When Father Kills Mother Guiding Children Through Trauma and Grief

Children bereaved by the death of one parent at the hands of the other, almost always the father, in effect lose both parents, and are often forgotten in the midst of such dramatic situations. Reflecting the increased interest in child protection and child law systems, this second edition of When Father Kills Mother brings to public knowledge, in amplified form information about the effects of psychological trauma and bereavement on children. By combining knowledge about bereavement with that of post-traumatic stress disorder, the book remains informative and essential reading for all those involved in the field, both professionally and personally.

Contents: Preface: Confidentiality. Introduction: How We Came to the Work. Part I: Violence and Loss in Childhood. Children and Trauma. Children and Violence. Children and Grief. Why do People Kill Their Partners? Part II: When Father Kills Mother: Effects on the Children. The Children’s Stories. Picking up the Pieces. When Mother Kills Father. Healing the Trauma: Help for Children and Those Who Care for Them. For the Rest of Their Childhood. Looking Backward and Looking Forward: The Consequences for Adult Life. The Legal System. Part III: Learning from Experience. Research Findings. Planning Services for Bereaved and Traumatised Children. Appendices: Interviewing the Traumatised Child. Principles and Practice in Child Law. The Classification of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Voluntary Help: Useful Addresses. When Father Kills Mother: Principles for Practice.