Creative Pathways Through Grief and Loss: Culturally Affirming Approaches with Black Children and Families
November 18, 2025 | 12:00pm to 2:00pm ET | A free education event honoring Children’s Grief Awareness Month
This workshop explores the use of creative therapies—art, music, storytelling, and movement—in therapeutic work with Black clients navigating grief and loss. Grounded in cultural humility and historical awareness, the session highlights how culturally affirming practices foster resilience, connection, and healing. Participants will leave with practical strategies and interactive tools to integrate creative, culturally responsive approaches into their work with children, youth, and families who are grieving.
Who should attend? The event is for mental health professionals, educators, grief counselors, social workers, bereavement support staff, community members, funeral professionals, and volunteers – anyone who works with or supports children and families who are bereaved.
Objectives:
- Explore creative therapies (art, music, storytelling, movement) in grief work
- Understand unique grief responses in Black communities
- Learn culturally affirming strategies for therapeutic work
- Foster resilience and connection through practice
Our Presenter:
Dr. Brianne (Brie) L. Overton, FT, LPC-S, NCC, is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Illinois and Missouri. She earned her Doctor of Philosophy in Education in Counseling and Master of Education in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Missouri–St. Louis, and her MA in Thanatology from Hood College. She is the author of My Grief Comfort Book – Creative Activities to Help Kids Cope with Loss and Keep Memories Alive. Her current research explores the grief gap and its impact on BIPOC, young adults navigating terminal illness and changes to their life trajectory, as well as supporting bereaved family members after loss. Dr. Overton has extensive experience working in nonprofit settings, supporting grieving youth and families who have experienced the death of a parent, sibling, or primary caregiver by providing resources, advocacy, and education. She previously served as Chief Clinical Officer for Experience Camps, a national nonprofit that offers no-fee, clinically informed programs for children who have experienced death-related losses. In addition to educating and supervising master’s level clinicians, she has spent 18 years in thanatology, offering grief counseling, death education, suicide prevention and intervention, and consultation.
Continuing education credits: Please note that continuing education credits are not available for this event.
To request accessibility accommodations: The National Alliance for Children’s Grief is committed to providing universal access to all our events. Please contact Megan Lopez at megan.lopez@childrengrieve.org or at (432) 288-4688 to request disability accommodations. Advance notice is necessary to arrange for some accessibility needs.