A Call to Connect
Griever, poet, and therapist Sara Rian writes: “your grief is supposed to exist loudly. all of this is supposed to take up space. their existence. their story. their memory…” The…
Griever, poet, and therapist Sara Rian writes:
“your grief is supposed to exist loudly.
all of this is supposed to take up space.
their existence. their story. their memory…”
The idea that grief doesn’t have to be quiet is a driving force behind our upcoming Live Karaoke for a Cause event. Karaoke is anything but quiet – it’s energetic and lively, and at times even raucous and rambunctious. Karaoke is full of surprises and laughter, as both non-singers and expert vocalists alike come alive behind a microphone. There is a palpable feeling of camaraderie in the room, as the audience whoops and hollers their support when those high notes ring out impeccably, or even when they turn sour. Karaoke isn’t about perfection, it’s about connection.
In our blog on July 21, 2026, Windphone, we wrote about the continued connection we have with people in our lives who have died, as we shared about a Memorial Wind Phone that will be installed in our community. A Wind Phone is a retro-style telephone, usually set in nature, not connected to a working line. Its functionality isn’t based on technology, but on the idea that the wind carries messages to those we love who have died. A Wind Phone invites you to pick up the receiver and give voice to your grief.
On Thursday, September 24, 2026, from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM, we are presenting Live Karaoke for a Cause at Sturdy Shelter Brewing in Batavia. At this special event, we also invite you to give voice to your grief as we celebrate and honor those who have died through song and poetry. Our goal is to raise funds for the Memorial Wind Phone that will be installed in Geneva in October in honor of James Haughan. When we spoke with James’ mother, Elaine, about creating an event that James would appreciate, she shared that James was a fan of Broadway and how much fun he had performing in Beauty and the Beast. We are so excited to create an event that we hope James himself would enjoy!
Our Live Karaoke for a Cause event will invite connection, levity, joy, and fun in a space where songs and poems help us celebrate those we love. Music helps us connect with one another and with special people in our lives who have died. We invite you to speak their names and to honor the continued connection you have with them.
Charlotte Shuber is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and grief counselor at Creating Space Therapy in Geneva, IL, with online telehealth available across Illinois. She is a Certified Grief Care Professional and Compassionate Bereavement Care® Certified Provider with specialized training through Megan Devine and the MISS Foundation. Charlotte works with adults, teens, and children who are grieving using a non-pathologizing approach that honors grief as a natural, unique, non-linear experience, and focuses on helping individuals foster continuing bonds with those who have died. She encourages folks to tend to themselves and their grief as they adapt to loss at their own pace and on their own terms. To connect with Charlotte, schedule a free 15-minute consultation call or learn more about us at creatingspacetherapy.com.
Creating Space Therapy is a niche psychotherapy practice specializing in grief counseling and trauma therapy for children, teens, and adults in Geneva and Naperville, with online telehealth available to Illinois residents statewide. Recognized as the Best Mental Health Practice in Batavia in 2025, we have spent five years building a reputation as a trusted grief resource in the Fox Valley community. Our team of licensed grief counselors and certified grief therapists believes that grief doesn’t follow a timeline, a checklist, or a set of stages. It is as individual as the love behind it. We hold space for every kind of loss, from the death of a loved one to the quieter griefs that often go unnamed, and we help clients find their way forward without ever being asked to leave their loss behind. If you’re ready to stop carrying this alone, we invite you to schedule a free 15-minute consultation call or learn more about us at creatingspacetherapy.com.
