Youth Workshops: Empowering Young Hearts Through Connection & Creativity
Trauma-sensitive, developmentally appropriate workshops that create safe spaces for children and teens to heal, grow, and thrive.
OUR MISSION
Creating Safe Spaces for Young People
Our Workshops for Children and Teens provide nurturing environments where young people can process their experiences, build coping skills, and develop meaningful connections with peers who understand their journey.
Each program is carefully designed to meet developmental needs while honoring the unique experiences of children and teens who have faced trauma, loss, and family transitions.
Through creative expression, collaborative activities, and skilled facilitation, participants discover their strengths, build resilience, and develop tools for navigating life's challenges. Our trauma-informed approach ensures that every child feels safe, seen, and valued throughout their workshop experience.
Our Youth-Centered Approach
✔ Trauma-Informed Framework
Every aspect of our workshops is designed with trauma sensitivity, creating predictable, safe environments where healing can occur naturally.
✔ Peer Connection
Carefully facilitated group experiences help children and teens realize they're not alone in their struggles and can learn from each other.
✔ Developmental Appropriateness
Programs are tailored to specific age groups and developmental stages, ensuring content and activities are meaningful and accessible.
✔ Creative Expression
We use art, music, movement, storytelling, and other creative modalities to help young people express and process their experiences.
✔ Strength-Based Focus
We emphasize each child's unique strengths and capabilities, building confidence and self-efficacy through positive experiences.
✔ Family Integration
Workshops include components that help families understand and support their child's ongoing growth and healing.
OUR PROGRAMS
Age-Appropriate Workshop Themes
Our workshop programs are thoughtfully designed around developmental stages and the unique needs of children and teens who have experienced trauma, loss, and family transitions. While specific programming is continuously evolving, here are the types of experiences we create:
Little Hearts Programs (Ages 5-8)
Emotional Understanding and Expression Helping young children identify and express feelings through play and creativity
Young children often lack the vocabulary and skills to express complex emotions. Our Little Hearts programs use age-appropriate activities to help children understand their feelings, learn healthy ways to express them, and build emotional vocabulary. Through stories, games, art, and play, children discover that all feelings are okay and learn tools for managing big emotions.
Safety and Trust Building Creating foundations of security and personal empowerment
Children who have experienced early trauma need safe spaces to rebuild their sense of security. These programs focus on helping children understand what safety feels like, identify trusted adults, and develop confidence in their ability to make good choices. Activities are designed to be fun and engaging while building crucial foundation skills.
Connection and Friendship Skills Developing social skills and healthy relationship patterns
Many children from hard places struggle with peer relationships due to their early experiences. Our connection-focused programs help children learn friendship skills, practice kindness and empathy, and understand healthy boundaries in relationships. Children leave feeling more confident in social situations.
Teen Empowerment Programs (Ages 13-17)
Authentic Self-Discovery Supporting identity formation and future visioning
Adolescence is a crucial time for identity development. Our teen programs provide supportive environments for exploring values, interests, and goals while building authentic self-expression. Teens learn to separate their identity from their trauma history and develop confidence in who they're becoming.
Mind-Body Wellness Understanding trauma's impact and developing healing strategies
Teens are ready for deeper understanding of how trauma affects the body and brain. These programs combine education about adolescent development with practical wellness strategies, mindfulness practices, and body-based healing approaches. Teens develop lifelong self-care habits and healing tools.
Future Planning and Life Skills Building practical skills for successful transitions to adulthood
Our future-focused programs help teens develop goals, build practical life skills, and prepare for increasing independence. Topics may include educational planning, relationship skills, financial basics, and leadership development. Teens leave feeling more prepared and confident about their future.
Creative Expression and Healing Using arts and creativity for processing and growth
Creative expression provides powerful pathways for healing and self-discovery. These programs offer various artistic mediums for teens to explore their experiences, express their authentic selves, and connect with peers through collaborative projects. Many teens discover new talents and interests.
Growing Strong Programs (Ages 9-12)
Advanced Emotional Intelligence Building sophisticated understanding of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors
As children mature, they're ready for more complex understanding of their emotional world. These programs explore the connections between thoughts, feelings, and actions, teaching practical regulation strategies and problem-solving skills. Children develop their personal "toolkit" of coping strategies.
Identity and Story Development Supporting healthy identity formation and narrative building
Pre-teens are naturally beginning to ask deeper questions about themselves and their place in the world. Our identity-focused programs provide safe spaces to explore personal history, celebrate uniqueness, and build coherent, positive self-narratives. Family involvement helps support this crucial developmental process.
Social Navigation and Peer Relationships Advanced social skills for complex peer situations
The pre-teen years bring increased social complexity. These programs help children navigate friendship challenges, understand peer pressure, build conflict resolution skills, and develop authentic, healthy relationships. Children gain confidence in social situations and learn to be good friends to others.