Read the full article by Lisa Thibodeau at RAM’s New Times Magazine
Sabrina Davis lost her father in 2023, and at first the teenager was reluctant to join a program that helps youth grieve through art.
“My mom [asked] if I wanted to be a part of the group,” said Davis, now a 17-year-old high school senior. “I was hesitant because I didn’t want to meet a bunch of strangers and talk about these feelings. After my first session I was riveted and felt I could be vulnerable. I was able to make friends with people who had [also] recently lost a loved one. My other friends haven’t gone through something like this and don’t always know what to say.”
Studies show that experiencing the death of a loved one, such as a parent, is among the most traumatic events a child can experience. Evidence shows that the way a child reacts to, and processes, grief is heavily impacted by the adults in their life who help them navigate the loss.