A Day at Grief Camp: Expressive Arts and Nature Provide Support for Grieving Kids ~ Child and Teen Therapy in Harrisonburg, VA
- melissa@spiralroots.org
- Oct 20
- 3 min read
It was an honor, once again, to sit in the woods with the shadows of bright
fall leaves dancing over the ground welcoming children and teens. I was welcoming them and guiding them to the day’s campsite with the sounds of drumming as they began a day of nature-based therapy activities and expressive arts to soften their grief of loved ones lost. The campsite back in the woods, over a stream, and up a hill was perfect for a day of celebrating loved ones who had passed on.
As I, a licensed child and teen therapist in Harrisonburg, VA, drummed and made music with the children and teens at yet another grief camp with Hospice of the Piedmont, I was reminded how amazing, special, and resilient these young people are.
Dealing with death, a broken attachment, is not easy.
Losing a loved one is difficult at any age, but in childhood it leaves a darker spot where attachment is so vital to growth and life. A time when security comes from the adults, family, and friends that surround them.
Expressing thoughts and feelings about death and the loss of someone is not easy.
It is hard to live with unanswered questions about the “whys” of loss. It is hard to understand that grief is a process. A process where all journeys do not take the same amount of time or travel the same course. Loss is a deep pain, no matter the cause, that is often hard to accept as we move on with life.
Expressive arts, nature, and caring adults are three things that soften the hurt for children and teens.
Child therapy and Teen therapy help kids find ways to move through grief, especially if there is anger, shame, confusion, numbness or disbelief. Much of the time there are no words.
Child therapy and Teen therapy in Harrisonburg, VA helps kids find ways to move through grief.
Expressive arts help grieving kids explore and express their feelings through creativity, movement, mark making, sounds, rhythms, and connection to others. Play and creativity are the language of children and teens when words are not accessible. Nature soothes and grounds those experiencing sadness and grief. Connecting with adults and peers in creative, predictable ways increases the circle of capacity to enable children and teens to find moments of joy and resilience.
Expressive Arts and Nature Based Therapies at Spiral Roots LLC can help children and teens in Harrisonburg VA deal with grief.
The woods were refreshing and supportive as I sat drumming for the volunteers and participants. I enjoyed accompanying the volunteers, children, and teens at the Hospice of the Piedmont grief camp in making music with musical
instruments called Boomwhackers. The music and movement making led by Mike Deaton of The Growing Space in Dayton, VA paired nicely with the nature-based activities provided by the Living Earth School of Charlottesville, VA.
My heart was filled with appreciation. I have so much respect and gratitude for the counselors and volunteers who support grieving families in our area all throughout the year.
If your child is experiencing grief due to the loss of a loved one, Spiral Roots LLC has openings for child and teen therapy in Harrisonburg, VA.
Melissa Deaton Cook LPC also recommends finding adjunct support through agencies like the Hospice of the Piedmont where kids can be in community with their grief.
Hospice of the Piedmont provides support for those who have lost a loved one living in Charlottesville, VA and surrounding counties. The Growing Space, offering creative wellness opportunities in Dayton, Va and The Living Earth School, offering immersive nature-based education programs in Charlottesville, Va are good examples of organizations that provide different types of activities that can help grieving individuals and families come together and increase their circle of capacity, enabling them to live a better lives. Spiral Roots LLC provides child therapy and teen therapy in Harrisonburg, VA connect with Melissa today.
Melissa Deaton Cook LPC has worked with children and teens for over 30 years.
Contact her today for child and teen therapy (5-18) in Harrisonburg,VA.
Call Melissa at 540-416-1628 or email her at melissa@spiralroots.org
Follow her on https://www.facebook.com/SpiralRootsCounseling
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