The Animal Hospice, End-of-Life and Palliative Care Project (AHELP) community will welcome guest Andrea Koehler from The Coloring Project, at the “Color your HeART,” event from 2-5 p.m. on March 26 at Seattle Veterinary Specialists in Kirkland. This event is designed to help pet owners deal with the grief of losing a loved pet.

AHELP Director and Certified Grief Specialist Michelle Nichols will present, “Oh, Good Grief,” sharing how healthy grieving through love and loss can proceed more smoothly with healing through techniques like adult coloring. Koehler will share with participants how to use coloring as a tool to help organize and focus feelings of grief and sadness, focusing thoughts on positive memories and celebrating the well-lived life of an animal family member. Each participant will choose a frameable coloring card that resonates with them, and may optionally add a poem or prose to accompany.

Tea, coffee, light sweets and snacks will be offered, allowing opportunities to share and socialize with others who can understand.

Contributing to the global craze of adult coloring, research substantiates the benefits of the expressive arts on an individual’s view of their life’s trials and tribulations. In addition to being a creative outlet, the benefits of coloring include a calming effect for the mind and body, stress relief, focus, mindfulness and meditative activity, and a welcomed way to relax in today’s busy world.

Coloring can soothe grief and bereavement surrounding the illness and death of a loved one. It can be a way to stop the spin cycle of grief, intentionally directing it toward purpose which in turn leads to feelings of peace, comfort and ultimately, growth.

The Seattle Veterinary Specialists is located at 11814 115th Ave NE in Kirkland’s Totem Lake neighborhood.