Creative Coping Skills Workshop
Our Creative Coping Skills Workshop is a fun & supportive summer event series designed to help elementary and middle school-aged children and their families learn and build healthy coping skills through art & creativity! Using summer themed crafts and art projects, participants will explore topics such as mindfulness, emotional regulation, acceptance, self esteem, gratitude, and stress management in an engaging and age appropriate way.
Our workshop incorporates concepts and coping strategies inspired by our expertise in both Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), helping participants practice both new and even familiar coping skills they can use in more than one place (school, home, etc.).
Each session combines psychoeducation with creative, art and play based activities intentionally designed to help child or adolescent participants practice the coping skill being discussed in real time. Through the process of discussion and engaging with the activity, participants and their families will have the opportunity to actively apply coping skills such as mindfulness, emotional awareness, acceptance, gratitude, relaxation, and self regulation strategies during the workshop itself.
The workshop will be offered on Mondays at 11 AM EST for children in elementary school (ages 5-10) and Tuesdays at 11 AM EST for children in middle school (ages 10-13). Participants may register for individual workshop sessions based on topic or attend the full 4-week series. Workshops are offered virtually at this time, however in person participation may be offered for the same days and workshop times if demand is high enough.
Parents are welcome and encouraged to participate alongside their child at no additional cost.
Details
Each workshop is designed to:
- Introduce or review age appropriate coping skills
- Help participants better understand emotions and stress responses
- Practice mindfulness and emotional regulation strategies
- Encourage self expression through creative art-based activities
- Provide take home materials for continued skill practice outside of sessions
Participants will receive workshop materials and additional coping resources to continue practicing skills after each session. All workshop materials will be provided for participants by request.
Pricing
$35 per individual session. $100 for all 4 workshops (save $20).
What to Expect
Each workshop session will include:
- Warm-up activity introducing the topic
- Psychoeducation and coping skill discussion
- Activity instruction and demonstration
- Creative skill-practice activity
- Wrap-up and dismissal
Time is also reserved at the end of each session for parent questions!
Weekly Schedule
Week 1: Mindfulness & Relaxation Skills
Participants will explore:
- What mindfulness is
- Why mindfulness matters
- How mindfulness can help with stress, emotions, and focus
Activity: Mindfulness Melts, Mindful Float Craft
Week 2: Emotions & Emotion Regulation
Participants will learn:
- How to identify emotions
- Coping skills for managing big feelings
- Emotional regulation strategies
Activity choices: Self-Regulation Treasure Chest, Emotion Wheel
Week 3: ACT Skills & Increasing Positive Emotions
Participants will discuss:
- What acceptance means
- How acceptance and gratitude can support emotional wellness
- Healthy distraction and self-esteem-building skills
Activity choices: Under the Sea Jellies, Gratitude Jars
Week 4: Coping Skills Review & Back-to-School Preparation
Participants will review:
- Mindfulness skills
- Emotion regulation skills
- Acceptance based coping skills
- Goal setting and back to school coping strategies
Activity choices: Fortune Teller Coping Skills Craft, Pocket Full of Sunshine Activity