Meet “DP”
Teen in Arts Therapy at YWCA

When DP, age 14, began the PALS program in 2022, teen worked individually with licensed art therapist Sheri Groover, MA, ATR-BC, LPAT for four months to learn ways to cope with changes within her family dynamic due to the impact of domestic violence, to learn ways to cope with changes and transitions, learn healthy ways to communicate and resolve conflicts with her mom and siblings, develop expression of her own voice to make independent choices, and increase self-esteem and confidence.

She named and identified her personal short and long-term goals she wanted to work on while in the PALS program and created her own teen safety plan, named and identified feelings through safe emotional expression, explored activities in art therapy to cope with challenging situations, and worked on setting healthy boundaries for self and with family members and friends by practicing better communication with them to resolve conflicts, express her feelings, and make healthy personal decisions and choices.

At the beginning of therapy, DP identified feeling ‘anxious,’ ‘nervous,’ and ‘stressed’ when in school or social situations. This was in part due to her limited English proficiency and overall difficulty connecting with peers that were the same age in school and in the community where she resided with her family. In PALS, she learned and used healthy coping skills and self- soothing strategies for her feelings. She practiced the coping skills and self-soothing strategies in therapy. She identified her family and a friend as a positive support and resource.

Throughout therapy, she progressed and was able to identify positive characteristics and qualities of a healthy family and healthy relationships. DP was able to build her confidence and self-esteem while in the PALS program. DP exhibited commitment toward excelLing academically by getting good grades, asking for help and assistance when needed in school with certain subjects and working toward personal goals. DP established a healthy trusting therapeutic relationship with the therapist, sharing plans of reaching future goals and plans to achieve her career goals.

DP’s confidence and self-esteem increased as sessions progressed. She also exhibited a healthy range of confidence, self-esteem and positive perception of how others perceive her. In therapy, DP chose to work towards building her self-esteem and confidence safely through journal writing and expressing feelings that she internalized regarding bullying that she experienced in school from peers and ways this caused her feelings of anxiety and a loss of control within the school environment that she had identified as safe. DP first drew a picture of positive ways she felt she could communicate her feelings to mom and school.

By being able to express her thoughts and feelings toward her mom and school, she was able to address how this caused her to feel anxiety in therapy. Due to her school schedule, she was unable to continue therapy in group to further work on communicating her needs and wants in honest and clear ways and forming healthy relationships with peers. DP, age 16, re-enrolled in PALS in December 2024 with her mom and sibling. DP showed progress and improvement with overall English proficiency and expressed feeling ‘proud’ of herself to therapist.

Currently, DP’s goals include: Improve overall emotional well-being, learn ways to cope with loss, and increase personal sense of safety.