Tag Archive for: Hailey Hagan

Guiding Your Child Through the Journey of Loss

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By Hailey Hagan, MSW, LSW – November 6, 2025 –

Coping with a loss can be challenging for anyone, but helping children navigate the complex emotions that come with grief is particularly daunting. If you are a parent or caregiver, it is challenging to see the little ones you love in pain.

Here are some gentle ways to support your child during a time of grief:

  1. Foster Open Communication: Create a safe space for your child to express their feelings openly. Encourage them to share memories and feelings, and assure them it’s okay to feel a range of emotions, from sadness to confusion.
  1. Share Stories and Memories: Celebrate the life of the person or pet they lost by sharing fond memories and stories. Reminiscing about happy times can bring comfort and help your child remember the positive impact their loved one had on their life.
  1. Validate Their Feelings: Let your child know that their feelings are valid and normal. They need to understand that grief takes different forms, and everyone processes in their own way and on their own timetable.
  1. Maintain Routine and Stability at Home: In times of loss, routine can provide a sense of stability and comfort for children. Stick to familiar schedules and activities to create a reassuring environment for your child.
  1. Encourage Healthy Coping Skills: Assist your child in finding healthy ways to express their grief. This could include using art or play as a vehicle for expressing hard and painful emotions. Other healthy ways of coping might include spending time in nature and engaging in shared family activities.
  1. Seek Professional Support if Needed: If your child is struggling to cope with the loss, consider seeking professional help. You can reach out to your school’s Youth First Mental Health Professional or your child’s family physician for additional support and resources.

Helping a child cope with loss is an ongoing journey. By providing love, understanding, and the necessary tools to express their emotions, you can help your child navigate the path to healing with resilience and strength.

Youth First is offering Camp Memories, a free bereavement program for children ages 6-18 who have experienced the death of a family member or loved one, on Saturday, November 22. Please contact Heather Miller (hmiller@youthfirstinc.org) for more information.

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Guiding Your Child Through the Journey of Loss

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By Hailey Hagan, MSW, LSW – July 30. 2025 –

Coping with a loss, whether it’s a loved one or a pet, can be challenging for anyone, but helping your child navigate the complex emotions that come with it can be particularly daunting. As a parent or guardian, it is often hard to see the little ones we love and care for in pain. Here are some gentle ways to support your child during a time of grief:

  1. Foster Open Communication: Create a safe space for your child to express their emotions openly. Encourage them to share memories and feelings, and assure them it’s okay to feel a range of emotions, from sadness to confusion.
  1. Share Stories and Memories: Celebrate the life of the person or pet they lost by sharing fond memories and stories. Reminiscing about happy times can bring comfort and help your child remember the positive impact their loved one had on their life.
  1. Validate Their Feelings: Let your child know their feelings are valid and normal. They need to understand that grief takes different forms and everyone processes it in their own unique way and at their own pace.
  1. Maintain Routine and Stability at Home: In times of loss, routine can provide a sense of stability for children. Stick to familiar schedules and activities to create a reassuring environment for your child.
  1. Encourage Healthy Coping Skills: Assist your child in finding healthy ways to express their grief. This could include using art or play as a vehicle for expressing painful emotions. Other healthy ways of coping include spending time in nature and engaging in shared family activities such as hiking, watching movies, playing board games, etc.
  1. Seek Professional Support if Needed: If your child is struggling to cope with the loss, consider seeking professional help. You can reach out to their school’s Youth First Mental Health Professional (a list is available at youthfirstinc.org) or your child’s family physician for additional support and resources.

Helping a child cope with loss is an ongoing journey. Hold space for your child and listen to them. By providing love, understanding, and the necessary tools to express their emotions, you can help your child navigate the path of healing with resilience and strength.

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Supporting Your Anxious Teen through a Panic Attack

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By Hailey Hagan, MSW – February 14, 2024

Anxious teens are vulnerable to experiencing panic attacks, which can be a frightening experience for both the child and the parent/caregiver. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, panic attacks are characterized by a sudden wave of fear or discomfort or a sense of losing control when there is no clear threat of danger.

Panic attacks are often accompanied by physical symptoms such as racing heart, dizziness, chest pain, and shortness of breath. Oftentimes these symptoms develop without warning, so what can you do to help your anxious teen cope with a panic attack at home?

  1. Stay Calm and Reassuring. Even though teens won’t show it, they look to their parents and other adults for stability and reassurance that everything is okay. If a parent reacts with great concern, it can unintentionally send a message that the panic attack is serious and potentially dangerous. So, when your teen is in the midst of a panic attack, stay calm, speak in a soothing tone and remind them you are there for them. Your relaxed demeanor can act as a guiding light in their storm of anxiety.
  1. Validate Their Feelings. Let your teen know that what they’re feeling is valid and okay. Avoid judgment or dismissive remarks. Reassure them that it’s a temporary situation and that you are there to support them unconditionally.
  1. Create a Safe Space. Find a quiet, comfortable place where your teen can sit or lie down. Eliminate any triggers, if possible, and offer them a comforting item, such as a soft blanket or a favorite stuffed animal.
  1. Help Distract Them. There are many tools and techniques to help distract an individual during a panic attack. Exercising, playing a game, eating a snack, using ice packs to cool down the body, breathing techniques, a shower or a bath, or watching a favorite show are all techniques that can be used to distract your teen during a panic attack.
  1. Help Them Avoid the Panic Attack Trap. Once a teenager has a panic attack, they may become fearful of having another one and may avoid activities and situations they feel could trigger another attack. As a result, your teen may try to avoid school, social activities, family events, or sports. While understandable, this avoidance only worsens anxiety and increases the chance for more panic attacks. It is important to encourage your teen to face these situations, while at the same time empathizing with how challenging it is to face a scary situation.

In these moments, your understanding, patience, and support can make a significant difference. By being a source of strength, you can help your teenager manage panic attacks and, in the process, strengthen your parent-child relationship.

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