Rejection isn’t just a momentary disappointment for teens, it’s the grief of losing a future they’d imagined, a version of themselves they were ready to become. As high school seniors face college decisions, friendship shifts, and unexpected detours, they’re not just navigating change; they’re mourning possibilities that won’t come to be.

This article explores how parents and educators can support teens through these emotional transitions using Dr. Alan Wolfelt’s Companioning Model of Grief. You’ll learn what to say (and what not to), how to create space for authentic processing, and how creative expression, like our featured art prompt, “Tangles and Truths”, can help teens find clarity in the chaos.

Ask me about ART. Ask me about GRIEF. Ask me how ART HEALS GRIEF. Let’s explore how creativity can help restore your heart ❤️ and expand your capacity to live well and love fully.

AHHHHHH!!!! Delete, Pause, Stop my insanity! Aging brings undeniable changes, physically, emotionally, and mentally. But beneath the negative context and self doubt - we can honor the grief of aging and reclaim our unshakable self-worth. Check out my article- Adrienne Avoiding Aging.

I’m Adrienne Jahn Mikulka, artist, grief educator/companion and public speaker. I share personal stories of love, loss, and healing, showing you how art-making can be a powerful tool for your own grief journey. My articles are an invitation to mourn on purpose with simple art prompts designed to help you process and heal.

Hi, I’m Adrienne, a grief doula, educator, and artist. My journey with grief has been deeply personal, shaped by profound losses that changed me forever. Over time, I discovered that making art wasn’t a distraction from grief, it was a way to mourn on purpose. In this article, I share my personal experiences of loss and healing, and how simple, accessible art-making can become a powerful tool for anyone navigating grief. Whether you’ve experienced the loss of a loved one, a relationship, or a version of life you once knew, art can be a way to honor, express, and ultimately integrate your grief into the fullness of your life.

This article explores the experience of grieving the outcome of the 2024 election, the loss of an expected future. I share compassionate ways to process this grief. Using insights from grief experts like #AlanWolfelt and #DavidKessler, I suggest creative approaches like #journaling, community engagement, and the Duality #Diptych #Collages #art project to help you work through these complex emotions. You are encouraged to find #meaninginloss, embrace #selfcompassion, and pursue #healing with #grief in ways that promote connection and #empathy across divides. #arthealsgrief #griefcompanion