Visual journaling:

Mental health among adolescents has been an increasing concern. Social and emotional learning (SEL) programs are gradually becoming more prevalent in schools to help combat the mental health challenges that youth face. Adolescents naturally go through many changes during this period of their lives: physically, socially, and emotionally. Having a school art therapist on staff with the student support team could be helpful to adolescents navigating through these challenging years. Providing regular SEL sessions in the form of art therapy visual journaling groups to middle school students could provide multiple benefits. These benefits may include increased skills with coping, emotional regulation, increased positive behaviors and social interactions with peers and family, a stronger sense of self-identify, self-esteem, empowerment and engagement, and increased academic achievement. Students may gain better mental health awareness and practice healthy preventative measures.