Grief is a universal, helplessly active, individualized experience. Misunderstood symptoms can exacerbate root issues, and what is beneficial for one person is harmful for another. Stigmatized losses are particularly complex. Because each individual must find their own path, the best treatment must include flexibility, awareness, and integration. Art therapy is a task-based approach that fosters stabilization, identity reconstruction, and renewed trust across a wide variety of mediums. This study applies art therapy to women suffering from a major loss to analyze the effect on severity and frequency of symptoms. Art therapy is not a way to remove difficult emotions or change the facts, but instead a method to build resilience by investigating an unsolvable mystery.
Reba Everhart first attended Salem in 2011. She became a “lost sister,” pursuing dreams in Santa Fe and Chicago, and more recently owning a small coffee business. The loss of her mother brought her home to Salem College in 2024 as a Psychology and Pre-Art Therapy double major. These studies have infused her life with meaning, clarity, and love. She aspires to continue into higher education and support others along their journey.