Coping with Grief through Creative Arts Therapy

Kevin had a way of lighting up a room wherever he went. He was also the light of his sister Doree's life and a beloved younger brother. Intelligent, gifted, and endlessly curious, Kevin had many interests, but music was his greatest passion. A self-taught musician, he mastered the acoustic and electric guitar as well as the mandolin. While attending college, Kevin struggled with heroin addiction. At just 23 years old, his life was tragically cut short by a fentanyl overdose in 2016. As a filmmaker, Doree was determined to find meaning in her brother's death and create a lasting tribute to his life. Over the past decade, she has brought together family members and addiction experts to examine Kevin's struggles and explore the difficult question: Could his life have been saved? Her documentary, Gentle by Birth, is both a deeply personal tribute to Kevin and a broader examination of addiction, its devastating impact on families, and the societal barriers that prevent people from receiving effective treatment. Through heartfelt conversations and expert perspectives, the film explores what might have been done differently to save Kevin, while highlighting the urgent need for greater understanding, compassion, social acceptance, and meaningful policy changes in addressing addiction.  Find out more about Gentle by Birth at https://www.gentlebybirth.com/  If you would like to tell your story about an overdose death, please contact Susan Claire at [email protected]   http://grievingoverdosedeath.libsyn.com/   Music provided by La Atlántida  

Hart was a gifted woodworker whose craft was rooted in a deep love for trees and the natural world. After his death from an accidental overdose when he was 49, his girlfriend and friends created a moving tribute: large red, heart‑shaped cardboard cutouts, each labeled with a word that captured who he was—brother, son, cousin, lover. They nailed the hearts to trees in a quiet wooded area, symbolically returning Hart to the source of the material he shaped with such care. The image of those hearts among the trees becomes a final, tender connection between his passion and the love others held for him. His mother, Susan, says that coping with grief has no single correct expression; people do what they need to survive each moment, whether or not it fits our expectations. Loving our children, staying open, and allowing ourselves to ask for help become essential practices. By sharing your story, Susan says you learn that vulnerability—inviting others into your experience—is one of the most healing choices you can make. If you would like to tell your story about an overdose death, please contact Susan Claire at [email protected] http://grievingoverdosedeath.libsyn.com/ Music provided by La Atlántida  

Cathy Williams is a body-based healing and creative arts therapy expert, and founder of Intuitive Self. She helps people reconnect with their intuition through somatic and expressive arts. An award-winning author and speaker, Cathy draws on her personal healing journey to support others in reclaiming their body, mind, and heart. With over 17 years in community development and social justice, she brings compassion, creativity, and depth to her work. Cathy holds a Master of Social Science and multiple qualifications in somatic therapy, expressive arts, and trauma healing. You can find further information about Cathy as follows: Website: https://www.intuitiveself.com.au/ Website shop - with Body Wisdom ebook version for easy download: https://www.intuitiveself.com.au/category/all-products Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/intuitiveself__ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Intuitive_Self

Alec, affectionately known as "Fuego" for his vibrant spirit, was a joyful, curious young man whose natural athletic talent, academic sharpness, and deep devotion to family—especially his daughter, Kylie—made him beloved in his community. Despite a stable upbringing and multiple attempts at rehabilitation, Alec's life was tragically cut short at 25 by a fentanyl‑related overdose in 2022, leaving behind a devastated family and a stolen future. His father, Armando, relays how his son's tragic story is framed by broader systemic failures, including weakened border enforcement and a dramatic rise in fentanyl entering the country—seizures increasing from 4,600 pounds in 2020 to more than 26,700 pounds in 2023—contributing to tens of thousands of deaths each year. You can find Armando's book here: Addiction's Grip: A Father's Story of Loss If you would like to tell your story about an overdose death, please contact Susan Claire at [email protected] http://grievingoverdosedeath.libsyn.com/ Music provided by La Atlántida

Graham loved playing soccer, spending time with family, and hanging out with friends, but everything shifted in sixth grade when he fell in with kids who got into trouble and he began using drugs and alcohol. His struggles deepened over the years as he was bullied for being gay and was introduced to heroin by a childhood friend who later died of an overdose. His mother, Wesley, remembers that when he was sober, he was witty, kind, and strikingly handsome, but under the influence he became someone she barely recognized. At 33, Graham overdosed and died alone, a loss that left Wesley wishing society and government better understood just how much it truly takes to save a child caught in addiction. Wesley is a co-author of "When Your Child Is Gay: What You Need to Know" (Sterling: 2016) Further information about Wesley can be found as follows: https://www.wesleycullendavidson.com https://www.facebook.com/groups/711397302779297  https://bsky.app/profile/wesleygrahamcullen.bsky.social  https://www.linkedin.com/in/wcdwrite/ https://x.com/WesleyCDavidson https://www.instagram.com/wesleycdavidson/  Camp Good Mourning provides bereavement camp programs for children coping with the death of a parent and/or sibling https://www.campgoodmourning.org/   If you would like to tell your story about an overdose death, please contact Susan Claire at [email protected] http://grievingoverdosedeath.libsyn.com/ Music provided by La Atlántida  

