questions

– Building your own Grief Monster