Not long after Gabriel’s death, Reesa and Tamara began going to sessions with their school counselors. Reesa had difficulty verbalizing her grief at first, though, so one night before bed, Hazel came to speak with her about some alternatives.

“Your counselor thinks expressive arts might fit you well. You wouldn’t have to follow any rules or try to make it perfect, because that’s not what it’s for. You could unburden yourself creatively,” her mother had said. “You ...