When Dreams Detour: Helping Teens Navigate Rejection, Loss, and the Grief of Unrealized Futures

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.