Frankie was the third-born of triplets, arriving after his two sisters. His mother, Ellen, recalls his early years as charmed—filled with joyful vacations, engaging activities, and an infectious sense of humor. Frankie was the smallest kid with the biggest laugh, known for his wild jokes, imaginative stories, and a vocabulary all his own. As he entered middle school, challenges emerged. Being the smallest in his class and diagnosed with ADHD, Frankie began to struggle. Depression followed, leading him to self-medicate. Tragically, his life ended at age 26 in October 2022 due to an overdose of cocaine laced with fentanyl. Ellen now speaks to groups about Frankie's life, hoping to reach even one young person who might be considering drugs as a way to cope. Her mission is to transform heartbreak into hope, one story at a time. Ellen shares some resources below: ·         Helping Parent Heal – helpingparentsheal.org. There is also a Facebook page. They have several Zoom meetings and have a semiannual meeting with over 1000 parents. ·         Fara Gibson, Psychic Medium (saved my life!) – faragibson.com.  She also has a Facebook Page, Fara Gibson Psychic Medium.  She does readings in person, over Zoom or by phone. ·         The Black Poster Project – theblackposterproject.com  This is a silent memorial of over 900 posters.  Submitting your loved one's poster is at no charge. ·         Alumni in Recovery – https://alumniinrecovery.org  An advocacy group made up of young adults in extended recovery and parents who have lost a child to addiction/accidental overdose/fentanyl poisoning. ·         World-renowned speaker David Keller – https://grief.com/ David is the father of grief and has written many books and holds many webinars.  If you would like to tell your story about an overdose death, please contact Susan Claire at [email protected] http://grievingoverdosedeath.libsyn.com/ Music provided by La Atlántida  

Johnna was a fearless and capable child, but a learning disability diagnosis seemed to mark the beginning of her struggles. Her mother, Kelli, believes this led to self-esteem issues, which were worsened by incidents like being bullied in school and the loss of loved ones. These painful experiences contributed to a lifelong dependence on drugs—an addiction Johnna fiercely protected. As a nurse, Kelli used all of her resources to help. She consistently arranged for counselors and rehab centers and was always there for her daughter in a crisis. Despite her tireless efforts, Kelli's worst fear was realized in July 2024 when police arrived at her door with the news that Johnna had died at the age of 25. To cope with her grief, Kelli finds solace in listening to podcasts about loss, reading books like A Space in the Heart by Larry Carlat, and leaning on her strong relationships with family and friends. If you would like to tell your story about an overdose death, please contact Susan Claire at [email protected] http://grievingoverdosedeath.libsyn.com/ Music provided by La Atlántida    

While working for the railroad, Matt had a bad accident that injured his spine. After spinal surgery, he was prescribed opioids that eventually led to his addiction. His daughter, Heather, talks about her loving relationship with her dad and how she is broken hearted to have lost him in October 2022. Heather tells others not to blame themselves for what happened and to recognize they did what they could. If you would like to tell your story about an overdose death, please contact Susan Claire at [email protected] http://grievingoverdosedeath.libsyn.com/ Music provided by La Atlántida    

Cameron was fun-loving, intelligent, compassionate, athletic, and talented who made his mom, Denise, very proud. After taking a counterfeit pill, he overdosed and lost his life when he was 23, even though his friends administered Narcan. Denise is on a mission to tell others that Narcan alone is not enough—911 must also be called. She reached out to Scott Silverman, a crisis coach, family navigator, and CEO of Confidential Recovery, an outpatient addiction program in San Diego, California. He is the author of the books "The Opioid Epidemic" and "Tell Me NO. I Dare You!" Together, Denise and Scott want to sound the alarm that the widespread distribution of Narcan is giving people a false sense of security and that 911 must also be called. Resources: Denise's message: https://www.instagram.com/narcanplus911/ Remembering Cameron: https://incelebrationofcameron.com/ Scott H. Silverman's information: https://www.yourcrisiscoach.com/ DEA information on fake pills: https://www.dea.gov/onepill If you would like to tell your story about an overdose death, please contact Susan Claire at [email protected]   http://grievingoverdosedeath.libsyn.com/   Music provided by La Atlántida

Sheree and Vinnie were not only sister and brother, but also best friends. They were three years apart and went through everything in life together. Vinnie had a beautiful spirit and was an amazing person. Sheree's brother-in-law, Jorge, was in the family for 15 years and was more like a little brother. He had the purest heart of anyone she had ever met. Sadly, both passed away from an accidental overdose. Vinnie was 33 and died in May 2017. Three years later, Jorge, died when he was 35. Sheree remembers both as more than their addiction and prays for both every morning with the following prayer: Eternal rest, grant unto them, O Lord,  And let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen Remembering Vinnie: https://www.forevermissed.com/vincent-terrazzino/about If you would like to tell your story about an overdose death, please contact Susan Claire at [email protected] http://grievingoverdosedeath.libsyn.com/ Music provided by La Atlántida