Eydie, an AWBW facilitator in WomenShelter Long Beach’s (WSLB) Youth Services program, recently shared, “Art is a wonderful medium for compassionate intervention because it gives our clients the opportunity for self-expression … They walk out of the room seemingly lighter, and with a certain stride that makes me believe they have been truly empowered during that session.”

An example is Mia, a teenager who, between witnessing domestic violence while growing up and living in a dangerous neighborhood, has experienced a lot of trauma.

In her last year of high school, Mia took the initiative to seek support at WSLB. Eydie shared, “When Mia began our youth program, despite her trauma, (or perhaps due to her trauma), I immediately noticed her fervent leadership skills and her fierce ambition to be involved in her community.”

Mia had multiple commitments and after a few months she missed three weeks of groups. She emailed Eydie: “She disclosed that she had started college the week before and that she had her first severe panic attack. Unfortunately, she ended up in the emergency room very scared and sad.”

Having support and learning to self-regulate during such times is key to the healing process.

For trauma survivors, being overwhelmed is often extremely difficult to deal with, as it can trigger the same emotions felt during traumatic experiences. Having support and learning to self-regulate during such times is key to the healing process.

Following her email, Mia went to WSLB and worked with Eydie one-on-one. In response to Mia’s panic attack and difficulty coping with being overwhelmed, Eydie chose to offer the AWBW art workshop “Take a Break — Self-Regulate!”

This workshop is designed to help participants discuss the importance of taking breaks and practice self-regulation through self-care in a fun way. Participants create two dice, one with activities to do on a break and another with lengths of time to do the activity.

The workshop was exactly what Mia needed at that time: “During this workshop, she allowed herself to self-reflect through thoughtful journaling and after, created her dice with great enthusiasm and care. As she finished her dice, she shared that she will no longer continue to say yes to everything, adding with an air of awe, ‘It is really okay to say no.’

Mia continued to express how important this message was for her to hear and seemed impressed with the idea that she can take her self-regulation into her own hands, literally with her dice and her commitment to take care of herself.”

Though considering dropping out of college following the panic attack, after Mia created the dice with Eydie she decided to continue school and has since completed her first semester. She has continued to attend groups at WSLB and AWBW art workshops have continued to benefit her as she focuses on her mental well-being. She has remained involved in her community and has started advocating for curriculum at local high schools focusing on self-care and healthy, non-violent relationships.